Spectre Long-Exposure iPhone Camera App Now Free, Ushering in Spectre Pro

[MacRumors]

Spectre, the long-exposure AI-powered iPhone camera app made by the developers of the popular Halide photography app, is now free.

For those unfamiliar with Spectre, the app uses a computational shutter to take hundreds of photos over the course of a few seconds to create an up to 3-second long exposure.

Because it's taking hundreds of images instead of one continuous shot, users can hold their phone while taking long exposure images with Spectre, no tripod necessary.

Previously $1.99, the app's switch to freeware marks the introduction of a new paid-for Pro version, which includes additional 15- and 30-second exposure modes, plus a new Pro icon.

Spectre Pro is a free upgrade to existing users, while new users can unlock the Pro version for a $4.99 one-time purchase. The app works on the iPhone 6S and newer and requires iOS 15 and later, and is available to download from the App Store.

Article Link: Spectre Long-Exposure iPhone Camera App Now Free, Ushering in Spectre Pro

 

[gank41]

I’ve been using this app for quite a while now. It’s nice to see more folks be able to use this app for free now. Make some great art!

 

[contacos]

No subscription?!? Love them already

 

[Gears]

Never heard of this app.

Anyone got any thoughts on it? One video i watched mentions light trails arent smooth lines and more dots. Also doesnt fully get rid of people. This was a review from 4 years ago though!

 

[MGrayson3]

AI powered? Does that mean it looks at what I'm shooting and replaces it with the closest cat? How about. "We use an algorithm. So does every multi-shot combiner since forever. Oh, but WE use a buzzword. Even better, we have no idea what it does. But it's hella easier than thinking about the problem."

Sadly, I have a pretty good idea of what they did, and it probably works pretty well. I just hate the use of AI for "We fit a large nonlinear function to a bunch of data. You're welcome."

 

[zapmymac]

Great app, purchased years ago. Bought the extra stuff today because I want to support them and their non-subscription model

 

[Gears]

This or Reeheld?

 

[wdfly]

It may be decent and the non-subscription is awesome, however no serious person uses a phone to create art. If you want art, go get a real camera, a tripod, and study how to frame the subjects of your photo shoot.

 

[Gears]

It may be decent and the non-subscription is awesome, however no serious person uses a phone to create art. If you want art, go get a real camera, a tripod, and study how to frame the subjects of your photo shoot.

The camera is only as good as the one you have on you! A lot of people wont carry a main camera around with them all the time. Myself when out and about have a 4 year old and dog to contend with so the last thing i want to be carrying is a camera on top of everything else.
End of the day a picture from a phone camera is better than no photo at all

 

[gank41]

It may be decent and the non-subscription is awesome, however no serious person uses a phone to create art. If you want art, go get a real camera, a tripod, and study how to frame the subjects of your photo shoot.

Only a real artist removes the shackles of limitation you seem to have put on yourself, only allowing one device for a medium..

I remember a very long time ago, someone in a teaching position told me to never listen to people that put barriers on the creation of art. It's all based on opinion, anyway.

 

[JosephAW]

Have other long exposure apps, a few seconds on the freeware doesn't do too much.
It's not using any AI, the first thing I do with most apps is disable cellular data and the app works just fine without cellular data, it's more like using the bionic machine learning chip on the iPhone.

 

[bLackjackj]

Why is Spectre demanding FULL access to all my photos and not just limited Add access? (iOS17). Take a pic or series, it adds it to your library, and that's all it should need!

Provided add and yet it keeps asking me.

 

[andrewxgx]

Great app, purchased years ago. Bought the extra stuff today because I want to support them and their non-subscription model

funny thing, because their other camera app Halide is a sub (with lifetime option available iirc)

 

[Lee_Bo]

It may be decent and the non-subscription is awesome, however no serious person uses a phone to create art. If you want art, go get a real camera, a tripod, and study how to frame the subjects of your photo shoot.

Taken with iPhone 11 Pro Max (with tripod and bluetooth shutter), made the cover of a local trade magazine.

But please, let’s see some of your “serious person” projects.

 

[andrewxgx]

It may be decent and the non-subscription is awesome, however no serious person uses a phone to create art. If you want art, go get a real camera, a tripod, and study how to frame the subjects of your photo shoot.

there are things that are not doable on a camera due to their software limitations
and it will be hard for them to catch up with smartphone software sophistication as they only sell a fraction of what smartphone market is, and its only get downhill from here

 

[timonz]

Is this significantly better than live photo long exposure? Will the AI figure out that I want the waterfall as long exposure but my kids in the foreground kept sharp?

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

It may be decent and the non-subscription is awesome, however no serious person uses a phone to create art. If you want art, go get a real camera, a tripod, and study how to frame the subjects of your photo shoot.

I'm a self-proclaimed "pretty serious" photographer, I have a Canon 7D MK II and a great lens for it.

The best tool to create art is whatever you have, and whatever you make of it. I have taken some pictures on my iPhone that look as good as or potentially better than what I could capture on my Canon. My Canon, lens and battery grip also collectively weigh 20x as much as my iPhone, doesn't fit in my pocket, and doesn't go everywhere with me.

Equipment / brand snobbery in photography is boring and vapid; don't be one of those people.

 

[nnoble]

If it's 'pro' and also has a new icon it must be really, really, really good.

 

[cschilly]

Why is Spectre demanding FULL access to all my photos and not just limited Add access? (iOS17). Take a pic or series, it adds it to your library, and that's all it should need!

Provided add and yet it keeps asking me.

Because you are running beta software.....

 

[Azzin]

“Art” is in the eye of the beholder.

If someone likes a picture, it makes no difference what the source was.

 

[dominiongamma]

No subscription?!? Love them already

Yet, that will change soon I bet

 

[Biro]

“Art” is in the eye of the beholder.

If someone likes a picture, it makes no difference what the source was.

This is very true. And I’ll add this old chesnut: “Nobody cares how hard you worked on it.” In other words, anyone viewing your image will only know if they like it or not - not how much work went into it. Come to think of it, this applies to just about everything.

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

My photo library has too much exposure to Spectre.

 

[3166792]

It may be decent and the non-subscription is awesome, however no serious person uses a phone to create art. If you want art, go get a real camera, a tripod, and study how to frame the subjects of your photo shoot.

No serious person uses a camera to create art. If you want art, go get an easel and canvas, brushes, paint and study how to capture the subjects in a painting.

No serious person uses a paintbrush to create art. If you want art, go get a hammer and chisel and study how to etch the subjects in stone.

No serious person uses a hammer and chisel to create art. If you want art...

 

[DailySlow]

I just downloaded it and went right to $4.99 lifetime Pro version. I think disappearing incidental people are not "magically erased" but if they are passing through the scene you will capture time when they are no longer in the scene - they "disappeared". Just speculating now, mind you.