iPhone 16 Pro In praise of Camera Control

[Pandyone]

I figured there needs to be a thread that celebrates the Camera Control (… button).
I'm reading a lot of posts about the placement and actual usefulness of CC, and there are many negative experiences (many seem to be with the Pro Max).

Personally, I really like the Camera Control and the placement (on 16 Pro). I hope Apple will expand on the features and customisation of it.
Now I wish we could change manual focus in camera, change order of the settings when swiping and maybe even disable options.

 

[1096bimu]

I don't hate it, it's better than nothing that's for sure. I just feel like it's not done as well as it could've been.

• The physical hard press is too stiff, to the point where pressing it to take a photo often shakes the phone.
• Having to press it first before you can start adjustment is really bad, the whole point of this is quick adjustment, but having to awkwardly press it to activate make it just as slow as using the touchscreen.
• It has way too many adjustment options that make zero sense, Depth, Style and Tone should not be part of it since all those things can be adjusted in post anyway. Instead it should have exposure, white balance, and zoom.

 

[Wizec]

I don't hate it, it's better than nothing that's for sure. I just feel like it's not done as well as it could've been.

• The physical hard press is too stiff, to the point where pressing it to take a photo often shakes the phone.
• Having to press it first before you can start adjustment is really bad, the whole point of this is quick adjustment, but having to awkwardly press it to activate make it just as slow as using the touchscreen.
• It has way too many adjustment options that make zero sense, Depth, Style and Tone should not be part of it since all those things can be adjusted in post anyway. Instead it should have exposure, white balance, and zoom.

This is great feedback. I was hoping it would be really useful, but what I'm hearing so far is not that positive.

 

[th1nk]

I wish it had at least some way to feel by touch where the button actually is. It‘s way to smooth and flush with the surrounding frame. I sometimes found myself pressing the frame next to the button and wondered why nothing happened lol.

 

[DunedinD]

I don't hate it, it's better than nothing that's for sure. I just feel like it's not done as well as it could've been.

• The physical hard press is too stiff, to the point where pressing it to take a photo often shakes the phone.
• Having to press it first before you can start adjustment is really bad, the whole point of this is quick adjustment, but having to awkwardly press it to activate make it just as slow as using the touchscreen.
• It has way too many adjustment options that make zero sense, Depth, Style and Tone should not be part of it since all those things can be adjusted in post anyway. Instead it should have exposure, white balance, and zoom.

There are some accessibility settings that might help with the first point. Apologies if you’ve already tried it. https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/iphone/iph22c8345f8/ios

 

[Zensō]

Loving it so far, though it did take a couple of days to start building some muscle memory. For those who didn’t like it initially, I’d suggest giving it time as it will eventually become second nature with practice.

 

[DMG35]

I have to say I'm not a fan of it. Its not intuitive and I don't feel it improves the photo taking experience. Zooming in is far to much of a chore to do when just using the screen is so much easier. Maybe it will just take some getting used to but it seems like its a button that was created just for the heck of it without looking to see if it actually improved the photo taking experience..

I'm getting major touchbar vibes from it. I didn't hate the touchbar, but didn't think it was something that ever needed to be created.

 

[azhava]

Just discovered that if you 'flick' the Camera Control button rather than sliding it, it bypasses all the in-between digital zoom and goes directly to the next actual lens setting (0.5 > 1 > 2 > 5). That makes it even better and more useful to me!

 

[joshwithachance]

There’s nothing about camera control that makes the experience any better, easier, quicker or more intuitive than just using the volume, action and/or on screen buttons imo.

 

[Kylo83]

Just made a post it’s terrible, it caused phone shake with a blurry photo using the normal screen is pin sharp with no phone shake, also all the settings are slower than using the touch screen

 

[Ac1d 8urn]

I think it's neat and useful, though I wish it had dual function as Touch ID. Would also be nice to assign it to open any app or run shortcuts too.

 

[gigapocket1]

I like it. it just takes to hard of a press to take a photo.

 

[Zensō]

Just made a post it’s terrible, it caused phone shake with a blurry photo using the normal screen is pin sharp with no phone shake, also all the settings are slower than using the touch screen

It’s totally fine if you squeeze as on a DSLR.

