Photography

The auto focus and exposure in the stock iOS camera app gets faster and more accurate with each update. When shifting the frame to a new subject, the iPhone camera will automatically readjust these parameters and the white balance accordingly. Video is no different, with adjustments taking place while recording. There are some situations where a change in focus can be distracting, or an exposure shift detracts from the scene.

For this reason, ever since iOS 5 the built-in Camera app makes it possible to lock both the autofocus and auto exposure. AE/AF lock mode can be entered manually and will stay in effect during a photo session until it's switched off, or the Camera app is reopened. This means that multiple photos can be snapped without a change in the focus or exposure settings, regardless of what's in the frame.

The iPhone camera is not only convenient, but the stock Camera app has several features to help improve image quality. On top of all this, there's a simple tool that can improve photo composition as well. The built-in Camera grid divides the frame into thirds both horizontally and vertically. This simplifies framing photos and makes it easy to snap interesting shots using the rule of thirds.

To start using the grid with iOS 7, switch it on by navigating to Settings -> Photos and Camera -> Grid -> ON. Next time the Camera app is opened, the grid will appear superimposed on the frame. Earlier versions of iOS had the grid toggle located directly inside the Camera app. Look for the Options button when taking a photo. Tap Options -> Grid -> ON. Now that the grid is activated, it's time to compose photos using the lines.

Burst mode is one of the latest additions to the stock iOS Camera app. With burst mode, limited to the iPhone 5s, images can be captured in Photo or Square mode at 10 frames per second. Up to 999 photos can be taken in a single burst. Recent interface improvements make it easy to choose the best photos from a burst group before discarding the rest to free up storage space.

Initiating burst mode requires no prior setup. Simply open the Camera app, frame your shot, and hold down the shutter release button. This works with the on-screen button and the volume buttons. Rapid fire captures will start, with matching sound effects and a frame count displayed on the screen. In the example above, 8 separate photos were taken in under a second.

Getting the perfect action photo can be tough, especially using the iPhone camera. Normally with burst mode on a DSLR camera, a scene can be captured many times per second by simply holding down the shutter release. Now this continuous shooting capability has arrived on iOS with SnappyCam Pro.

To snap a series of photos at up to 60 frames per second, simply hold down the shutter release button in SnappyCam Pro. The volume up or down buttons can also be used, with the app storing every photo in its own roll. The best photos can be selected and exported to the iOS Camera Roll or Instagram, shared via email or copied to a computer using iTunes app file sharing.