Camera+, the feature-rich iPhone camera app, received a significant update today with version 9. The update adds support for the new imaging features introduced with the iPhone 7 and iOS 10, including RAW shooting, the P3 wide color gamut, and full control over the dual lenses on the iPhone 7 Plus.
Users of the iPhone 6s and newer (including the SE) will now be able to take advantage of RAW photography inside Camera+. Shooting in RAW preserves all of the original detail of an image, allowing for maximum image quality and increased latitude in editing compared to a JPEG. RAW support was one of the highly touted new features introduced with iOS 10. Camera+ has always been advertised as the app for photographers wanting more from their iPhone cameras, and the ability to shoot in RAW takes that to the next level.
Of course, shooting in RAW is only half of the equation — the other half is editing those RAW files once they have been captured. As such, Camera+ will support RAW editing right in the app through the newly christened RAW Lab. The RAW Lab is in addition to the normal suite of editing tools within Camera+, and allows users to “re-develop” photos if the default interpretation is not to one’s taste. In addition to exposure and contrast controls, the RAW Lab features a curves tool and advanced noise reduction options.
iPhone 7 Plus owners gain additional functionality thanks to that phone’s dual cameras. Camera+ now has the option to specifically select either the wide (28-millimeter) or telephoto (56mm) lens. Some users may not realize that in Apple’s default camera app, switching from 1x to 2x zoom doesn’t always invoke the telephoto lens — in low light situations, the iPhone 7 Plus will stick with the wide lens due to its wider aperture, simply cropping the image to mimic a 2x zoom. Users can choose to leave this default behavior on in Camera+, but those looking for the most control can now know for sure which lens is being used at all times.
The final addition to Camera+ 9 is improved haptic feedback on the iPhone 7 / 7 Plus. Tap Tap Tap, makers of Camera+ plus, called haptic feedback one of the most under-appreciated features of the iPhone 7 and is using it to bring “new life” to the shooting experience in Camera+.
Camera+ 9 was scheduled to go live this morning on the iTunes App Store, but may not be immediately available in all markets.
