{"id":11546,"date":"2025-09-09T10:59:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T10:59:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/11546\/"},"modified":"2025-09-09T10:59:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T10:59:12","slug":"pixel-10-pro-quietly-unlocks-dcg-delivering-true-12-bit-raw-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/11546\/","title":{"rendered":"Pixel 10 Pro Quietly Unlocks DCG, Delivering True 12-Bit RAW Video"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Pixel<\/p>\n

Google\u2019s Pixel 10 Pro may have seemed like another underwhelming smartphone launch, but hidden inside its sensor is a capability that turns it into a genuine pocket cinema camera: Dual Conversion Gain (DCG). Unlike most reviews suggested, this feature delivers 12-bit RAW video, higher dynamic range, and cleaner shadows straight out of the box \u2014 no rooting or hacks required. Let\u2019s dive into Pixel 10 Pro 12-bit RAW video.<\/p>\n

When the Pixel 10 Pro launched, many dismissed its cameras compared to rivals like the iPhone 17 Pro. But as uncovered in a\u00a0Reddit deep-dive by user RaguSaucy<\/a>\u00a0and confirmed by tests with MotionCam Pro, Google has quietly enabled DCG, unlocking the full potential of Samsung\u2019s GNV sensor. Shoutout to Eliot Fitzroy from Epic Tutorials<\/a> for informing us about this development \u2013 check out his blog on the subject<\/a> and his video embedded further down below.<\/p>\n

\"howSamsung\u2019s explanation on how Dual Conversion Gain (DCG) works. It\u2019s merging two ISOs captured at the same time. Samsung calls the same technology \u201cSmart-ISO Pro\u201d. Image credit: Samsung, via Epic TutorialsWhat dual conversion gain actually does<\/p>\n

DCG (also known as Smart-ISO Pro by Samsung) captures the same exposure at two analog gains simultaneously, merges them before digitization, and outputs a true 12-bit signal. This means:<\/p>\n

Reduced noise, especially in shadowsGreater dynamic range without HDR-style ghosting or motion artifactsRicher gradation and smoother tonal transitions<\/p>\n

Unlike HDR frame stacking, DCG achieves its results in a single exposure. It\u2019s a sensor-level feature, and until now it has sat dormant on devices like Samsung\u2019s Galaxy S23\u2013S25 Ultra, Xiaomi 13\u201315 Ultra, and even Google\u2019s own Pixel 9 Pro.<\/p>\n

\"\"Great explanation of DCG by \u201cJohnTheFarm3r\u201d on Reddit. Source: Reddit, via Epic TutorialsHow it was confirmed<\/p>\n

The discovery started with a\u00a0Camera2API report\u00a0on the Pixel 10 Pro XL. As shared on Reddit, the hardware ID showed a \u201cwhite level\u201d of 4095, confirming native 12-bit capture (compared to the 1023 value of standard 10-bit sensors)\u00a0.<\/p>\n

For the first time, this mode is not just active for Google\u2019s stock pipeline but accessible to third-party apps. That means MotionCam Pro, Blackmagic Camera, ProShot, and others can all benefit from the improved sensor readout.<\/p>\n

Seeing DCG in action<\/p>\n

Video tests from\u00a0Sebastian Merca of MotionCam Pro\u00a0demonstrate the difference clearly:<\/p>\n

RAW 10-bit (DCG off):\u00a0noisy shadows, heavy denoising needed in post.RAW 12-bit (DCG on):\u00a0smoother gradations, far less noise, and improved shadow recovery.<\/p>\n

Watch the\u00a0comparison video below. Waveform analysis shows visibly cleaner lows and more recoverable detail, closing the gap between smartphones and dedicated cinema cameras.<\/p>\n

One standout advantage: using MotionCam Pro on the Pixel 10 Pro, creators can record\u00a04K open gate (4030 \u00d7 3072)\u00a0in 12-bit RAW, bypassing Google\u2019s image signal processing. Imported into\u00a0DaVinci Resolve, the files support highlight recovery and log conversions (ARRI LogC, Sony S-Log3, Apple Log), giving users the same kind of grading flexibility they\u2019d expect from professional cinema gear.<\/p>\n

\"PixelThe difference in the Google Pixel 10 Pro with DCG off and on is staggering, if you look at the noise in the shadows. Image credit: Eliot Fitzroy \/ Epic Tutorials\"PixelScene with 12-bit RAW enabled on the Pixel 10 Pro. Image credit: Eliot Fitzroy \/ Epic TutorialsWhy didn\u2019t Samsung or Xiaomi enable it?<\/p>\n

The irony is that Samsung manufactures the sensor in the Pixel 10 Pro, yet keeps DCG locked on its own flagships. Xiaomi does the same. In the past, modders forced DCG on with risky root exploits, but mainstream users were shut out.<\/p>\n

Google flipping the switch proves it can be done \u2014 and now pressure may mount on other manufacturers to enable DCG on both future and existing devices.<\/p>\n

\"\"Leave us waiting for 12-bit DCG video even though they could enable it in their latest phones: Samsung and Xiaomi. Image credit: Eliot Fitzroy \/ Epic TutorialsWhy this matters for filmmakers<\/p>\n

Mobile filmmakers already use apps like MotionCam Pro to bypass default image pipelines, but enabling DCG raises the ceiling. The difference is not subtle: cleaner shadows, higher usable dynamic range, and true 12-bit gradation make smartphone RAW video grading much closer to cinema workflows.<\/p>\n

As one Redditor put it:\u00a0\u201cPixels did it. DCG mode is native on Pixel 10. History made.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Google Pixel 10 Pro. Image credit: Eliot Fitzroy \/ Epic TutorialsFinal thoughts on Pixel 10 Pro 12-bit RAW video<\/p>\n

DCG does not replace strong cinematography or negate the need for proper lenses and lighting. But it brings professional-grade sensor performance to a mass-market smartphone for the first time.<\/p>\n

For filmmakers who want more than computational tricks, the Pixel 10 Pro has gone from least interesting to the\u00a0most exciting smartphone for video in 2025. If Samsung and Xiaomi follow Google\u2019s lead, we could see a new standard in mobile imaging. Also, today is the day of Apple\u2019s annual iPhone release event<\/a> where we can expect the iPhone 17 \u2013 let\u2019s see what they have in store when it comes to video capture. Smartphone filmmaking<\/a> is definitely making huge leaps forward right now. <\/p>\n

Would you switch to the Pixel 10 Pro just to unlock DCG, or do you think smartphone filmmaking still has too many limitations? Do you want to shoot Pixel 10 Pro 12-bit RAW video?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Google\u2019s Pixel 10 Pro may have seemed like another underwhelming smartphone launch, but hidden inside its sensor is…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11547,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[14120,14119,14116,14113,14115,14114,342,14118,14112,111,139,69,14121,14117,145],"class_list":{"0":"post-11546","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mobile","8":"tag-12-bit-raw","9":"tag-12-bit-raw-video","10":"tag-android-video-apps","11":"tag-blackmagic-camera","12":"tag-davinci-resolve","13":"tag-dual-conversion-gain","14":"tag-mobile","15":"tag-mobile-cinematography","16":"tag-motioncam-pro","17":"tag-new-zealand","18":"tag-newzealand","19":"tag-nz","20":"tag-pixel-10-pro","21":"tag-smartphone-filmmaking","22":"tag-technology"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11546"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11546\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11547"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}