The best applications to take photos like a pro

To have the best smartphones for the photo, the brand tends to race for megapixels and it is clear that the quality of the images obtained is very high today. But being on the podium of photophones does not mean that the photos will be successful every time. To help you take the perfect photo, other applications are interesting to discover. These are not necessarily applications of cameras, although some incorporate settings that can be found on the big brands of cameras like Nikon or Canon.

In this selection, we have gathered tools to help you in view of your panoramas, landscapes, portraits or any other subjects. No photo editing applications, only “one shot”.

Accessories applications to take the perfect shot

PhotoPills

Photopills offers advanced features for photographers looking for the perfect shot. This paid application for Android and iOS, integrates a planner to find you at the right time in the right place. It allows you to select your geographical location, to indicate the moon or the sun you want to follow, and to calculate the precise moment when it will spend a specific location in the landscape. The planning tool will then tell you what day and at what time come back in order to obtain the desired effect on your photos. You even have the possibility of making an augmented reality statement to check where the star will be and at what time.

In addition to this planning tool, photopills incorporates specific tools for setting your camera if you use a digital camera: exposure, ISO, field depth, field angle, etc.

Ephemcris: Soleil and Monday

Ephemeris: Sun and Moon is not an application of camera, but an aid to take the most beautiful of the shots of the moon, the sun, the stars or any other celestial phenomenon. No particular settings, the application is capable of predicting precisely the hours of sunrise and sunset, the time of the twilight, the blue hour, the golden time and other special moments. Just indicate your geographical position, and consult the detailed planning information. You will then know what are the best dates and hours to take pictures of these stars.

Thanks to the 3D compass, you will be able to know the altitude and the azimut of the moon and the sun, but also, the shadow relations and the lunar phases. An augmented reality option also makes it possible to view the stars in their movement and their position at any time.

Camera applications

NightCap Camera

Nightcap Camera is a paid application for iPhone and iPad only, which helps you take photos in very low light conditions. Thanks to a specific algorithm, the application offers treatment that boosts the performance of devices in darkness or a dark environment. The photos are clear with suitable exposure to bring out the light tones and details, without imposing a long break time.

Whether during a concert, to capture a fireworks fire or the starry sky, Nightcap Camera offers options that automatically boost the photo performance of your device. The application allows you to reach an ISO level 4 times higher and reduce noise for quality rendering. Note that it is compatible with the photos, but also the videos. A luminous traced mode is also available for moving light effects.

Procam x

Procam X can advantageously replace the native camera app for your Android smartphone or tablet for photos and videos. Like a digital camera, Procam X provides you with a multitude of settings generally used by advanced photographers. It is thus possible to adjust the exposure, the brightness, the contrast, the balance of whites, the ISO sensitivity, the shutter speed, the droly shooting mode, real -time filters, color effects or even interval. Other automatic modes are available for shots during concerts, portraits, landscapes, etc.

For videos, it also offers very interesting options such as the definition of binary speed video or 4K mode. Note, on the other hand, that your device will have to be compatible with the Camera2API mode and take care of it.

Halide

Available only for iPhone and iPad, Halide offers you total control of your camera settings and supports the raw raw format. Several shots are available, allowing you to take the perfect shot. The RAW format is a type of file which contains the raw data from the sensor, allowing the user to take advantage of an original shot without treatment, more able to receive retouching later.

Halide thus offers the Zero Process functionality which deactivates Apple automatic processing on your shots for a more natural rendering. Other automatic modes are available: neural macro for macro photography or to obtain a more detailed rendering; portrait fashion; Focus Peaking for a more precise focus, etc. Of course, the photographer will be able to manually adjust the shutter speed, the ISO, and the white balance.

Camera FV-5 Lite

Camera FV-5 Lite is a free application for Android which allows you to adjust the manual settings of the main and front camera of your device. Users will be able to take advantage of 10 grids to compose the ideal photo according to the desired atmosphere, and 9 reframing guides. The application also provides you with a full screen viewfinder and a gallery to preview images, consult the Exif metadata and share or modify images with lot processing.

You will obviously have adjustments for brightness, exhibition, white balance, iso, focus, etc. For HDR effect enthusiasts, the application incorporates an automatic exposure bracketing system, making it possible to take the same photo with different settings in order to combine them to make this visual effect so special. Rafale mode, geolocation and other shots are to be discovered to exploit all the potential of Camera FV-5 Lite.