My top iPhone photo apps

There have been several post recently on various blogs listing peoples top iPhone apps, so I've decided chuck my hat in to the ring and post my current crop of favourite photo apps, so here goes.

1. CameraBag
CameraBag [AppStore Link] lets me enhance my iPhone photos with 10 different effects filters, and whilst this app needs a much needed update for iPhone 3GS users, it still delivers what I am looking for on my iPhone 3G.

2. iFlashReady
iFlashReady [AppStore Link] lets me enhance/lighten the poorly exposed photos that I sometimes get from my iPhone.

3. ShakeItPhoto
ShakeItPhoto [AppStore Link] gives me that instant photo experience, and is currently my favourite iPolaroid app.

4. Spica - Super Monochrome
I love high contrast and grainy/gritty black and white photos, and Spica - Super Monochrome [AppStore Link] give me that.

5. AutoStitch
For me AutoStitch [AppStore Link] is the easiest app for creating panoramic photos on you iPhone.

6. EffectsLab
Originally I did not like this app when it was first released, but after spending time playing with it, EffectsLab [AppStore Link] has become my pocket Photoshop of choice, allowing me to manipulate almost all aspects on my photos.

7. Polarize
Polarize [AppStore Link] is another instant photo app, but has the added bonus of letting me add market pen notes to my iPolaroids.

8. HiCon Pro
If I need to add some extra contrast and saturation to a photo quickly and easily, then HiCon Pro [AppStore Link] is the first app I turn to, and on most occasions delivers what I am looking for.

9. Photo fx
Photo fx [AppStore Link] and Cool fx have slipped down my list of used apps, but they both still remain in my top 10, but I now tend to use them in combination with other apps like Spica Super Monochrome to add that extra dimension to my photos.

10. Cool fx
Like Photo fx, Cool fx [AppStore Link] has slipped down my list of used apps, but they both still remain in my top 10, but I now tend to use them in combination with other apps like Spica Super Monochrome to add that extra dimension to my photos.

In addition to these editing/effects apps I also use Mobile Fotos [AppStore Link] for uploading my photos to Flickr, Tumblr [AppStore Link] for uploading to my Tumblr blogs and occasionally PicPosterous [AppStore Link] for my new Posterous blogs, although I do prefer to email my photos to Posterous rather than use their iPhone app.

Ah, and there's one last thing. There is an app that would have made it in to my top 5, but it is currently only available to a select group of beta testers (of which I am one), and so can't be listed just yet.

You may or may not agree with my list, or even the order they are in, so please feel free to post your favourite apps in the comments section below.

Comments

[DP]

Very nice list indeed. This blog is solely responsible for my newfound obsession with (i)photography (and I sincerely thank you for that) so I'll definitely look into the apps from the list I don't have. I'm surprised to see a couple not mentioned because they pop here over and over, such as photogene and the toy camera series. Personally, I don't think a single pic leaves my phone without a pass through photogene - best $.99 I ever spent! After photogene, mill colour and focallab are my favorites. Just about every picture in my posterous was edited with those 3 apps and coolfx, and they're all from the past week or so. Hopefully your top 10 list inspires a sale *fingers crossed*!

[ale di gangi]

oh I so love Polarize - **if only it would support the 3GS full resolution**.
I can't use this app anymore because its output is too small to be acceptable.

same goes for TiltShiftGen: it's a totally marvelous app, maybe featuting the best UI app ever and giving stunning results... but with small output.

[jangel]

good list ... my additions are:
mill colour, montage and DXP

[nikissive]

my top 5:

-EffectsLab
-ShakeItPhoto
-QuadCamera
-TiltShiftGen
-Mill Colour

Cheers

[iPhonegrapher]

My Top 5:

1. Photogene
2. Camerakit
3. iFlashready
4. PanoLab Pro
5. DSLRemote
6. Focalware
7. Genius
8. QuadCamera
9. MailPhotos
10. Camera

[Glyn Evans]

Thanks for the feedback, and it is interesting to see what others are using. Photogene was in my top 10 until I began using EffectsLab, which has now replaced it.

[Morsi]

Here are my favorite current photo apps, for the 3GS, in no specific order:
- CameraBag (love the 10 predetermined styles, real easy)
- TiltShiftGen (very clean and good interface, also use it for other editing than TiltShift)
- Photogene (Photoshop for the iPhone)
- QuadCamera (the only way to capture high motion targets with the iphone)
- ToyCamera (Really funny with random effects it generates, but sometimes really annoying)

I will defiantly be giving AutoStitch, Spica - Super Monochrome and EffectsLab a go, probably in that order.

I am currently doing a month of iPhone Photography on my photo blog, normally dedicated to my DSLR camera and very little post-processing.

I might end up doing a lot more "iPhoneography" as it's heeps of fun ;-) So the app suggestions are really appreciated.

[Pepino]

Well, here are the ones I used the most:. I first take the picture with Apple's Camera. Then:

* CameraBag - for Helga or Lolo mostly.
* iFlashReady - easily brighten any image.
* Photo/fx - mostly for B&W, warming (including 812), vignette, or depth of field. All other effects get used less frequent.
* ShakeItPro - quickly make nice polaroids. Sometimes I am not happy with the crop though and either give up on the effect or settle for Instant from CameraBag.

Upload some photos with Tumblr and PicPosterous to their respective sites plus they autopost to my FaceBook and Twitter.

All photos I'm happy with get uploaded with Flickit to Flickr.

All photos get downloaded to iPhoto on my Mac for backup.

Mobile Fotos for browsing my Flickr.

I don't use ShoZu or BigButton anymore and rarely use Photogene.

Waiting to see the B&W comparison. Also, I probably could use a better app for taking the picture, preferably one that helps get a steady shot. My friend says Darkroom crashes on him a lot so that is out. Maybe I'll try Night Camera Zoom.

[Auto Insurance Guy]

Ah!!! at last I found what I was looking for. Somtimes it takes so much effort to find even tiny useful piece of information.
Nice post. Thanks

[Denise]

Hey there - I was wondering if you would be willing to give us an updated list (ie has the beta-only app you referred to been released?) especially with the onslaught of new apps over the past few months? Thanks.

[Vic]

BestCamera
Lo-Mob
CameraBag
Hipstamatic
Format126
Polarize
Spica
Old Camera
LOFI

[Husarography]

I have to say that maybe two on your list make my top 10. I am going to have to make my own top 10 I can see. Will post link when I figure it out.

[Husarography]

Here you go. My 10 must have apps on my iPhone 4 as of today.

http://www.husarography.com/

[Meli]

1.) G700
2.) Photoshop express
3.) Hipstamatic
4.) Lo-Mob
5.) Autostitch Panorama
6.) Blendcam
7.) Camerabag
8.) Diptic