Before I used theiPhone 16 , I was conflicted about the Camera Control . At first , I thought it just tally a fun physical constituent to the television camera , but when I remembered the old age of muscle memory involved with taking photos with the iPhone using the touchscreen , I question whether it would be worth the effort to retrain myself to apply it .
Now , after having impel myself to press the Camera Control on the iPhone 16 Plus , I ’m here to tell you to do the same , as it does a whole lot more than just lose it photos .
Photographic Styles are its secret weapon
It ’s easy to discount the Camera Control as little more than a physical shutter button so you’re able to curb the iPhone 16 in landscape orientation and use it a bit like a stocky photographic camera . While it does have this functionality , it ’s only the start . Having now explored and try out with the ascendance , I ’ve found this is the least creatively interesting aspect of it .
Before we go further , here ’s an overview ofwhat it can fundamentally do , in case you ’re not familiar . Press the Camera Control to the full once to quickly launch the camera app on your iPhone 16 . Then , you could either press it fully again to take a photo , swipe along the airfoil to switch between cameras or zoom right in on your subject . It’sfine , but because the clit is set fairly high up the side of the phone , itcan be a bit ungainly to press , and the normal controls are often degraded to get at .
Instead of leaving the Camera Control here and not bothering with it much again , you postulate to research it more . Soft - tap the Camera Control doubly . Do n’t amply press it , just rap it in quick succession , and a whole young carte system open up . From here , you’re able to manually change the exposure and deepness of field , along with make fine control over the soar feature . You even switch between the rear and the selfie photographic camera . But it ’s the last two options I think you ’ll enjoy most : Photographic Styles and Tone .
More than just filters
I did n’t really pay much care to Photographic Styles until now , mostly because you were forced to choose a style and bewilder with it , with no chance to interchange to another after you ’d taken the exposure . That has changed with iOS 18 and the iPhone 16 serial as Photographic Stylescan now be swapped out after you ’ve carry a photo . The number of styles has also been increased , and there ’s now a way to tune the look precisely to your liking in genuine time .
All of this is usable using the Camera Control , and it ’s a slew well-off than swiping and tapping on the screen . Here ’s an example . I wish to use black - and - white filters on some photos . To adopt this Photographic Style , you tap an icon at the top right of the filmdom and then swipe across the blind to scroll through the uncommitted flair . To adapt the tone , you use the special control panel and Pseudemys scripta at the bottom of the filmdom .
While it ’s certainly not difficult , I think the Camera Control is a neater way to achieve the same thing . light twofold - rap the Camera Control and select Styles , then sneak across the clit to preview how each style changes the scene . Your finger’s breadth never cover the filmdom , and it ’s also easy to swipe between pick in landscape orientation using this method . Once you ’ve chosen the style , practice the same double - hydrant to go back a step and then pick out Tone . Now you ’re ready to swipe and adjust the last expression . Then full press the Camera Control to take the photo .
Camera Control in a case
I ’ve been using the Camera Control on an iPhone 16 Plus , and it ’s also available on the iPhone 16,iPhone 16 Pro , and theiPhone 16 Pro Max . I ’ve also had the phone inside Apple ’s prescribed silicone case , which differs from many third - political party cases by cover the Camera Control with another button rather than provide it uncover . There ’s always a concern about responsiveness when you summate another layer to a touch - sensible panel , so how is it ?
The Apple silicone case has a azure crystal surface with a conductive layer for unlined interaction with the Camera Control , and it works really well , even when you want to light double - dab the push button . It also baby-sit moneyed with the open , while cutouts in other typeface make it just a little more awkward to swipe , which is a crucial part of using the Camera Control for Photographic Styles .
Does all this mean I ’m completely turned around about the Camera Control ? While I ’ve definitely find a use for it that I did n’t expect , it does n’t change the fact I ’m predisposed to using the regular touchscreen controls for the camera , or that the push itself is quite mellow up on the body so it does n’t fall quite as well under your fingerbreadth as it should — specially on the orotund iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max . Also , the changes to Photographic Styles are lasting and stay in property until you change them , even if you shut the television camera app , which can be frustrating .
The right feature at the right time
But I do n’t mind . I definitely see the Camera Control in a new light due to the additional menu system for Photographic Styles , and I think it a apt extra feature article on the iPhone 16 that I ’ll relish using when the time is correct . In the same way I do n’t always require to change the Photographic Style , I do n’t recall I ’ll always sense the penury to use the Camera Control .
And as I get more conversant with it and what it can do , I find I mix the Camera Control ’s functionality with the regular iPhone app controller , so my use becomes a loan-blend of the new button , the touchscreen , and other shortcuts . I ’m so used to opening the camera app with the lock screen shortcut that I still use it , but go straight to the Camera Control to flip-flop Photographic style , then press the button to take the photo . It has speedily entered my iPhone television camera workflow .
detect how the Camera Control and Photographic Styles play so well together gives me a reason to habituate them both , and I think it ’ll open up new ways of being creative with the iPhone 16 ’s tv camera . If you ’ve ignore the Camera Control thinking it only did one thing , just like I did , give it a try now and have fun with the fresh Photographic Styles .
