Best iPhone Camera Apps for Photos in 2019

Today iPhones have a default Camera that is easy to fire up, has robust features and supports the latest hardware such as the dual lens.  Unlike any third-party App, Camera is quickly available from the lock screen. 

Default IOS Camera Overview

• Capture high-quality photos
• Focus and Exposure
• Portrait Mode with Depth Matte
• Blur the background with Portrait Mode
• Live Photos of moving images
• Action photos with burst mode
• Shoots HDR Photos for better exposure
• Launch from the lock screen
• Pano mode for capturing ultra-wide panoramic photos.

* Portrait mode is only available on: iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, XR, XS, and XS Max.

Apple’s Camera App keeps improving, and it’s hard to see why anyone would want to compete with Apple on their own hardware. So how can developers compete?

Apple provides developers with the full spectrum of Camera features in the form of IOS APIs. They do this to support all kinds of Apps like Snapchat or Instagram, Drones or Games, or other Apps that need access to the onboard camera.

But for basic photography, let’s look at some Apps that are a step up from the default Camera. Each of these Apps use the camera APIs, so in that sense, they have no inherent advantage over each other or the default Camera App. For useful third-party Apps, they should provide the following features above and beyond the default Camera App.


Special Features that Best Camera was looking for. 

• Strategic App Design: ease of use while enhancing on the default features.
• Manual Controls: for more detailed focus, exposure, ISO, white balance and shutter speed.
• Enhanced Portrait mode:  new iPhones with dual cameras provide depth information. A depth map is like an image; but instead of each pixel providing color, the pixel indicates the distance from the camera to that pixel in the image. We are looking for Apps that build mattes for on the fly green screening, background blurring or even something completely different.
• Raw Capture: uncompressed raw images provide better quality at the expense of larger file sizes. But the higher quality is a valuable special feature.
• Fast Capture: the capture phase needs to be fast even while implementing enhanced features. 
• Better Image Effects: the default Camera has some effects, but this is an opportunity for a third-party camera App to shine if done well. 

Best Camera's Choices for 2019 iPhone Photography 

1. Camera+ 2

• Great for controlling background blur in portrait mode. Has an onboard editor. 
• Manual Mode for better control of shutter speed, ISO and white balance.
• Seperate controlls for focus and exposure.
• High detail RAW and JPEG capture formats.
• Close Ups feature called Macro Modej.
• Action Mode for snapping moving targets.
• Slow Shutter for long exposures.
• Easy to Use.
• Paid (best price)

2. Halide

• Smart Gesture Based Design.
• Easy to Use.
• Portrait Mode background blur.
• High detail RAW and JPEG capture formats.
• Manual Focus.
• Paid

3. VSCO

• Interesting Design
• Shutter Speed Slider
• Manual ISO and white balance
• Separate Manual Exposure and Focus
• High detail RAW and JPEG capture formats.
• Nice Image Effects Editor
• Free (in apps)

4. ProCamera

• Portrait Mode with background blur.
• Manual shutter speed, white balance, and ISO.
• Separate Focus and Exposure.
• High detail RAW and JPEG capture formats.
• Portrait Mode background blur.
• Clean App Design
• Paid

Each of these Apps has special advantages over the default Camera App and well worth the price.

We will be reviewing Apps in the categories of Social Networking, Games, Drones and just plain weird but fun Apps that have some very surprising and unexpected camera features.