Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Guacamole

macrumors 6502a
Jun 21, 2011
693
857
I've found the whole experience a little complicated. On the 16 Pro Max it's easier to reach the on screen shutter button than it is the capture button. Pressing the capture button shakes the phone too much and I've ended up with blurry photos. The only way to use the capture button is holding the phone with two hands, where previously I could use my 13 Pro Max single handed.
I've gone into accessibility and played around with the hardness of presses, and have now decided to turn off the camera control adjustments as I kept finding myself accidentally zooming in and out when trying to use the button to take a photo.

I didn't upgrade for this feature, it was time to upgrade going from a 13 series, but for me, it hasn't really added any useful functionality that I didn't already have.

I feel like Steve Jobs would be having a conniption at the added button...
can this camera button be switched off from settings? I wouldn't want to accidentally press this button every time I grab my phone in a rush or press video instead of camera and miss the shot if I need to act quickly
also, have you noticed if there is any improvement in quality (specially low-light) from the 13 pro ? I have the 13 pro and I've never been happy with the low light photos
 

azhava

macrumors 6502a
Aug 29, 2010
890
1,182
Arizona, USA
can this camera button be switched off from settings? I wouldn't want to accidentally press this button every time I grab my phone in a rush or press video instead of camera and miss the shot if I need to act quickly
also, have you noticed if there is any improvement in quality (specially low-light) from the 13 pro ? I have the 13 pro and I've never been happy with the low light photos
1) Yes, it can be switched off in Settings. It can also be set to require a double click to activate, which is how I have it set to avoid accidental activation.

2) I came to the 16 Pro from a 13 Pro. There is a very significant improvement in the quality of low light photos.
 

Detonation

macrumors regular
Apr 29, 2015
209
266
STOP stabbing at the button and just squeeze it, simple. Just like shooting a rifle!

That makes sense, but it's kind of tough to do that on the Pro Max given the size - can't quite get your thumb opposite the button. Possibly easier on the Pro.
 

ignatius345

macrumors 604
Aug 20, 2015
7,481
12,581
no a phone is not the same as a dslr, and like I said it causes phone shake and causes blurry issues
Also a DSLR* has a lot more mass to it and is anchored more firmly in your hands because of its size, so a button press is a lot less likely to make the thing move. (Also, any modern camera has active hardware stabilization in the sensor or the lens, which compensates for camera shake, and can often pull off faster shutter speeds -- all of which help with camera shake).

* Also, just for the record fewer and fewer prosumer and professional cameras are actually DSLRs at this point -- they're mirrorless. Instead of the "SLR" (single lens reflex) mechanism that involved a moveable mirror reflecting light up into an optical viewfinder, we now have electronic viewfinders which let them remove that whole mess of moving parts. The DSLR was really a midway point in the evolution from film cameras.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ikjadoon

Sebasti0n

macrumors newbie
Sep 23, 2024
2
0
I am having problems with the camera control. When I press it once, only the green light for camera turns on. I have to press it again to actually open the camera. I checked the settings and it is set to open with one click. Is anybody else experiencing this?
 

960design

macrumors 68040
Apr 17, 2012
3,761
1,638
Destin, FL
I hated it on the 16Pro until I changed the control to two clicks to initiate camera mode.
I was setting off the camera just about every time I grabbed the phone.
Now, accidental camera mode no more and I think I am liking it!
 

NikkorAIS

macrumors newbie
Feb 18, 2023
7
5
The camera control is the main reason I upgraded from the 14 pro max. I get the criticism regarding the position being too deep, but then it becomes difficult to press when you hold the phone vertically one handed. Right now, when I hold the camera in landscape, I position by index finger in front of the right side of the screen. It obscures nothing of importance when taking photos. Like others have said, if you squeeze the button as opposed to stabbing it, you should get less camera shake. The thing that has always been an issue for me with every iphone in fact is that shutter doesn’t actually release until you let go of the button, camera control or on screen. No conventional camera works this way, and I’m surprised no one complains about it.. They might complain about shutter lag which probably in reality has been non existent for a while now, but it just appears to be bad when you think the image is taken when you press the shutter not when you release it. This is also why I hate that the camera goes into video mode when you hold the shutter button down for too long. How do I turn that option off?
 

