By Shane Richmond, Head of Technology (Editorial)
There
isn't much wrong with Apple's camera app for the iPhone. It takes photos, it
shoots video and it's even accessible from the lock screen. It does lack
options, though. And that's where Camera Awesome comes in.
There are so many
options in this camera app, developed by picture-sharing website SmugMug, that
it's hard to know where to begin. While the iOS Camera app allows you to
overlay a grid, to make it easier to line-up your shot, Camera Awesome gives
you a range of grids to choose from. While Camera takes just a single shot,
Camera Awesome can take a burst of shots and features image stabilisation too.
Once you've taken your
photo, there are a wealth of editing options available. You can 'awesomize'
your photo using a slider that boosts certain levels within the image or you
can manually adjust levels such as sharpness and saturation.
If you want more options
then the app is crammed with filters, presets, textures and frames - around 300
altogether. You get nine of each free but you will have to pay to unlock the
rest. Unlocking, say, all of the filters will cost you £2.49. Or you can unlock
everything for £6.99.
I'd recommend using the
free features for a while first to see how much use you will get out of it. It
probably has too many features for the casual snapper but it's worth trying it
out. If the app becomes your default camera, then £6.99 is a good price for the
range of options available.
