Volume shutter comes to ProCamera

ProCamera, one of the leading camera replacement apps has just been updated to version 3.3, and now features the volume shutter for capturing still and video.

In addition to the volume shutter, this update also includes:

• Steady Light (photoflash and permanent flashlight. Both can be combined)
• Up to 1 hour video recording with iPhone 4 and 4S, iPad2, iPod (2 hours for iPhone 3GS)
• Full support for iPhone 4S
• Full HD video recording for iPhone 4S
• Assorted minor bugfixes

App Store Link: ProCamera; Price: £1.99/$2.99/€2.39

Comments

[Geoff]

I use it all the time but I think I found a bug. When I use the volume trigger it works once then when I use it again it just adjusts the volume,no picture taken.

[Tomba]

@Rob
The reasons for ProCamera and other apps (including original camera app) are still the same as i explained last time.

[Rob]

I guess I have to give up my hope this developer will get over their love of flashing boxes that jump in size. I will never understand why ProCamera feels the need to make the focus box huge again if I click near the center of the screen. Sheesh. Ah well... app deleted.

[Patrick Silver]

Volume trigger doesn't work after one time. Nice testing...

[Glyn Evans]

Works fine for me, although it does show the volume graphic each time I use it.

[Rob]

Tomba, we're talking about two different things. I'm referring to a behavior specific to ProCamera.

In Apple's camera app, for example, click anywhere on the screen to choose your focus point. You get a small focus box there. Click around with ProCamera in expert mode. Depending on where you click to set focus, you'll either get a small box (away from the center of the screen) or a large box (near or at the center of the screen). Sometimes, if you try to focus on something near but not quite at the center of the screen, ProCamera ignores your click and, instead, gives you the huge focus box showing you that it's reset to default rather than giving you the small box to show where you've chosen the focus point to be. There's actually a large area on screen where ProCamera will ignore your specific focus point and reset instead.

It's a bug that they decided to name as a feature.

[Tomba]

@Rob
i dont know why you are so passionate disliking this app.

EXPERT MODE is for locking focus and exposure SEPARATELY.
After tapping and holding your finger once on the screen you can move the two points to any area on your screen and see how focus and exposure change continousely. GREAT. In the very middle as well. Of course there must be a way to switch back to continuous mode i.e. by tapping and holding your finger in the middle of the screen for a moment.
As i know ProCamera is the only app that can lock focus and exposure separately. Thats the biggest reason i use it. Choose focus and exposure, compose and shoot.

If you tap with Apple's camera app it does not lock. If you tap and hold its blinking a lot with a big box (is it a bug? ;-) ) and locks focus and exposure only TOGETHER.

I use both apps and a lot more. Luckily most of the apps have their specific behaviour. Just have to know or experience how they work. Then i can easily choose the right tool for what result i want to achieve.

Happy shooting!

[Rob]

Tomba, I think you're still not understanding the bug I've found. Expert mode on, full screen trigger off. That last part is important. Clicking anywhere on the screen chooses a focus point. Then, you can drag the exposure point separately. This is correct behavior. Clicking ANYWHERE brings the two points back together at that location (as it should). The problem is that if you click near the center of the screen, instead of getting a small focus box at the location you clicked, you get a HUGE box as the app ignores the location chosen and resets to dead center. Click to the left, you get a small box, showing you've chosen a focal point. Click to the right. Small box, showing you've chosen a focal point. Click near the center to choose a focal point, the app ignores the click and, instead, resets.

I suspect you're not seeing this bug because you use the full screen trigger.

[Tomba]

@Rob
If you know a better way to unlock saved focus/exposure including an optical feedback then suggest it to the developer. The feature is necessary with and without full screen shutter activated.

[Rob]

Tomba, clearly, you're misunderstanding what the bug is. I'm not - I repeat, not -referring to the bringing together of focus and exposure by clicking. That is how the app should work, and it's how the app usually does work. The bug is related to clicking near the center of the screen as opposed to clicking anywhere else.

Expert mode on.
Full screen trigger off.

Choose a focus point toward the left. left. Now choose one to the right. Now click left again. See how the focus/exposure boxes go to where you clicked? That's all correct. Now click near the center. It doesn't even have to be exactly at the center, just near. Did the small focus/exposure boxes follow? No. They doubled in size and ignored the specific spot chosen.

This would be such a great app for photographers who want the most manual control possible if the developer would work on getting rid of bugs instead of adding features. Features are great, but please fix the bugs first.

[Tomba]

@Rob
Topic closed for me.
May be the developers understand your problem. May be you can show them a better way to switch back to continous mode.
For me expertmode (regardless of the full screen settings) works like it is described in the inapp description and how i expect it should work.

[Glyn Evans]

@Rob, I'm with @Tomba, as the app works exactly as I expect it to, and how the dev's intended, however I just followed your instruction to see what happens.

"Choose a focus point toward the left. Now choose one to the right. Now click left again. See how the focus/exposure boxes go to where you clicked?" - Yeah, that works for me.

"Now click near the center. It doesn't even have to be exactly at the center, just near. Did the small focus/exposure boxes follow? No." - Yes, for me they did.

"They doubled in size and ignored the specific spot chosen." - Not for me, the focus/exposure points only revert back to their large flashing boxes if I tap dead centre, which is what I would have expected, as the app would take this as focus/exposure reset command.

[Rob]

You do realize that a tap ANYWHERE brings the points back together and resets at that given point, right? Which would mean that a tap dead center would focus and expose at that point without the need for a giant flashing box reset.

For comparison, try the test in Camera+

[Tomba]

@Rob
Its about to LOCK AND UNLOCK and not bring together the two points again.
Camera+ does never lock! Thats why there is no need for a visual feedback.

It seems that you got on the wrong track.
If you still unlike the app use another one.
You have Camera+. Its another very good app

[Fredrik Nilsson]

I agree with both Tomba and Glyn. The app works great for me too. The lock and unlock part can be tricky, but once you get it it's well worth the practice.