The iPhone revolutionized photography. With each iteration of the device, there was less and less need to use dedicated camera hardware. Now, most people don’t bother – and chances are you grab your phone when you want to capture a moment.
But are you getting the most from your iPhone’s built-in camera app? And which alternatives should you consider if Apple’s app isn’t enough for you? This round-up will help you decide.
Camera (free)
Best for getting started
Apple’s Camera app makes it easy to switch shooting modes and (on supported hardware) access Night mode when it’s dark, and 48MP RAW capabilities. Exposure can be manually adjusted by tapping a point on the screen and dragging up and down.
There are hidden controls too. Tap-hold the zoom button to display a dial to fine-tune your zoom level – although be mindful digital zooming reduces image quality. Or drag upward to access aspect ratios, timers, filters and fine-grained exposure settings.
For pros, the lack of manual focus and zebra stripe aids might be a deal breaker. But as a starting point for shooting images on iPhone – or a point-and-click with solid defaults – Apple’s Camera is your best bet.
Obscura 4 (free or $19.99/£19.99 per year or $64.99/£59.99 lifetime)
Best for tactile controls
Obscura has long played with concepts of tactility, alluding to the dials and controls on real-world cameras. Recent updates abstracted that idea to some degree, but the app retains its playful, usable feel.
The mode button lets you quickly switch between preconfigured context-sensitive set-ups. Photo is ideal for quick snaps, Pro adds manual controls, and there are options for Live Photos, portraits and video, each with distinct layouts. When in Pro, you can tap-hold and drag to fine-tune exposure and focus via dials – a gesture that feels natural and precise. The Obscura 4 redesign ensures controls are always within easy reach.
Elsewhere, the app includes RAW capture, filters, and library tools for digging into photo metadata. But the main reason we keep returning to this app is that while it’s pro-oriented, it’s also really fun to use.
ProCamera ($29.99/£19.99 + IAP)
Best for perspective correction
ProCamera’s default interface belies its pro features, looking disarmingly simple. On launch, you initially get fast access to lenses and a large dial for adjusting white balance. But when you dive into the main menu and switch to manual, you’ll gain fingertip access to a much wider range of controls. The result is an app that deftly balances power, control and usability.
Most pro features come with the initial one-off purchase, but the rest are bundled as a subscription (or additional $49.99/£49.99 lifetime charge). These include custom presets, a private lightbox and auto perspective correction. That last feature is a standout, especially for architectural photography. It – like the app as a whole – is an investment, for sure, but a worthwhile one for serious iPhone photographers.
Halide Mark II ($19.99/£19.99 per year or $59.99/£59.99 lifetime)
Best for thoughtful photography
Halide bills itself as the most powerful camera app for iPhone. Yet it’s approachable, with the default set-up primarily being a shutter, a lens switch button, and a manual focus strip.
Dig deeper and you unearth photography aids, including a focus loupe, focus peeking and exposure warning stripes. You can add an on-screen histograph, adjust white balance, trigger a timer, and change which buttons appear in the main toolbar. Lock Screen widgets let you jump right into a mode or lens on launch. A bespoke iPad mode is ideal for people who shoot snaps using Apple’s tablet.
Halide also lets you bypass Apple’s fancy image capture pipeline entirely, to shoot photos that feel more natural and less processed. Suffice to say if you have an interest in measured, thoughtful, pro-oriented iPhone – or iPad – photography, this app’s a must.
ProCam 8 ($9.99/£9.99)
Best value pro camera
ProCam gives you plenty of control over iPhone photography. Surrounding the viewfinder are plentiful buttons, providing immediate access to a wealth of features, including format, exposure, focus, shutter speed, and white balance.
Menus provide access to many more options (guides; focus assists; tilt meter; timer behaviors), enabling you to make your personal set-up just so. And the app’s many shooting modes – including time lapse, video, burst, and 3D – make it a great option if your shooting needs are varied.
In use, the app lacks the refinement of Obscura and Halide, with an interface that can feel cluttered. But it’s also efficient. Fast access to so many features coupled with the lowish one-off price tag (a rarity these days) makes it a good buy.
Hipstamatic Classic ($2.99/£2.49 + IAP)
Best for analog vibes
If you’ve only ever known shooting photos on phones, you’ll be enamored by the relentless march of technology. But if you once loved film, you might miss its grime and randomness. Hipstamatic Classic brings all that back.
With your iPhone in landscape, you get an old-school camera – and can swap out lenses, flashes and films that add distinct character to shots. (You get a small selection of virtual kit with the app. More is available via IAP.) For fans of point-and-shoot, it’s a joy.
If you desire control, you get that too. You can save clean images alongside rendered shots, and the pro camera mode adds manual focus, exposure and shutter speed. For fans of old and new, this app’s the best of both worlds.
Also consider…
Dazz Camm (free + IAP): More analog film mimicry with a smattering of toy camera fun. Some nice lenses and effects here that are worth exploring, especially if Hipstamatic doesn’t click with you.
Hydra 2 (free + IAP): This camera app bangs the AI drum, using its smarts to go beyond your iPhone’s sensors. That means higher-resolution shots and more powerful zooms – and the results can wow.
Lightroom (free): This Adobe app is primarily an editor but bundles a camera with manual controls. It feels basic, stark and unfriendly but the results are solid and it’s free to use.
ReeHeld ($7.99/£6.99 per year or $19.99/£17.99 lifetime): This one aims to shoot long exposures without you needing a tripod. The results are impressive. Unconvinced? You get ten free shots to try it out before buying.
Retrica (free or $2.99/£2.79 per month): This minimalist app makes it a cinch to work with live filters and bolts on a multi-shot (labeled ‘collage’) for good measure. The pro tier adds more save presets and a real-time adjustment feature.
Slow Shutter Cam ($2.99/£2.99): Other camera apps offer time-lapse, but this one focuses entirely on the task. Its mix of quality features combined with a generous low-price make it a great buy – if you’re armed with a tripod.
SoSo Camera Beauty ($0.99/99p + $0.99/99p ad-free): An excellent multishot camera, with a range of filters, a fully configurable grid, custom duration settings between shots, and a wallet-friendly low price. Highly recommended and lots of fun.