iPhone 16 Is The Camera/Darkroom/Gallery In Your Pocket

APPLE JUST MADE PHONE CALLS OPTIONAL

Priorities.

When Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone at MacWorld 17 years ago, he pitched it as a combination mobile phone, internet browser, and iPod. The camera was barely mentioned; just one of several supporting features that rounded out the presentation and changed mobile devices forever.

Sorry, BlackBerry.

But the irony is that although phone calls get better, web access more robust, and music more manageable every year, it’s the camera and Apple Photos that grabs the most attention with each new model launch these days. It’s so good, in fact, that the iPhone - along with other smartphones - destroyed the market for compact digital cameras worldwide. Even pro photographers use iPhones for certain projects. As have indy filmmakers. A staggering success for something that fits in your pocket.

Here’s the thing, though. For all the advancements made by adding multiple lenses, developing portrait mode, low-light exposure, spatial video, styles, and the rest, the camera function has always felt like a mobile phone add-on. The cool specialty blade on a Swiss Army Knife.

I love taking photos with my iPhone, don’t get me wrong. And I take far more of them, more creatively I think, than I ever did with a camera - digital or film. But having learned photography back in the day, I’ve missed the old experience of photography for a couple of key reasons.

First, I’ve always used my right index finger to press the shutter release. I know that’s a fussy complaint, but if you’ve built that habit over thousands of rolls of film/captures then you know what I mean. For years we’ve had to live with a weird, precarious hold on the edges of our phone to reach the shutter button, or use two hands and thumb to make the shot. Taking group selfies is even worse, especially if you have short arms.

It’s just not right.

OR we have to squeeze a horizontal world into a vertical frame. Because it’s easier to hold the phone vertically with one hand. I get it. But I’m not fond of it. Except for portraits, I feel like the shot is clipped off on either side.

So color me thrilled when Apple decided to add a dedicated shutter button on the iPhone 16 series launched last Fall. They call it Camera Control.

It changes everything.

Positioned below the screen lock button, the camera button is placed so you can now take a horizontal photo or video single-handed, if you want, without risk of dropping the phone. You can pay attention to the picture you’re taking without having to hunt for the shutter button on the screen.

If you do want to shoot vertical, the new button falls naturally under your thumb. Or index finger if you are left-handed. But secure and comfortable either way.

The camera button has other features too. Depending on how you press or tap it, you can change lenses, switch to front camera, lock focus/exposure and more.

The big takeaway here is that if you are an old school photographer, the iPhone 16 will speak to you. I know a shutter button is a stupid simple thing, but it changes the user experience in a big way.

And, by the way, if you go for a 16 Pro or 16 Pro Max you also get a 5x telephoto, more advanced sensors, Spatial Video and Photos, an advanced set of editing tools and more. Coupled with iCloud and the Apple Photos ecosystem you have a whole content creation, photo management, and publishing system at your fingertips. Literally.

Which is to say that if we did an about face and stripped away all the non-camera stuff, I would still want the iPhone 16 as a standalone camera.

It pushed my button.