NikkorAIS

macrumors newbie
Feb 18, 2023
7
5
I am having problems with the camera control. When I press it once, only the green light for camera turns on. I have to press it again to actually open the camera. I checked the settings and it is set to open with one click. Is anybody else experiencing this?
This is another thing that bugs me about always on display. If I’m understanding you correctly, I believe what is happening is with the first camera control press you’re actually just waking up the phone, then the second press turns on the camera.
 

Parowdy

macrumors member
Mar 16, 2024
96
68
Europe
I think it takes some time getting used to it, but I prefer it over on screen zoom and would love to be able to customise it more. There is room for improvement to make it more intuitive.



I have not noticed any shakes in photos.
I would like the on screen UI to not disappear when using it though, so those still it quickly accessible.
being able to dual adjust settings at the same time without leaving either menu seems like a great feature
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jackbequickly

Sebasti0n

macrumors newbie
Sep 23, 2024
2
0
This is another thing that bugs me about always on display. If I’m understanding you correctly, I believe what is happening is with the first camera control press you’re actually just waking up the phone, then the second press turns on the camera.
It also happens when the phone is unlocked. I'll get the button press animation on the side of the screen but nothing happens. If I press again while the green led is showing it opens the camera. I may have to visit an apple store for them to show me how to use it correctly.
 

ubinko

macrumors regular
Oct 20, 2020
123
143
Just discovered that if you 'flick' the Camera Control button rather than sliding it, it bypasses all the in-between digital zoom and goes directly to the next actual lens setting (0.5 > 1 > 2 > 5). That makes it even better and more useful to me!
You should use the the "camera" selection option instead - it just selects between each of the four native focal lengths of the three different lenses. If you use those, you're never using any digital zoom and are not introducing any distortion or loss of resolution.
 

ubinko

macrumors regular
Oct 20, 2020
123
143
I didn't like the camera control at first (mainly because the default light press function was zoom - this is too fiddly to get the zoom I want), but with a few settings adjustments I really like it now.

My settings:

- In settings/Accessibility/Camera Control I set the Light-Press to Lighter
- More importantly, I set the light press function of the camera control to Cameras - now it just selects between each of the four native focal lengths of the three different lenses. This is way nicer and I can quickly and easily now change to the zoom level I want (with the added bonus of no loss of resolution).
 

Josieb1

macrumors 6502
Nov 3, 2013
313
185
London
I like the Camera Control button. It’s far easier for me to zoom in and out using that than the little circles on the camera app.
 

Pandyone

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 30, 2021
224
311
I didn't like the camera control at first (mainly because the default light press function was zoom - this is too fiddly to get the zoom I want), but with a few settings adjustments I really like it now.

My settings:

- In settings/Accessibility/Camera Control I set the Light-Press to Lighter
- More importantly, I set the light press function of the camera control to Cameras - now it just selects between each of the four native focal lengths of the three different lenses. This is way nicer and I can quickly and easily now change to the zoom level I want (with the added bonus of no loss of resolution).

Those are the settings I have too for Stock Camera.

Now that other camera apps have started to add support for Camera Control there is even more/other options, like Moment app now has manual camera settings like ISO, shutter speed and other settings.
 

Carlsberg69

macrumors 6502
Mar 26, 2023
339
325
Like it! Took a few days adjusting to it, with some tweaks in settings, but actually quite nice. Made the phone feel a little bit more like a camera and less like a phone you’re trying to take photos with. Kind of. Surprised I’d like it.
 

naturalguy

macrumors 6502
Oct 31, 2018
405
511
I like it a lot I just wish it was a little higher up as I use my camera almost exclusively in vertical. I use it for video, I have it set so that the first press opens the video camera, second press starts video and you don’t have to hold it down
 

Fluffyk

macrumors newbie
May 10, 2024
20
27
I find it incredible that company like Apple could create something so bad like a dedicated camera button. It’s truly amazing.
 

NikkorAIS

macrumors newbie
Feb 18, 2023
7
5
I like it a lot I just wish it was a little higher up as I use my camera almost exclusively in vertical. I use it for video, I have it set so that the first press opens the video camera, second press starts video and you don’t have to hold it down
It's funny because I wish it was a little lower (or rather more to the right!) because I shoot most things horizontally.
 

thelead

macrumors 6502a
Apr 30, 2010
607
265
I’m not a fan of the placement of the button but I get that they basically split the difference for horizontal and vertical orientations. I also don’t love the sensitivity of swipes when navigating through options. The navigation just isn’t intuitive.

All that said, I still like having the button for nothing other than opening the camera and possibly taking pictures with it.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.