What?
A quick article on a function to allow the user to take a photo using their built-in camera or to choose an existing photo from their gallery.

Why?
I wanted both options to be available to the user and for it to replace a displayed image in an ImageView.

How?
More as a reference for myself but this displays an AlertDialog designed by an XML layout file ("res/layout/dialog_edititem_photo"). The ImageView exists in another XML with an identifier called @+id/hangar_aircraft_photo. The following is a full example of what can be added to a Main Activity Java file and will display an AlertDialog with the 3 options to "take a photo", "choose from existing", or "cancel": 
/* 201411040126 */

    static final int REQUEST_IMAGE_CAPTURE = 1;
    private static int RESULT_LOAD_IMAGE = 1;
    private static int TAKE_OR_PICK = 0;

    public void chooseOrTakePhoto(View view) {
        final View v = getLayoutInflater().inflate(R.layout.dialog_edititem_photo, null);
        AlertDialog.Builder b = new AlertDialog.Builder(this);
        LayoutInflater inflater = this.getLayoutInflater();
        b.setView(v);
        b.setPositiveButton("Take Photo", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int whichButton) {
                TAKE_OR_PICK = 1;
                Intent takePictureIntent = new Intent(
                        MediaStore.ACTION_IMAGE_CAPTURE);
                if (takePictureIntent.resolveActivity(getPackageManager()) != null) {
                    startActivityForResult(takePictureIntent, REQUEST_IMAGE_CAPTURE);
                }
            }
        });
        b.setNeutralButton("Choose Existing", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) {
                TAKE_OR_PICK = 2;
                Intent choosePictureIntent = new Intent(
                        Intent.ACTION_PICK,
                        android.provider.MediaStore.Images.Media.EXTERNAL_CONTENT_URI);
                startActivityForResult(choosePictureIntent, RESULT_LOAD_IMAGE);
            }
        });
        b.setNegativeButton("Cancel", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) {
                dialog.cancel();
            }
        });
        b.setView(inflater.inflate(R.layout.dialog_edititem_photo, null));
        b.create().show();
    }
    
    @Override
    protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {

        // if taking
        if (requestCode == REQUEST_IMAGE_CAPTURE && resultCode == RESULT_OK && null != data  && TAKE_OR_PICK == 1) {
            Bundle extras = data.getExtras();
            Bitmap imageBitmap = (Bitmap) extras.get("data");

            // my ImageView
            ImageView myPhotoImage = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.hangar_aircraft_photo);
            myPhotoImage.setImageBitmap(imageBitmap);

        // if choosing
        } else if (requestCode == RESULT_LOAD_IMAGE && resultCode == RESULT_OK && null != data  && TAKE_OR_PICK == 2) {
            Uri selectedImage = data.getData();
            String[] filePathColumn = { MediaStore.Images.Media.DATA };
            Cursor cursor = getContentResolver().query(selectedImage,filePathColumn, null, null, null);
            cursor.moveToFirst();
            int columnIndex = cursor.getColumnIndex(filePathColumn[0]);
            String picturePath = cursor.getString(columnIndex);
            cursor.close();

            // my ImageView
            ImageView myPhotoImage = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.hangar_aircraft_photo);
            myPhotoImage.setImageBitmap(BitmapFactory.decodeFile(picturePath));
        }
    }

Just in case
The ImageView I have (minus the width, height, margins, etc): 
<ImageView android:id="@+id/hangar_aircraft_photo" />

Additional
To check if the user has a camera beforehand, apparently if(hasSystemFeature(PackageManager.FEATURE_CAMERA)) is a way to go. I haven't tested yet as I need a tablet/phone that doesn't have a camera...

Applies to:
  • Android Studio v0.8.9
  • Microsoft Windows 7 Pro
  • Android: Min SDK v4.0.3 (IceCreamSandwich) API 15
  • Android: Target SDK v4.4 (KitKat) API 19