iPhone 16 Pro Action vs. Camera button

[537635]

Can somebody explain, why Camera button is so badly implemented? Both hardware and software wise.
I tried for weeks to use it but now I'm on the verge of just turning it off and forgetting it exists.

- It doesn't activate the camera when the phone is locked, it only wakes up the phone. This is the biggest fail. I never know when I need to press it once or twice. Action button, no matter which state the phone is in, opens the camera.

- It is absolutely useless as a shutter button compared to on screen button or even volume up button. Badly positioned and too hard to press.

- Halfway press gives me the TouchBar chills. Useless controls, which are far slower than existing ones.


Is it something I'm doing wrong? Some
secret setting to make it more useful?

 

[menist]

Its a common issue that most just pretend doesn't exist with Camera Control.

 

[537635]

Its a common issue that most just pretend doesn't exist with Camera Control.

What do you mean? I mean Jony Ive is gone so is there a new TouchBar guy in town, who designes useless controls just for the novelty's sake?

Few years ago there were rumors about Apple ditching HW buttons in the future. Last year we got Action Button, this year the camera button... great, more buttons, which do not make any use of any functions easier and faster.

 

[UnifiedMelody]

as a pro photographer myself i can see why camera control was implemented. the half shutter press made it much more functional than what most cameras do [just FOCUS]. and brings more functionality in.

i mostly use half press for exposure compensation varying than trying to swipe on a screen down and tapping to focus [more steps required]. my personal style is going -1.0eV and pulling it back in post later if required [as using ProRAW max for serious tasks where I know I have to edit post]

and simple photographic styles /tone mapping when getting fast quick snaps [24mp default]

 

[537635]

Thanks, I'll give it a shot with exposure.

As for activating the camera, I meant for quick takes. You take the phone out of
the pocket and press the camera button. Sometimes the phone has woken up before the press, sometimes not. Action button doesn't discriminate and is totally predicable. The button is great for speeding up access to the camera and this is where camera button fails.

 

[JPack]

Change for the sake of change to sell devices. This year’s main update was software, but it’s a risky bet. The button was implemented across all four models, so you can tell it’s not just for Pro users.

 

[UnifiedMelody]

Its a common issue that most just pretend doesn't exist with Camera Control.

i will agree the marketing team needs to refine that button a bit more... to a certain extent but i never listen to them [I know they will fluff everything up its apple]... only part which matters to me the most where i pay attention to is hardware optimisations [Chip Design, Layout, Structure etc]

i just play around and see what can work for me and what doesn't... if i dont like it i will find a way around it and if i cant then ill just turn it off lol no biggie. i think it's not meant to be a 'gamechanger' but providing additional options for the user. if the user is okay with tapping on screen be my guest do it if it works. for me being able to fine tune exposure compensation is a big one. cos i am not a fan of tapping on screen and dragging down multiple times to drop 2.0eV to get an underexposed look.

does make getting into camera much quicker because i have action button for shortcut macros which i custom made [which previous p hones only had a "mute switch"] so the action button is ruled out as a camera access feature. it's too high up

 

[UnifiedMelody]

Change for the sake of change to sell devices. This year’s main update was software, but it’s a risky bet. The button was implemented across all four models, so you can tell it’s not just for Pro users.

exactly... i suspect MOST normal people [the casual user] will still revert to touch on screen. and ditch the camera control button. for most normal users who just use a single input, it will take awhile to get used to with precision half-pressing etc because that camera control button in my 3 weesk of use is a bit sensitive and a bit more force is required to get the full press. [i guess to prevent accidental triggers(?)] wish they give a function to decrease sensitivity imo that'll do it for me.

i think where apple gone wrong was hyping up apple intelligence too much and not making it available on launch, and my skepticism in touching beta releases on my main running device [still lingers to a certain degree]. Things like the 'camera control AI search button'... that one not avail yet.

i think most ppl are angry because its a half baked product on release esp with the whole AI being flouted around. but for me its still just a phone, faster, efficient, better batt life etc, cameras(?) not too bad... but i dont rely on phone camera too often, but phone video 100% yes super easier to use... i have my professional camera for that reason for pictures

- not that apple intelligence was a driving factor for me to get the 16 PMax in anyway [i probably wont even use Apl intelligence anyway if i were being honest, its a nice bonus but not something i need desperately], i just needed a new phone after my 11 Pro Max given up [white bar on screen and severe battery drain after 5 years]

 

[UnifiedMelody]

Thanks, I'll give it a shot with exposure.

