Our Verdict
One of the most common piece of advice for those who want to take their iPhone picture taking more seriously ( yes , people do take it seriously ) is to avoid shooting photos in Apple ’s build - in tv camera app . Many third - party photo - taking apps offer more mastery and features , turn over the iPhone ’s television camera into a sinewy tool for professional person and hobbyist alike .
One camera alternative isLucky Clan’sTop Camera , which pack in numerous photo - pickings modes , impressive exposure - redaction tool , and more into a single package .
Top Camera fall with more features than other all - in - one television camera apps likeCamera+ , and is standardised to such offerings as Camera Plus Pro . Not only does it include different still - shooting mode such as HDR , Burst , and Slow Shutter , but exploiter can also snap telecasting from within the app , organize photo into different leaflet , and delete and add filter to photos directly from within the app .
Choose your mode: Tap the setting icon next to the camera button to choose your desired shooting mode. You can also turn on a stabilizer that will make sure your hands are steady before taking a photo.
select your way : Tap the position icon next to the camera clit to choose your desired shot modal value . you’re able to also turn on a stabiliser that will make certain your hands are steady before taking a photo .
Opening Top Camera always brings you to still television camera mode ( even if you last used the app to edit a picture or frivol away in picture mode ) . The screenland should feel conversant to anyone who has used a photo - taking app — you’re able to see what you ’re shooting on the screen , tap where you require to focus , and take the gibe by tapping the main camera clitoris .
But Top Camera offers more : you may solicit and drag the focus and exposure box seat into two separate boxes , open a options menu to adjust legion lineament , and change your shooting mode . The HDR shooting mode is specially prissy . The app prompts you to tap on the burnished and darkest areas of a jibe , and produces a really polished image with that information .
Toggle it on: In the main Settings, you can choose to activate a long list of features. Take advantage of everything the app has to offer by enabling everything..
From the preferences menu you may turn on or off the Screen Button ( which turns your screen into a capture release ) , Zoom , Grid , and more . Users can also modify each shooting mode on an private basis ; for instance , you may change the HDR camera mode to either Auto or Manual , and choose to have a weak , average , or strong effect . One of the neatest features that come with Top Camera is its power to shoot photos using the book button . This bid increased constancy , and a more camera - similar manner to shoot photos . you could also tapdance on the semitransparent house of cards image at the top right corner , to correct the brightness , contrast , saturation , and temperature , and see the changes bump live before taking a gibe .
Toggle it on : In the main configurations , you’re able to take to activate a long inclination of lineament . Take vantage of everything the app has to provide by enabling everything ..
user can choose to have exposure automatically save to the app ’s double booklet , your equipment ’s Camera Roll , or both . Within the app you’re able to create different case of folders — Jeff ’s Birthday or Beach Trip , for example — which is a great feature for those who need to keep their images organize . you’re able to also blue-pencil photograph within the app by tapping the export button when previewing a exposure , and then rap edit ( it ’s not necessarily the most intuitive shoes to put this option , but it works ) .
More filters, please: Top Camera’s Photo Editor offers more than 30 different filters, and lets you adjust, crop, and edit the image.
Unfortunately Top Camera have from one major flaw that prevents it from being a truly useful app for iPhone photographer : it lacks an AF / AE ( Auto Focus / Auto Exposure ) lock in photographic camera modality . This small - yet - crucial feature is something Apple even included in its latestiOS 5 version of Camera . Top Camera is constantly refocusing and re - expose the shot , and if you move the soma , the centering and exposure box seat will leap back to the middle .
Some other minor annoyances I had with the app let in its video shooting quality . you could pick out between broken , medium , and high quality video shot , but high calibre shoots as if you ’ve zoom in , medium is more or less granular , and low is just plain awful . Since this is an app mainly focused on still - image capture , it ’s not that much of a problem .
Overall , Top Camera is a decent all - in - one app . If the developers update the app to admit AF / AE lock , it could be a perfect go - to Camera choice for iPhone drug user . For now , however , it ’s only a respectable option for those who just use motorcar - exposure and focus .
[ Alexandra Chang is a staff editor program with Macworld . ]