 

[Kylo83]

It’s totally fine if you squeeze as on a DSLR.

no a phone is not the same as a dslr, and like I said it causes phone shake and causes blurry issues

 

[klasma]

There are some accessibility settings that might help with the first point. Apologies if you’ve already tried it. https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/iphone/iph22c8345f8/ios

Those are only able to change the light (fake) press, not the hard (physical) press that people are criticizing.

 

[Kylo83]

Those are only able to change the light (fake) press, not the hard (physical) press that people are criticizing.

Yeah to take a photo it shouldn’t be a hard press it should be that light fake press, the hard press is to hard and cause phone shake and blurry image, no real camera shutter button is that hard to take a photo

 

[Zensō]

no a phone is not the same as a dslr, and like I said it causes phone shake and causes blurry issues

Like I said, zero issues here. After many dozens of shots, not a single photo with motion blur.

 

[klasma]

Yeah to take a photo it shouldn’t be a hard press it should be that light fake press, the hard press is to hard and cause phone shake and blurry image, no real camera shutter button is that hard to take a photo

Yeah, this is so weird. I had that issue when using the volume button to take pictures, and assumed that one motivation for the camera button for Apple was to solve that problem.

 

[Pandyone]

There’s nothing about camera control that makes the experience any better, easier, quicker or more intuitive than just using the volume, action and/or on screen buttons imo.

I think it takes some time getting used to it, but I prefer it over on screen zoom and would love to be able to customise it more. There is room for improvement to make it more intuitive.

Just made a post it’s terrible, it caused phone shake with a blurry photo using the normal screen is pin sharp with no phone shake, also all the settings are slower than using the touch screen

I have not noticed any shakes in photos.
I would like the on screen UI to not disappear when using it though, so those still it quickly accessible.

 

[azhava]

I think it takes some time getting used to it, but I prefer it over on screen zoom and would love to be able to customise it more. There is room for improvement to make it more intuitive.



I have not noticed any shakes in photos.
I would like the on screen UI to not disappear when using it though, so those still it quickly accessible.

Settings > Camera Control > make sure "Clean Preview" switch is off.

I have it turned off, and have the full UI available on screen even when using the Camera Control button.

 

[black_knight]

Like I said, zero issues here. After many dozens of shots, not a single photo with motion blur.

I think some of these people have terrible motor skills and hand-eye coordination. You really gotta be shaking the phone hard (non-night photo), to induce blur.

Can’t believe the negativity from some of these folks. Sheesh, return the thing ffs.

 

[Pandyone]

Settings > Camera Control > make sure "Clean Preview" switch is off.

I have it turned off, and have the full UI available on screen even when using the Camera Control button.

Thank you! I had completely missed it, or maybe just misunderstood what it actually meant.

 

[Diorama]

I think some of these people have terrible motor skills and hand-eye coordination. You really gotta be shaking the phone hard (non-night photo), to induce blur.

Can’t believe the negativity from some of these folks. Sheesh, return the thing ffs.

I do think it’s an odd choice, the required pressure level they have gone with; for obvious reasons the shutter button on cameras, from SLRs to disposable snappers, has been more of a ‘hair trigger’.
There have even been those button snake things (no idea the proper name), so you can snap a shot from the tripod without causing wobble/blur.

I imagine they went with this level of pressure to:
a) prevent false positives opening the camera app
b) give a clear differentiation between the ‘light’ software press and the real shutter click.

It’s not dooming to think that it’s quite a hard press required (relative to literally any real camera).

 

[TrendyLicious]

I've found the whole experience a little complicated. On the 16 Pro Max it's easier to reach the on screen shutter button than it is the capture button. Pressing the capture button shakes the phone too much and I've ended up with blurry photos. The only way to use the capture button is holding the phone with two hands, where previously I could use my 13 Pro Max single handed.
I've gone into accessibility and played around with the hardness of presses, and have now decided to turn off the camera control adjustments as I kept finding myself accidentally zooming in and out when trying to use the button to take a photo.

I didn't upgrade for this feature, it was time to upgrade going from a 13 series, but for me, it hasn't really added any useful functionality that I didn't already have.

I feel like Steve Jobs would be having a conniption at the added button...

 

[Jackbequickly]

no a phone is not the same as a dslr, and like I said it causes phone shake and causes blurry issues

STOP stabbing at the button and just squeeze it, simple. Just like shooting a rifle!