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Apple's latest iPhone 16 models include a new Camera Control button (located on the lower right-hand side when holding the phone in portrait mode). The new button aims to make it easier to adjust photography settings when shooting with the iPhone in both portrait and landscape orientation.


A simple press of the Camera Control button brings up the Camera app when the iPhone is unlocked. Once the Camera app is open, another press takes a picture, while pressing and holding the button records video for as long as you hold it down.

Within the Camera app, a light press on the button engages a haptic click that also allows for adjusting things like manual exposure and zoom, thanks to a handy sliding interface that operates similarly to a camera dial. This gesture also reveals a clean preview of the scene you're capturing by hiding all on-screen Camera app tools.

camera-control-menu.jpg

You can also use the button as a touch interface on the menu the Camera Control button brings up: A light double press invokes a range of photographic adjustment tools in a subtle UI. You can swipe through this menu and select individual options with a further light press. You can also choose between multiple styles and adjust the tone. All of these tools are adjustable with a swipe, while a double light press returns you to the main Camera Control menu:

  • Exposure
  • Depth
  • Zoom


  • Cameras
  • Styles
  • Tone


iphone-16-capture-button.jpg

The Camera Control button can also be used to trigger third-party camera apps, giving more flexibility to users who prefer other photography tools. It's also integrated with Visual Intelligence (an aspect of forthcoming Apple Intelligence), allowing users to pull up contextual information about objects or scenes in front of the camera.

Adjusting Camera Control Pressure

If you're having trouble engaging the light-press functions, or you find that the button is a little too sensitive for you, you can adjust the level of pressure that it responds to. If you feel that it's overly sensitive, you can make it firmer; if it's not sensitive enough, you can make it respond to lighter presses. The following steps show you how it's done.

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Accessibility.
  3. Under "Physical & Motor," tap Camera Control.
  4. Switch from the Default setting to the Lighter or Firmer options.
adjust-camera-control-pressure-sensitivity-iphone-16.jpg


If you stay on this menu screen, you can try out the different pressure levels of the Camera Control button without engaging the Camera app, so make sure you give all three options a try before settling on one.

How to Disable Clean Preview

By default, using the Camera Control button in the Camera app engages Clean Preview mode. This option hides everything in the Camera UI when the Camera Control button is lightly pressed, so you don't need to worry about accidentally touching camera lens adjustments while shooting. Another advantage is that it removes all distractions from the screen, leaving only the image — perfect for composing a shot.

clean-preview-example-camera-control.jpg
Clean Preview enabled (left) vs. Clean Preview disabled

What if you do want to have access to all the various Camera app adjustments while also using Camera Control? Fortunately, there's an easy way to disable Clean Preview and make the other Camera tools visible. The following steps show you how it's done.
  1. On your iPhone, open Settings.
  2. Tap Camera.
  3. Tap Camera Control.
  4. Toggle off the switch next to Clean Preview.
disable-clean-preview-camera-control-iphone-16.jpg


That's all there is to it. To reinstate Camera app features that are hidden by a light press on the Camera Control button, simply toggle back on the Clean Preview option in Settings ➝ Camera ➝ Camera Control.

How to Disable Light Press Adjustments

If you find yourself accidentally engaging the Camera Control adjustments when taking a picture in high-motion environments (like inadvertently zooming in or changing exposure settings), you can remove light press functionality from the Camera Control button entirely. Here's how it's done:
  1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Accessibility.
  3. Under "Physical & Motor," tap Camera Control.
  4. Toggle off the switch next to Show Adjustments.
disable-camera-control-light-press-adjustments-iphone-16.jpg


This option removes the Camera Control interface and its corresponding light-press adjustments, so now you don't need to worry about accidentally engaging them while shooting. This essentially makes the Camera Control button a simple shutter button after you have opened the Camera app with the first press.

To reinstate Camera Control adjustments that are activated by a light press, simply toggle back on the Show Adjustments option in Settings -> Accessibility -> Camera Control.

Change Camera Control Launch Camera Gesture

If you find yourself accidentally opening the Camera app by unintentionally pressing the Camera Control button, you can either disable the button entirely (see below), or you can change the single-click gesture th... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: iPhone 16 Camera Control: Everything You Need to Know
 
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If it was placed higher up like where the side button is at, it could've also served as a sort of scroll wheel. Instead of swiping up and down on the screen, right-handed users could swipe up and down with their thumb for one-handed use.
I’d rather have two page up/down buttons.
 
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I also hate change and features that make using my phone more convenient!
Just like the Action Button most people will trigger the Camera by accident and will have to wait until IOS 18.5 for a decent fix. I have been triggering the Camera slide right on the home screen for about decade now, i would kill for a setting to disable it.
 
Such a gimmicky feature this camera button… it’s also so disappointing that the action button remains mostly useless still. There should be additional actions such as double pressing, holding etc - only when the iPhone is unlocked.
 
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Such a gimmicky feature this camera button… it’s also so disappointing that the action button remains mostly useless still. Their should be additional actions such as double pressing, holding etc - only when the iPhone is unlocked.
Gotta hold back some features for future iPhone models. Don't want to inundate users with too much innovation
 
I take lots of landscape photos (just holiday snaps - nothing fancy) with my current phone - iPhone 11. I hold the phone so that the volume buttons are on the top and just press that.

If I do upgrade this year, it'll be in a few weeks once I've read more reviews and had a chance to play myself with the 16.
 
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