How great is it that you now have a camera right in your pocket to capture that perfect picture! Nowadays, you don’t need an expensive camera that takes a lot of time and work to figure out. Just open that digital camera on your smartphone!
Smartphone camera apps continue to improve every year and I am simply amazed at how simple it is to get that professional looking picture! So, now there is no reason to let that once in a lifetime, perfect photo opportunity pass you by!
Like most, I have used the native iPhone camera as long as I have had a smartphone. I am nowhere near a professional photographer, so any pictures I took were always hit or miss. Some turned out good and the ones that weren’t too blurry were just plain “good enough”. How discouraging is that!
I love taking pictures and always looking for opportunities to take a good one. I just wanted them to be somewhat decent looking to use in creating digital scrapbooks.
Well, you don’t have to settle for just “good enough” anymore! I did a lot of research and not only found out what I was doing wrong; but, learned quite a bit in the process. WOW, it was such a simple fix! I decided it was time to upgrade to a third-party camera app. Now, my pictures look almost as if they were taken with my DSLR!
Terms to Know
The photography jargon really threw me for a loop. So, here are a few terms you need to know, written in plain English.
- Depth of Field – The sharpest area of a picture that is the focal point, with the outer area out-of-focus.
- Bokeh – The quality or amount of out-of-focus blur in a picture.
- Exposure – Expresses how light or dark a picture is.
- ISO – Controls how much graininess will show in the picture.
- Shutter Speed – Controls how much motion will show up in the picture.
- White Balance – Control the “temperature” of a picture to highlight the most vivid colors.
Smartphone Camera Apps
First things first, let’s talk about the camera app you are currently using. Whether you have an android or iPhone, the native camera apps are improving every year and okay for snapping quick pics. But, if you are looking for sharp, clear pictures, upgrade to a camera app that gives you more control over shutter speed, ISO, white balance, exposure and focus.
Choosing Third-Party Camera Apps
After experimenting with several different camera apps over the last few weeks, I found a few that that were easy to use, allowed for instant editing, and produced great pictures. I must be honest, if I opened an app and couldn’t figure it out instantly…it was gone.
Most are free for the basic package and some have a minimal fee to purchase, nowhere near the cost of a good DSLR!
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Focos (iOS Devices)
Allows you to adjust from auto to manual mode giving you full access to shutter speed, white balance and ISO. One feature I love is the manual control in creating bokeh effects (blurring background images so the focus is on the main object). In addition, you have instant access to several editing tools (including refocusing after the fact) and special effects to add your pictures.
Price: Free (with limited access to filters and features)
In-App Purchases – Lifetime unlimited access $10.99
Monthly subscription $0.99
Yearly subscription $6.99 -
VSCO (iOS and Android Devices)
Works just like Focus, allowing you to adjust to full manual modes. If you subscribe to the yearly membership, you can access a multitude of presets, filters and editing tools. It also offers in-app purchases with additional presets and filters to enhance your pictures. In addition, it has integrated photo sharing to show off your work!
Price: Free (with limited access to filters and features)
In-App Purchases – Yearly subscription $19.99 -
Moment (iOS and Android Devices)
Another great camera app that gives you full access to manual controls for photo and video. It has very interesting features such as the ability to split focus and exposure with a simple two-finger tap. In addition, if you are trying to capture a quick pic in a snap, the swipe access to exposure and focus is perfect so you don’t miss it!
Price: Free (with limited access to filters and features)
In-App Purchases – Pro Upgrade $3.99
Presets/Filters $1.99 – $3.99 -
Camera+2 (iOS Devices)
In addition to manual controls, Camera+2 offers several shooting modes, including portrait mode and dedicated slow shutter mode for exposures up to 30 seconds. It also has several filters with adjustable strengths and photo editing tools to polish off your work of art!
Price: $2.99 (includes all features, filters and tools)
Overall, my search for simplicity wasn’t an easy task, but in the end, it produced great results. Now that you have your camera app ready to go, check out our Simple Tips for Incredible Smartphone Photos.
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