Sony's Background Defocus app now available in Google Play Store

The latest trend in mobile photography seems to be blurring the background in an image or allowing users to pick the right focus spot. Recently Google revamped its camera app which lets users achieve this bokeh effect for their images.

And now Sony has also followed suit with a similar app. Background Defocus app will allow the users to create a blurred out background. It achieves this by simulating shallow depth of field. This is an effect often used by professional photographers. The app captures two images which have different focus settings. The images are then combined into one image that will have a blurred out background and one image with sharp focus.

For better results, the object, which will have sharp focus in the image, should ideally be at a distance of 40-45 cm. Keep the background object at a distance of 5m from the focus target, says Sony and also advises you to hold the camera steady or use a tripod or stand.

The latest app from Sony has some fierce competition awaiting it. The focus manipulation test between Google Lens Blur and Nokia Refocus showed us how close the competition is.

The Background Defocus app is available exclusively only for Sony smartphones running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean or later. You can download the app from Google Play Store here .