Take Picture With Android Camera Using Xamarin Native Application

Introduction

Reading this article, you will learn how to create a camera application in Xamarin for Android platform.

Tools

We are using Visual Studio 2017 and Windows 10 Operating System.

Step 1

Go to Visual Studio 2017.

Click File —> New —> Project or shortcuts (Ctrl+Shift+N).

Step 2

Go to Visual C#  --> Android –> Blank App (Android); change your application name and click the "OK" button.

Step 3

After the process completes, the Xamarin dashboard appears. At the top right, you will see Solution Explorer. There is your application solution.

Step 4

Select application name; extract to resources. The Layout folder appears in which there is Main.axml* file. Double click to open Main.axml.

Step 5

I have given XAML code already. You can use this code or you can write your own code.

XAML Code

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" android:orientation="vertical" android:layout_width="match_parent" android:layout_height="match_parent" android:weightSum="10">
    <ImageView android:id="@+id/imageView" android:layout_weight="70" android:layout_width="match_parent" android:layout_height="fill_parent" />
    <Button android:layout_weight="1" android:id="@+id/btnCamera" android:layout_width="match_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:text=".!CLICK_ON_CAMERA!." />
</LinearLayout>

Step 6

Double click on MainActivity.cs file. You will see the camera application. Protected override content including a file of //SetContentView (resource.layout.Main) should be there.

Step 7

I have given C# code. You can use this code or you can use your own code. But be careful; all the code for your MainActivity should be here.

C# Code

using Android.App;
using Android.Widget;
using Android.OS;
using Android.Content;
using Android.Provider;
using Android.Runtime;
using Android.Graphics;
namespace Camera_Application {
    [Activity(Label = "Camera_Application", MainLauncher = true, Icon = "@drawable/icon")]
    public class MainActivity: Activity {
        ImageView imageView;
        protected override void OnCreate(Bundle bundle) {
            base.OnCreate(bundle);
            // Set our view from the "main" layout resource
            SetContentView(Resource.Layout.Main);
            var btnCamera = FindViewById < Button > (Resource.Id.btnCamera);
            imageView = FindViewById < ImageView > (Resource.Id.imageView);
            btnCamera.Click += BtnCamera_Click;
        }
        protected override void OnActivityResult(int requestCode, [GeneratedEnum] Result resultCode, Intent data) {
            base.OnActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);
            Bitmap bitmap = (Bitmap) data.Extras.Get("data");
            imageView.SetImageBitmap(bitmap);
        }
        private void BtnCamera_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e) {
            Intent intent = new Intent(MediaStore.ActionImageCapture);
            StartActivityForResult(intent, 0);
        }
    }
}

Step 8

Just create a page application name and button. This is only for demo app; you can use more codes using design in this application.

Step 9

Then, build this application; wait for a few seconds; all calling functions will get connected.

Step 10

Calling function and all processes will complete for this page. Failure is 0 and success is 1, so building process is completed.

Step 11

Select a device; I have used emulator only so I selected “5’ KitKat (4.4) Application program interface (API) 19”.

Step 12

Emulator screen appears but this emulator needs 2GB RAM so you need a minimum of 4GB RAM in your machine along with an i3 Third Generation processor.

Step 13

Access your mobile's camera.

Step 14

Take a selfie and it will be saved.

SUMMARY

In this article, you learned how to create a camera app using Android native application development feature of Xamarin with .NET Standard libraries.

If you have any questions/ feedback/ issues, please write in the comment box.