As for activating the camera, I meant for quick takes. You take the phone out of
the pocket and press the camera button. Sometimes the phone has woken up before the press, sometimes not. Action button doesn't discriminate and is totally predicable. The button is great for speeding up access to the camera and this is where camera button fails.

if only i didnt have action button for shortcut macros... then i would have used it for a camera button. i dont think i have personally ran into any issue where the camera did not open quick or found myself fighting the phone yet... if anything [it is speedier asf compared to my 11 Pro max] which i had to hold a screen button to open camera or swipe left... so any little change does help me

[that said i never had 15 Pro max personally before. just the phone above] so i didnt have true extensive testing w/ action button or most features [yet]... only grasping it with the 16 PM now

Oh i see what u mean now if you hold to open [like normal action button pressing to trigger mute switch for example it opens that fast.

 

[537635]

Oh i see what u mean now if you hold to open [like normal action button pressing to trigger mute switch for example it opens that fast.

Exactly. Hold to open on Camera button and it would be much better. Or make it ignore locked state.

 

[IsaacM]

Because Camera Control Burton = AI Button

Apple AI isn't ready yet so they whipped out this half assed feature. Once AI fully rolls out, it will be a button for Apple's version of Google Lens

 

[antiprotest]

Can somebody explain, why Camera button is so badly implemented? Both hardware and software wise.
I tried for weeks to use it but now I'm on the verge of just turning it off and forgetting it exists.

- It doesn't activate the camera when the phone is locked, it only wakes up the phone. This is the biggest fail. I never know when I need to press it once or twice. Action button, no matter which state the phone is in, opens the camera.

- It is absolutely useless as a shutter button compared to on screen button or even volume up button. Badly positioned and too hard to press.

- Halfway press gives me the TouchBar chills. Useless controls, which are far slower than existing ones.


Is it something I'm doing wrong? Some
secret setting to make it more useful?

It's not you. This is all Apple's fault. The fact is they haven't been good at design for years now, both hardware and software, although some people keep insisting they are good at it.

Adding to that there are indeed some hits, not all misses, and so the myth that Apple is still good at design persists. They are hit and miss, just like other companies. They are sometimes okay, but not very good overall.

 

[Zwhaler]

Action Button = hit
Camera Control at launch = miss

The bright side is the Camera Control button will be programmable going forward. I think Apple can save the camera control button by making it more customizable like the action button and tying it into an AI lens feature like another poster mentioned.

 

[azhava]

Can somebody explain, why Camera button is so badly implemented? Both hardware and software wise.
I tried for weeks to use it but now I'm on the verge of just turning it off and forgetting it exists.

- It doesn't activate the camera when the phone is locked, it only wakes up the phone. This is the biggest fail. I never know when I need to press it once or twice. Action button, no matter which state the phone is in, opens the camera.

- It is absolutely useless as a shutter button compared to on screen button or even volume up button. Badly positioned and too hard to press.

- Halfway press gives me the TouchBar chills. Useless controls, which are far slower than existing ones.


Is it something I'm doing wrong? Some
secret setting to make it more useful?

I have mine set to double-click, and it immediately opens the camera app when the phone is locked. If I pick up the phone and double-click as I'm raising it, the camera is open and ready to use by the time I get the phone into position to take a picture.

 

[macfacts]

It's Bizarro apple (aka backwards apple), apple usually isn't first with something but wait to perfect something before releasing. This time they rushed with being first.

 

[537635]

Do we need multiple threads about this?

I did search about specific threads, but couldn't find ones, which compare the two buttons. For somebody who upgraded from non-15 phone, they just see two new buttons.

I've used the Action button for camera activation for a whole year and was actually looking forward to expanded functionalilty. None was delivered and Action button still seems a much better fit for activating the camera. Furthermore, you can set it to jump into specific camera modes (selfie, portrait, video), no such options for Camera button, which is bizzare.

 

[Total Respray]

My theory is that the camera button is another way to change the design slightly each year for Apple to be able to sell more cases. Especially as the capacitive button is harder to implement for smaller case manufacturers.

 

[537635]

My theory is that the camera button is another way to change the design slightly each year for Apple to be able to sell more cases. Especially as the capacitive button is harder to implement for smaller case manufacturers.

If that was the case, they would have kept the Finewoven or reimplemented leather.

 

[537635]

I have mine set to double-click, and it immediately opens the camera app when the phone is locked. If I pick up the phone and double-click as I'm raising it, the camera is open and ready to use by the time I get the phone into position to take a picture.

Press&hold is better than double click in my opinion, especially with a recessed button. I agree that double click fixes the issue when phone is still sleeping, but come on.

