Camera Genius

The native camera app that comes standard on the iPhone isn’t quite up to snuff. With no options or features, you feel somewhat limited when attempting to capture a snapshot. Even though the camera hardware itself  is pretty dated in terms of detail, clarity, and accuracy, Code Goo has released an app called Camera Genius that’s beefed up the software side of things quite a bit. It provides a list of feature-rich options that should simply be “standard” on the iPhone.  These include:

• Zoom
• Sound Capture
• Anti Shake
• Big Button
• Guides
• Timer
• Burst
• Settings
• Camera Manual

Accessing these features is easy and instantaneous. Just tap the button in the lower left corner to bring up the menu. Activate/Deactivate by tapping the option. Mix and match by using as many features as you like at a time.

A Zoomhas always been lacking, but the major issue with the zoom feature is the degrading image quality due the iPhone’s lack of an optical lens. The image is enlarged digitally so you lose resolution and usually get a pixelated image. Let’s note that this is a hardware limitation and has nothing to do with the app. The actual functionality of the zoom slide bar works really well. It’s smooth and delivers total control scaling in and out. I just wish it was optical instead of digital.

The Sound Capture option allows you to take a picture based on an external sound. Using the iPhone’s microphone, this option allows you to grab a snapshot without having to touch the screen.

The Anti Shake feature prevents you from taking blurry pics. It uses the accelerometer to sense when the phone is steady. Tap the photo button then hold your hand still, when it detects little movement the picture will be taken.

Big Button allows you to touch anywhere on the screen to trigger the camera. Instead of messing with a tiny button below, just touch anywhere in the frame.

Guides provide lines that help frame your subject. Select from six different options of horizontal and vertical patterns. This feature is quite handy in order to get proper framing.

The Timer option gives you a countdown with audible beeps for each second. There is also the option to “repeat” the timer. It gives you 2, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 120, and 300 second countdowns.

Burst gives you three sequential shots in a row, with about a 1 second pause between each photo.

Settings page has Show Location, Show Time & Confirm Saving options.

Camera Manual is a handy reference area that has a help section along with photographer’s tips and hints on how to take the perfect photo.

These handy features listed above receive a warm welcome and truly outshine the standard camera app functionality, though there are still a few issues with Camera Genius that should be noted. First off, the app does not adjust to landscape mode. You can take a photo horizontally, but the interface and buttons don’t adjust themselves for this view. You also cannot scan through your photo library by swiping left and right. While you can access the camera roll library, it appears that you lose the swipe action once a photo is enlarged to full frame.  Another missing option is the ability to delete photos from within the camera roll. The Burst option is nice, but you are limited to the one second interval, it would be nice to have the ability to change this. Finally, there is a noticeable  delay when saving pictures.

Camera Genius is a solid application that offers quite a bit over the standard camera app on the iPhone. The app’s overall design, functions, and usability are all good. This app is teetering on a 4 finger rating, but because of the issues listed above i felt a 3 was more fitting, a 3 finger rating is still considered a good product and i would recommend this camera app to iPhone users looking for an upgrade. With some of these items addressed, it’s easily a 4 finger rating. The other thing holding back the app is the hardware. Once the new iPhone comes out, hopefully it will have a much more powerful camera w/ optical zoom ability. If that’s the case, an app like Camera Genius will really be able to take advantage to some of these features to the fullest.

UPDATE: ** Whats New: ** – Version 2.0 added a big upgrade!

*NEW* Video Mode. Now record videos with any iPhone including the 3G and 1st gen phone. Capture Videos on your iPhone. (Please Note: Zooming and other features for use with photos are not yet available for video mode.)

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Posted by Steve
on 04 21, 2010
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