Camera App Gives Regular iPhones The ‘Pro’ Factor With Virtual Telephoto Lens
By Alexa Heah, 09 Feb 2023
For those who’ve yet to shell out on a Pro iPhone model, a popular photography app from the Apple App Store could be the secret to capturing the perfect shot, even if the range of the device may be a little lacking.
Halide, the tool in question, recently released an update with access to a new Neural Telephoto feature. Upon selecting this function, photographers without Pro devices will be able to access telephoto zoom levels despite not possessing the physical version of the lens.
According to PetaPixel, the company terms this as a “virtual telephoto lens,” but it’s not as simple as just going closer to an object. Instead of blurry, jagged images, this special feature enhances details in zoomed shoots by applying a built-in machine-learning system to the photographs.
Designed to feel like a tactile film camera, Halide aims to provide users with the experience of capturing an image the old-school way, while providing the flexibility and functions of modern photography on a smartphone.
Naturally, the end product may not be as clear as if the smartphone had an actual telephoto lens, but the firm still promises a better shot than in “most software.” While the artificial intelligence system works in HEIC and JPEG, the image can still appear as an unedited RAW file if so chosen.
In addition, the application’s latest interface update enables it to be used effortlessly on any iPad or iPhone with just one hand, including integrated Edge Gestures to switch modes, Tactile Touch to control the focus, and custom typefaces for those looking to edit the pictures.
Head here to check out Halide, which starts from US$12 per year or a one-time cost of US$60.