diff --git a/camera/ndk/impl/ACameraDevice.cpp b/camera/ndk/impl/ACameraDevice.cpp
index 907debc..c908323 100644
--- a/camera/ndk/impl/ACameraDevice.cpp
+++ b/camera/ndk/impl/ACameraDevice.cpp
@@ -50,11 +50,11 @@
 CameraDevice::CameraDevice(
         const char* id,
         ACameraDevice_StateCallbacks* cb,
-        std::unique_ptr<ACameraMetadata> chars,
+        sp<ACameraMetadata> chars,
         ACameraDevice* wrapper) :
         mCameraId(id),
         mAppCallbacks(*cb),
-        mChars(std::move(chars)),
+        mChars(chars),
         mServiceCallback(new ServiceCallback(this)),
         mWrapper(wrapper),
         mInError(false),
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@
     if (req == nullptr) {
         return;
     }
-    delete req->settings;
+    req->settings.clear();
     delete req->targets;
     delete req;
 }
diff --git a/camera/ndk/impl/ACameraDevice.h b/camera/ndk/impl/ACameraDevice.h
index 1369148..7d64081 100644
--- a/camera/ndk/impl/ACameraDevice.h
+++ b/camera/ndk/impl/ACameraDevice.h
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
 class CameraDevice final : public RefBase {
   public:
     CameraDevice(const char* id, ACameraDevice_StateCallbacks* cb,
-                  std::unique_ptr<ACameraMetadata> chars,
+                  sp<ACameraMetadata> chars,
                   ACameraDevice* wrapper);
     ~CameraDevice();
 
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@
     mutable Mutex mDeviceLock;
     const String8 mCameraId;                          // Camera ID
     const ACameraDevice_StateCallbacks mAppCallbacks; // Callback to app
-    const std::unique_ptr<ACameraMetadata> mChars;    // Camera characteristics
+    const sp<ACameraMetadata> mChars;                 // Camera characteristics
     const sp<ServiceCallback> mServiceCallback;
     ACameraDevice* mWrapper;
 
@@ -294,8 +294,8 @@
  */
 struct ACameraDevice {
     ACameraDevice(const char* id, ACameraDevice_StateCallbacks* cb,
-                  std::unique_ptr<ACameraMetadata> chars) :
-            mDevice(new CameraDevice(id, cb, std::move(chars), this)) {}
+                  sp<ACameraMetadata> chars) :
+            mDevice(new CameraDevice(id, cb, chars, this)) {}
 
     ~ACameraDevice() {};
 
diff --git a/camera/ndk/impl/ACameraManager.cpp b/camera/ndk/impl/ACameraManager.cpp
index c59d0e7..ee67677 100644
--- a/camera/ndk/impl/ACameraManager.cpp
+++ b/camera/ndk/impl/ACameraManager.cpp
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@
 }
 
 camera_status_t ACameraManager::getCameraCharacteristics(
-        const char *cameraIdStr, ACameraMetadata **characteristics) {
+        const char* cameraIdStr, sp<ACameraMetadata>* characteristics) {
     Mutex::Autolock _l(mLock);
 
     sp<hardware::ICameraService> cs = CameraManagerGlobal::getInstance().getCameraService();
@@ -437,18 +437,16 @@
         const char* cameraId,
         ACameraDevice_StateCallbacks* callback,
         /*out*/ACameraDevice** outDevice) {
-    ACameraMetadata* rawChars;
-    camera_status_t ret = getCameraCharacteristics(cameraId, &rawChars);
+    sp<ACameraMetadata> chars;
+    camera_status_t ret = getCameraCharacteristics(cameraId, &chars);
     Mutex::Autolock _l(mLock);
     if (ret != ACAMERA_OK) {
         ALOGE("%s: cannot get camera characteristics for camera %s. err %d",
                 __FUNCTION__, cameraId, ret);
         return ACAMERA_ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER;
     }
-    std::unique_ptr<ACameraMetadata> chars(rawChars);
-    rawChars = nullptr;
 
-    ACameraDevice* device = new ACameraDevice(cameraId, callback, std::move(chars));
+    ACameraDevice* device = new ACameraDevice(cameraId, callback, chars);
 
     sp<hardware::ICameraService> cs = CameraManagerGlobal::getInstance().getCameraService();
     if (cs == nullptr) {
diff --git a/camera/ndk/impl/ACameraManager.h b/camera/ndk/impl/ACameraManager.h
index cc42f77..ce65769 100644
--- a/camera/ndk/impl/ACameraManager.h
+++ b/camera/ndk/impl/ACameraManager.h
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@
     static void     deleteCameraIdList(ACameraIdList* cameraIdList);
 
     camera_status_t getCameraCharacteristics(
-            const char *cameraId, ACameraMetadata **characteristics);
+            const char* cameraId, android::sp<ACameraMetadata>* characteristics);
     camera_status_t openCamera(const char* cameraId,
                                ACameraDevice_StateCallbacks* callback,
                                /*out*/ACameraDevice** device);
diff --git a/camera/ndk/impl/ACaptureRequest.h b/camera/ndk/impl/ACaptureRequest.h
index 06b2cc3..b11dafb 100644
--- a/camera/ndk/impl/ACaptureRequest.h
+++ b/camera/ndk/impl/ACaptureRequest.h
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
         return ACAMERA_OK;
     }
 
-    ACameraMetadata*      settings;
+    sp<ACameraMetadata>   settings;
     ACameraOutputTargets* targets;
     void*                 context;
 };