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6 new camera features in iOS 8 that don't need you to buy an iPhone 6

By Ng Chong Seng - 16 Sep 2014

6 new camera features in iOS 8 that don't need you to buy an iPhone 6

(Image source: Screengrab from Apple's website.)

 

6 awesome new camera features in iOS 8

When Apple first took the wraps off iOS 8, there was nary a mention on what new camera features the new OS would bring. But lo and behold, there are more than a couple of tweaks that we believe will make one of most popular point-and-shoot mobile phone cameras in the world even better. Now that iOS 8 is confirmed to be released on Wednesday, September 17, we feel it's time to point them out, especially for the benefit of existing 'iPhonegraphers' who don't intent to splurge on the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus this time round.

(Note: Besides the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, iOS 8 will also run on iPhone 5S, 5C, 5, and 4S. Supported iPads include the iPad Air, iPad Mini with Retina display, iPad Mini 1st-gen, iPad 4th-gen, iPad 3rd-gen, and iPad 2. The iPod Touch 5th-gen is also compatible with iOS 8.)

 

1. Separate focus and exposure controls

Adjusting exposure independent of the focus area is now possible on iOS 8.

In previous versions of iOS, exposure is determined by the same area as the focus. While iOS 7 introduced AE/AF lock, exposure and focus are still inseparable, which is terrible if you're trying to get creative. In iOS 8, you can first set the focus, and then adjust the exposure by moving the little sun icon that appears up and down.

 

2. Self timer

3 or 10-second timer can now be set.

Maybe it's the increasing popularity of selfies, or that Apple suddenly realizes the iPhone is one of the most popular cameras in the world, but there's finally a self timer in iOS 8's Camera app. If you've owned a digital camera before, you'll know what it does. The timer lets you set a 3 or 10-second delay between the time you hit the shutter button and the time the shutter actually fires.

 

3. Time-lapse video

Brace yourself for tons of weird time-lapse videos on YouTube and Instagram soon.

Time-lapse is a photography technique where you shoot multiple still photos in a set interval, which you then combine to make a video. In iOS 8, this process is made super simple with a Time Lapse mode: just hit the record button and let the camera handle the rest, including the exposure. When you're done, you can use the built-in tools to trim your masterpiece.

 

4. Quicker burst mode for older iPhones

Super-fast burst shooting is now no longer an iPhone 5S exclusive.

A cool iOS 7 feature that only iPhone 5S owners get to enjoy is a high-speed burst mode that shoots at 10 frames per second or up to 999 full-res photos as long as you hold down the shutter button. Older iPhones got a burst mode too with iOS 7, but it wasn't nearly as fast. Further optimization in iOS 8 means that these older iPhones now get their long awaited speed boost.

 

5. Panorama photos for iPad

While the iPhone is able to do it for a while now, Panorama mode is just coming to the iPad.

Since iOS 6, the iPhone is already capable of panoramic photography. But this feature never came to the iPad, even the smaller and much easier to handle iPad Mini. But this will soon change in iOS 8. Yes, if holding up the iPad to take photos look goofy, imagine panning it to take wide-format shots. Then again, the iPad has a pretty decent camera, so why not?

 

6. Credit card scanner

Why bother typing it in manually when the camera can capture and enter it for you?

Okay, this is a new feature in the Safari browser in iOS 8, but we're including it here because it needs the camera to work its magic. In a nutshell, when you're placing an order (say, on Amazon) in Safari, instead of typing in your credit card details (e.g. name and credit card number), you can hit the 'Scan Credit Card' button on the popup keyboard, which in turn will fire up the Camera app to do the job.

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