ADVANCED iOS CAMERA APPS
Unleash your creative side with upgraded camera apps
Group test
Reviewed by HOLLIN JONES
ON TEST…
Camera
+ Focos
Halide Mark II Obscura 3
Pro Camera by Moment
ProCam 8
They say the best camera is the one you have with you and iPhones have made that more true than ever. We always carry our phones and over the years their cameras have got so good that they have effectively taken over the market for small and mid-level point-andshoot digital cameras. Apple’s iOS Camera app however isn’t as fully featured as it could be.
You may be surprised to learn that iPhone camera hardware supports an extensive range of features that aren’t in the standard iOS app including manual shutter, exposure and ISO setting and manual focusing. On top of this, developers add software features like focus peaking, exposure bracketing, clipping display and shooting in high-quality formats like TIFF. And in many cases these are all available for video shooting too. These features give you more creative control in addition to the regular automatic shooting modes, and can help you to take better pictures. Often inexpensive, they are a great way to unleash your inner photographer using the iPhone you already own.
How we tested
Using iPhone 11 and 13 models, we tested the apps in a variety of lighting conditions and with different subjects including still life, landscapes, portraits and action scenes. Video performance was also assessed where supported. Ease of use was a factor, especially when using advanced manual controls during hand holding of the phone, as was the pricing model employed by each app developer.