bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

Posted: 05/05/2023 from Picture Correct.

While most smartphone users are familiar with the basic features of their camera, there are lesser-known features and capabilities that can greatly enhance the photography experience. Some of these features may be device-specific or available through third-party apps, but photographers should be aware of the following:
advanced smartphone photography

Photo captured by Omar Prestwich

1. RAW image capture: Many smartphones allow users to capture images in RAW format, which provides more control over post-processing.

2. Manual mode: Some smartphones have a manual mode that allows users to adjust settings like shutter speed, ISO, and focus, providing greater creative control.

3. Focus peaking: This feature highlights in-focus areas of the image, making it easier to determine the depth of field and ensure a sharp focus.

4. Long exposure: Some smartphones support long exposure photography, allowing users to capture light trails, star trails, or smooth water effects.

5. Bracketing: With bracketing, the camera takes multiple images at different exposure levels, allowing photographers to merge them for HDR photos or choose the best exposure later.

6. ProRAW: Exclusive to some iPhone models, ProRAW combines the benefits of RAW format and computational photography for greater flexibility in post-processing.

7. Night mode: This feature enables better low-light photography by taking multiple images and combining them to reduce noise and enhance detail.

8. Burst mode: By holding down the shutter button, users can take a rapid succession of images, making it easier to capture action or fast-moving subjects.

9. Time-lapse: Many smartphones have a built-in time-lapse feature, allowing users to create stunning videos by capturing images at specific intervals.

10. External lenses: To expand their smartphone’s capabilities, photographers can use external lenses, such as wide-angle, telephoto, or macro lenses, which can be attached to the phone’s camera.

Remember that not all smartphones may have these features, and updates or new models may introduce even more capabilities. To get the most out of your smartphone camera, it’s essential to explore and experiment with the available settings and features.

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

For the rest there is an endless amount of 3rd party apps if your phone does not have them built in...

bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

With enough money spent on auxiliary lenses, apps and lots of fiddling around, your cell phone will be able to take a photo almost as good as a common DSLR. I think that’s called progress.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

So much to learn, so little time

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

Therein lies the downside to the progress.

When I left my phone in a cab in Vienna last December it had approximately 30 editing programs. Ask me how many of them were actually used...

I think that I have 4 or five now but I don't pay for them anyway so I wasn't missing any large amount of green. The point is that I didn't have time to learn most of their functionality anyway.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

I'm 75 now and consider myself pretty up with computer stuff. When I bought a Lumix LX100 after using various Nikon products, I coped with the learning curve tho it took me awhile and a lot of practice until it sort of became second nature.
Rarely does a day go by that I don't Google how to do something under the car bonnet or on the camper, in the shed or garden even around the house. I usually get the job done.
So I'm a bit of a mine for useless information and apparently cope rather well compared to my peers.

But then we bought a new 'Smart' TV to replace an earlier 'smart' one. They tried to sell us an installation for an extra $80 and of course I said no thank you. How hard can it be?
After a week of googling, fiddling and getting it going just like the old one I couldn't get any of the extra 'apps' to work.
So. $100 later and about an hours labour the techo had dismantled what I had done, set it all up and for him it worked perfectly. He just waved the remote control at the TV to make a mouse appear, pushed select button and bingo we were in a new world of TV watching.
Not! Getting the little icon mouse to sit still is almost impossible. Typing on the little keyboard remote for us is so difficult we don't. One can talk to the TV and tell it what is wanted, but it has a mind of its own and tries to sell subscriptions before we can make it work.
I just can't get relaxed enjoyment from the TV. I think my brain is so full of stuff I'll never use, its full.
The grand children love it. They can sit for hours here on a wet day and watch everything they want and admire grand dad being so 'up with it'.
But when they go, my wife and I watch exactly what we did with the old TV, poorer by about $2500, but wiser.

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

Tony, know that I am laughing with you, not at you but man, does this story sound familiar.

My wife and I did a similar thing last year with a 4K QLED tv. It looked great in the store, not so much at home. Apparently not all of the inputs are created equal. Just don't get me started on Roku tv's and all of their ridiculous proprietary nonsense...

Fortunately, most apps for our phones are not that complex.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If my cell phone camera has a busy month, I might use it to take two pictures - but that's only in a busy month. I don't need extras.

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

I hear you Jerry but if the Nikon isn't nearby, the best camera always will be the one that you have in your hand and most us us are rarely too far away from our electronic leashes.

Hanson

It appears that before too long the phone, TV and Photoshop will be so AIed that we don't need to learn and memorize too much. Good for old-timers like us?

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

Yes, we can get "old-timers disease" and let the computer figure it out.

Best of all, we get new pics everyday.

Ednsb Loc: Santa Barbara

One of the most interesting new features of my iPhone 14 pro is shooting long exposures of up to hours on a tripod or up to 30 seconds handheld. The first by the apps Even Longer and ReeXpose and the hand held by ReeHeld. No filters, no tripod and great results. Glyn Dewis, a Scottish photographer is showing a lot of videos on these at his YouTube website https://www.youtube.com/@glyndewis