Do you find yourself wishing that your iPhone had more features? The iPhone’s camera is actually very fast and quite easy to use. Additionally, the latest version of the iPhone’s camera comes with many great features—excellent zoom, HDR, geo-tagging, and more.
Although there have been many improvements over the years since the first iPhone camera was released in 2008, there are still features or tools people want to experience whenever they attempt to capture images with their iPhone camera. Fortunately, camera replacement apps are growing in number and are becoming quite common these days.
How to Choose Camera Replacement Apps
While this is good news, the question that arises is, “Which replacement apps should I download and use?” To help you decide, here are some basics:
- Experts claim that an excellent camera replacement app should build on iPhone’s basic camera features and should offer more advanced tools for the iPhoneographer (a person who takes pictures with their iPhone).
- It should be quicker to take pictures, consisting of good composition grid lines, easy-to-use focus and exposure targets, full resolution support, fast shot-to-shot time, along with a good, full-resolution digital zoom.
Based on these criteria, below you will find some of the best camera replacement apps on the market as of this writing:
1. Camera+ by tap tap tap ($1.99)
This is an extremely popular application that allows the iPhoneographer to adjust the focus and exposure separately. In addition, you get to enjoy the following features: 5x zoom, alignment grid, stabilizer, timer, ability to turn your flash into a continuous fill light, and more. It also offers different scene modes—like a digital camera from sunset, beach, portrait, etc.
2. Camera Genius by CodeGoo ($2.99)
This application is one of the best when it comes to stills and video shots because it offers 6x digital zoom, a full screen button (making it easier to take pictures on the fly), a timer, image stabilization and a mini burst mode that will take three action shots quickly. At the same time, it offers a photo-composition guide and more.
3. Camera Plus Pro by Global Delight Technologies Pvt. Ltd ($1.99)
One of the things iPhoneographers love the most about this camera replacement app is its speed. It offers live video and still filters, allowing users to see the preview effects before taking their shot. It also offers burst mode where you can take 40 shots in rapid succession. In addition, it has a wide variety of editing and darkroom effects, private photo and video collection storage, photo transfer through Wi-Fi and the ability to share photos in social networking sites.
4. ProCamera 7 by Cocologics ($0.99)
ProCamera 7 is a camera replacement application that is quick and easy to use. It boasts having the following features: a stable 6x digital zoom, dedicated anti-shake shutter button, separate focus/exposure and white balance adjustment, new night camera, advanced editing controls plus new filters and effects, single batch sharing on social platforms, and so much more.
5. QuickPix by Two Teeth Technologies ($1.99)
One notable feature of QuickPix is it works faster than the native camera while allowing you to shoot simultaneous video and still photos. The great thing about this option is you do not have to choose between the two. It also offers burst mode with an excellent balance of speed, simplicity, and nice features for individuals do not need the more feature-heavy apps found in the essentials category.
6. PureShot by Michael Hardaker ($1.99)
This filter-free camera app offers elegant interface and it specializes in taking unprocessed and unfiltered images. PureShot is widely known or its user-friendly interface and configurable features that can be customized to suit your individual needs. It provides you with the ability to save uncompressed TIFF and JPG versions of your images. It also offers unique features such as the standard 4:3 image ratio, night mode for extended shutter speeds, positionable spot-metering, and many others. It also works with the camera of iPad and is ideal for those who want to point and shoot.
7. 645PRO Mk II by Michael Hardaker ($3.99)
This camera replacement app has the best features that professional photographers can’t find in any other app. First, it offers a wide variety of useful options such as the viewfinder, saving, shutter release, low light, artist & copyright, and many more. With these options, you can take control of the image quality and see what happens if you tap the on-screen shutter. You can also take advantage of the films and lens filters that allow you to change the color scheme that you like.
8. Camera 360 Ultimate by PinGuo Inc. (Free)
This is one of the best and most popular camera replacement apps available today. It’s fully packed with features and has been recently updated to provide you with more useful settings. With the use of the app, you can take images with auto-lighting adjustment, add effects, play puzzles with your image, create scenes, and access everything through cloud service.
9. Camera Zoom FX by NextG Team ($3.99)
This fully featured app offers extra camera functions as well as tons of photo-editing options. It is designed to support your iPhone’s regular zoom lens and front-facing camera. It also gives you full control over numerous settings such as the exposure, brightness, contrast, ISO settings, and many others. There is also an option for voice activated shots that you can use in case you don’t want to touch your iPhone when taking pictures.
10. Camera Awesome by SmugMug (Free)
Camera Awesome is another app made popular by the sheer number of shooting modes it offers as well as with its editing and effect features. The app can help you compose your shots better by making visual horizontal level and grid overlays available. You can even tap your two fingers on the screen to separately focus settings and set exposure. Other things that the app allows you to do include activating the shot timer, turning on the image stabilizer, and choosing either the slow or the fast burst mode.
Try any of these fully featured camera replacement apps and you will see how easy and fun it is to produce amazing pictures. For starters, you may want to try on the free apps, and you can upgrade to paid apps in case you want more features.