Which camera app for the iphone?

[snerkler]

I’ll be getting the iPhone 14 pro for the improved camera for the times I don’t have my proper camera with me and wondered which app would be the best for my needs. I’m aware of Halide 2, ProCamera, Procam8, and Camera + 2 but not appear to have all the functions that I’d ideally want. Wants list is:-

1. The ability to save raw (not ProRaw) and JPEG’s, including the full 48mp files and pixel binned files.

2. Portrait mode with simulated background defocus

3. Macro Mode.

4. Panorama, preferably in raw.


Are there any apps that do all of this or would I need to run a 3rd party app alongside the native camera app?

TIA

 

[akash.nu]

I’ve found the native camera app to be the most balanced and easy to use across the board when it comes to actually taking the shot.

You can edit the pictures later once you have them.

 

[snerkler]

I’ve found the native camera app to be the most balanced and easy to use across the board when it comes to actually taking the shot.

You can edit the pictures later once you have them.

Yeah, the problem is you don’t get raw only ProRaw which has processing applied, and I’m not sure you can save ProRaw and jpeg simultaneously?

 

[akash.nu]

Yeah, the problem is you don’t get raw only ProRaw which has processing applied, and I’m not sure you can save ProRaw and jpeg simultaneously?

Ah ok I see.

Yeah it’s only ProRaw and you can’t save jpeg alongside the Raw ones.

 

[mackmgg]

Yeah, the problem is you don’t get raw only ProRaw which has processing applied, and I’m not sure you can save ProRaw and jpeg simultaneously?

ProRAW definitely has some processing applied, but it's still as RAW as you're going to get. It has all of the actual RAW data (again as much as you can get out of the phone) plus the processing separately, so when you pull it into something like Lightroom you get a relatively unprocessed image.

I'll second the recommendation to at least start out with the default Camera app unless there's something specific you want that it doesn't have. I've tried most of the apps, and Halide is good but I only use it when I want full manual focus control or a 48MP photo that isn't RAW.

 

[snerkler]

ProRAW definitely has some processing applied, but it's still as RAW as you're going to get. It has all of the actual RAW data (again as much as you can get out of the phone) plus the processing separately, so when you pull it into something like Lightroom you get a relatively unprocessed image.

I'll second the recommendation to at least start out with the default Camera app unless there's something specific you want that it doesn't have. I've tried most of the apps, and Halide is good but I only use it when I want full manual focus control or a 48MP photo that isn't RAW.

Thanks for the reply. The main reason is to get an unprocessed raw, but also the ability to shoot raw and jpeg simultaneously. The latter does have a workaround in the native app I believe in that you can use photos to process the photo and save as jpeg yet retain the ProRaw for proper editing at a later date, is this correct?

 

[akash.nu]

Thanks for the reply. The main reason is to get an unprocessed raw, but also the ability to shoot raw and jpeg simultaneously. The latter does have a workaround in the native app I believe in that you can use photos to process the photo and save as jpeg yet retain the ProRaw for proper editing at a later date, is this correct?

If you’re talking about having a JPEG version and if the scene is static then I think the easiest would be to just turn off RAW & take another shot using the native camera app.

 

[snerkler]

If you’re talking about having a JPEG version and if the scene is static then I think the easiest would be to just turn off RAW & take another shot using the native camera app.

Yeah I could do that, but it would be a little irritating. Halide and ProCamera allow you to shoot both simultaneously so they're looking like the front runners at the moment 👍🏻

 

[mackmgg]

Thanks for the reply. The main reason is to get an unprocessed raw, but also the ability to shoot raw and jpeg simultaneously. The latter does have a workaround in the native app I believe in that you can use photos to process the photo and save as jpeg yet retain the ProRaw for proper editing at a later date, is this correct?

That’s essentially the difference between ProRAW and normal RAW files, the ProRAW contains the full raw data and then also the data required to process it into a JPG. That’s how the Photos app can export the JPG that would be identical to if you had RAW turned off, but without having to store duplicated photos.

 

[snerkler]

That’s essentially the difference between ProRAW and normal RAW files, the ProRAW contains the full raw data and then also the data required to process it into a JPG. That’s how the Photos app can export the JPG that would be identical to if you had RAW turned off, but without having to store duplicated photos.

Are you sure that’s correct? My understanding is that the ProRaw has processing applied, just nowhere near as aggressive as jpeg.

 

[mackmgg]

Are you sure that’s correct? My understanding is that the ProRaw has processing applied, just nowhere near as aggressive as jpeg.

It depends what you mean by "processing" I guess. It's already demosaiced so if you wanted to use your own software for that you can't. And it can have processing like Night Mode or HDR already done, but it doesn't have any of the other iOS processing necessarily.

Halide has a good article explaining the difference between RAW and ProRAW: https://lux.camera/understanding-proraw/

 

[snerkler]

It depends what you mean by "processing" I guess. It's already demosaiced so if you wanted to use your own software for that you can't. And it can have processing like Night Mode or HDR already done, but it doesn't have any of the other iOS processing necessarily.

Halide has a good article explaining the difference between RAW and ProRAW: https://lux.camera/understanding-proraw/

Thanks, I'll take a look at that 👍🏻

 

[mtbdudex]

It depends what you mean by "processing" I guess. It's already demosaiced so if you wanted to use your own software for that you can't. And it can have processing like Night Mode or HDR already done, but it doesn't have any of the other iOS processing necessarily.

Halide has a good article explaining the difference between RAW and ProRAW: https://lux.camera/understanding-proraw/

A good read, plus this bonus
"One detail makes this especially tricky: deciding which white is “true” white. If you’ve ever shopped for light bulbs, you know every white light in the real world has a slight yellow or blue tint. Our brains adjust our perception of white, based on hints in our surroundings. It’s called color constancy, and it’s why this yellow/blue dress optical illusion fools people."

 

[citysnaps]

I've tried various iPhone photo apps over the years. And finding them cumbersome, I keep going back to Apple's that comes with the phone. Seems to do what I need it to do.

 

[snerkler]

I've tried various iPhone photo apps over the years. And finding them cumbersome, I keep going back to Apple's that comes with the phone. Seems to do what I need it to do.

I ended up trying both Halide and ProCamera, am going to stick with ProCamera as I really like it and does pretty much everything I want. The only downside is that (according to the Halide and ProCamera's developers) Apple have blocked 48mp in standard raw, it's only available in ProRaw.