I finally found a use for Camera Control on my iPhone 16 Pro Max, but in the weirdest way possible

Date:
Sun, 20 Apr 2025 07:31:10 +0000

Description:
The Camera Control on my iPhone 16 Pro Max helps me snap errr... tricky to reach places.

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In many ways, Im an odd guy I do odd things, think odd thoughts, and find
odd solutions to odd problems. But then I also use and love the iPhone 16 Pro Max , which probably makes me seem supremely basic as a tech journalist.

Yet putting aside that imagined juxtaposition, I have found an odd use for Apples new Camera Control feature that I really wasnt expecting to catch my attention.

Now, Ive written before about how Im interested in the haptics-centric extra button Apple has added to its best iPhones with the explicit idea of doing more with the cameras with greater control. But Camera Control isnt a feature that Ive fully embraced ; more often than not, Ill forget about it if Im shooting quick snaps. I appreciated its potential, but Camera Control still feels a little half-baked

That was until I needed to photograph and record the back of my head.
Thinking with my head (Image credit: Future)

No, no, before you rush to the comments section, I havent gone mad. Rather, I needed to do so for a pseudo-medical reason. Specifically, I was concerned about the health of my hair at the back, and potential skin irritation (look, Im 38, and at the age where parts of my body start to malfunction bit by
bit).

If youve ever tried snapping a photo of the back of your noggin, then youll know its a nightmare.

Trying to guess the angle of the cameras whether youre using rear or selfie snappers is an exercise in frustration and borderline madness. Then, when
you think youve nailed the angle after a deluge of attempts, you fail to hit the digital shutter button or tap it in such a way that the shot goes askew.

Such moments can make you want to fling your phone across a room or at an inviting wall. But I cant alleviate my irritation like that, as the phones I use are review samples and Id get into more trouble than a moment's angry respite is worth.

However, for me, having a physical shutter button changed the weird photography game.

Through the use of Camera Control and my iPhones selfie camera, I was able to get some semi-useful shots and videos of the back head, ready to be pored
over with increasing paranoia. It's growing on me

The simple ability to smoothly tap a physical dedicated button was mildly transformative, letting me keep what I thought was the right framing and snap shots at speed, two things I would and have struggled to do before Camera Control.

Taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture, as Ive gone about my travels and odd wanderings, Im slowly finding myself using the Camera Control button a lot more. Its a weird mental leap, not automatically tapping the digital shutter button, but when I need to keep a nicely lined-up shot in place, Camera Control proves its usefulness.

Im not fully won over by it, and Ive yet to really get to grips with the
Apple Intelligence features it facilitates. Yet theres scope for Apple to build out the functionality and intuitiveness of Camera Control, which I hope to see realized on the rumored iPhone 17 .

What do you reckon? Do you use Camera Control, or do you think its still a
bit of a dud now that the iPhone 16 line has had time to settle in? Let me know in the comments. You might also like My favorite iOS 18 app is a tool you're probably not using and I suggest you try it right away I found the absolute best use for the iPhone 16 Camera control you just have to get a little wet I tried iPhone 16's Visual Intelligence and here's how you can too with iOS 18.2



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/i-finally-found-a-use-for-camera-contr ol-on-my-iphone-16-pro-max-but-in-the-weirdest-way-possible


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