 

[JPack]

Because Camera Control Burton = AI Button

Apple AI isn't ready yet so they whipped out this half assed feature. Once AI fully rolls out, it will be a button for Apple's version of Google Lens

That's not going to save it from the problem of being poorly located and difficult to press.

Since it's hard to use in portrait, nobody will want to rotate iPhone landscape, use the button, rotate back to portrait to view the AI output. Not when they can just launch Camera app all in portrait.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Because Camera Control Burton = AI Button

Apple AI isn't ready yet so they whipped out this half assed feature. Once AI fully rolls out, it will be a button for Apple's version of Google Lens

I just want it to act like my dslr. Light press to focus, hard press to take a photo. For now, I just haven't been using it at all.

I have no interest in the potential AI features, and don't need google lens or Apple's google lens knockoff.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I’m using the Action button as my mute switch and I generally don’t use the camera button. It’s too difficult to use and I find the onscreen stuff much easier and quicker tbh. Maybe Apple will improve it with updates?

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

Can somebody explain, why Camera button is so badly implemented? Both hardware and software wise.
I tried for weeks to use it but now I'm on the verge of just turning it off and forgetting it exists.

- It doesn't activate the camera when the phone is locked, it only wakes up the phone. This is the biggest fail. I never know when I need to press it once or twice. Action button, no matter which state the phone is in, opens the camera.

- It is absolutely useless as a shutter button compared to on screen button or even volume up button. Badly positioned and too hard to press.

- Halfway press gives me the TouchBar chills. Useless controls, which are far slower than existing ones.


Is it something I'm doing wrong? Some
secret setting to make it more useful?

My best guess is that the Camera Control button was a late addition that Apple maybe threw in to try to impress all the Europeans who won't see any Apple Intelligence for months, or probably years.

Or just to tie over users in countries that do get all the AI features ASAP, as they'll also have to wait several months before it's all implemented.

Regardless of which region you're in, I think Apple was worried iPhones 16 wouldn't offer enough at launch, that too many would wait it out to iPhones 17, when all the iOS 18 AI stuff is actually out.

I don't know.

It is, however, kind of weird how badly it's implemented as I genuinely think that the concept of a dedicated camera button is a no-brainer on paper.

The fact that it only works to wake up the phone, not launch right into Camera, is really odd.

However, I don't see why this can't be changed in software. And seeing how many complaints it's getting, I'm sure Apple will give users the option to switch between different actions.

But still weird that they thought anyone would like what it does now. Poor choice by Apple.

 

[JPack]

My best guess is that the Camera Control button was a late addition that Apple maybe threw in to try to impress all the Europeans who won't see any Apple Intelligence for months, or probably years.

Or just to tie over users in countries that do get all the AI features ASAP, as they'll also have to wait several months before it's all implemented.

Regardless of which region you're in, I think Apple was worried iPhones 16 wouldn't offer enough at launch, that too many would wait it out to iPhones 17, when all the iOS 18 AI stuff is actually out.

I don't know.

It is, however, kind of weird how badly it's implemented as I genuinely think that the concept of a dedicated camera button is a no-brainer on paper.

The fact that it only works to wake up the phone, not launch right into Camera, is really odd.

However, I don't see why this can't be changed in software. And seeing how many complaints it's getting, I'm sure Apple will give users the option to switch between different actions.

But still weird that they thought anyone would like what it does now. Poor choice by Apple.

We knew about the button at least a year before launch. At that time, we already knew the major change was button and larger display only. No camera changes. Back then, Apple probably didn't know how long it would take to catch up to AI.

iPhone 16 to Include an Additional Capacitive 'Capture' Button

The iPhone 16 series is expected to gain an additional capacitive button, known internally as the "Capture Button." Codenamed "Project...

www.macrumors.com

 

[Jamie0003]

Can somebody explain, why Camera button is so badly implemented? Both hardware and software wise.
I tried for weeks to use it but now I'm on the verge of just turning it off and forgetting it exists.

- It doesn't activate the camera when the phone is locked, it only wakes up the phone. This is the biggest fail. I never know when I need to press it once or twice. Action button, no matter which state the phone is in, opens the camera.

- It is absolutely useless as a shutter button compared to on screen button or even volume up button. Badly positioned and too hard to press.

- Halfway press gives me the TouchBar chills. Useless controls, which are far slower than existing ones.


Is it something I'm doing wrong? Some
secret setting to make it more useful?

I got the 15 pro max, and think the action button makes a ton more sense so won’t be upgrading anytime soon.

However, I do wish Apple would allow for single, double and triple tap for more functions. Then maybe a press and hold for a 4th function. Baffling this isn’t an option