DB Labs
The Top Hidden Features at a Glance
Volume buttons as shutter triggers, QuickTake video in Photo mode, burst mode by swiping left, mirror selfies, the horizon level indicator, AE/AF lock with a long press, front flash using the screen, timer with countdown, macro mode toggle (Pro models), ProRAW capture, and the built-in magnifier — these are the features that change how you shoot every day.
Shooting Features
1 Volume Buttons as Shutter
Pressing Volume Up or Volume Down in the Camera app triggers the shutter. This is more stable than tapping the on-screen button because you use a side button like a traditional camera. Even better: plug in Apple EarPods and press the volume button on the inline remote to trigger the shutter remotely — perfect for group shots and reducing shake.
2 QuickTake: Instant Video in Photo Mode
In Photo mode, press and hold the shutter button to immediately start recording video without switching modes. Release to stop. Slide the shutter button to the right while holding to lock into video recording (hands-free). QuickTake works on iPhone 11 and later and ensures you never miss a moment fumbling between modes.
3 Burst Mode by Swiping
To shoot a burst of rapid-fire photos, swipe the shutter button to the left and hold. iPhone takes dozens of frames per second. After the burst, you can select your best shots and delete the rest. Note: bursts generate a lot of photos fast, so use Swype Photo Cleaner to cull them efficiently afterward.
4 AE/AF Lock: Freeze Exposure and Focus
Tap and hold anywhere in the Camera viewfinder for about one second. You will see an "AE/AF Lock" banner appear at the top. This locks both focus and exposure at that point — your subject stays sharp and the brightness stays consistent even if the scene changes. Tap anywhere else to unlock. Essential for shooting moving subjects and preventing the camera from constantly refocusing.
5 Separate Focus and Exposure
After tapping to set focus, notice the small sun icon next to the focus box. Slide this sun icon up or down to independently adjust exposure without changing where the camera is focused. This lets you keep focus on a subject while brightening or darkening the overall frame — great for silhouette shots and backlit subjects.
6 Mirror Selfies
By default, iPhone flips selfies to match how the rest of the world sees you — not how you see yourself in the mirror. If you prefer the mirrored view, go to Settings → Camera → Mirror Front Camera and toggle it on. Your selfies will now look like what you see in the mirror, which many people find more natural.
7 The Horizon Level Indicator
Enable the camera grid at Settings → Camera → Grid, then look for a small crosshair in the center of the viewfinder when shooting at roughly horizontal angles. When your phone is level, the crosshair turns yellow and merges to a single point. This is your horizon level indicator — indispensable for landscape and architecture shots. No more crooked horizons.
8 Front Flash Using the Screen
When shooting selfies in low light, iPhone automatically uses your display as a fill flash — the screen flashes white at maximum brightness to illuminate your face. On iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models, this "screen flash" feature also works with the standard rear camera flash. You can also trigger it manually: while in selfie mode, tap the flash icon and select On.
Settings-Level Features Most People Miss
9 Timer with Countdown
Tap the Timer icon at the top of the Camera app (the clock icon) to set a 3-second or 10-second countdown timer. After tapping the shutter, set your phone down or get into the frame before the shot fires. The timer shoots a burst of photos at the set interval so you can choose the best one. No need for a selfie stick.
10 Macro Mode Toggle (Pro Models)
iPhone 13 Pro and later automatically switch to the ultra-wide lens for macro photography when you get very close to a subject. If you find this automatic switching distracting, go to Settings → Camera → Macro Control and enable the manual toggle. A flower icon will appear in the viewfinder you can tap to control when macro kicks in.
11 ProRAW and ProRes (Pro Models)
iPhone 14 Pro and 16 Pro models can shoot Apple ProRAW files — full 48-megapixel raw images that preserve all the sensor data for editing in apps like Lightroom. Enable at Settings → Camera → Formats → Apple ProRAW. For video professionals, ProRes video is also available. Be aware: ProRAW files are 25-75 MB each and will fill storage quickly. See our guide on ProRAW vs HEIC vs JPEG.
12 Cinematic Mode for Video
Cinematic mode (iPhone 13 and later) shoots video with an automatic rack-focus effect — it shifts focus between subjects like a professional camera operator would. You can also manually tap subjects in the viewfinder to direct focus, or edit focus points in post-processing in the Photos app. The result looks like a film production, not a phone video.
13 Zoom with One Finger (Gesture)
Instead of pinching to zoom (which requires two hands), slide your finger up or down on the shutter button while shooting. Sliding up zooms in, sliding down zooms out. This one-handed zoom is significantly steadier than pinching and keeps your grip on the phone secure. Works in Photo, Video, and most other modes.
14 Lock Camera Open from Lock Screen
Swipe left from the Lock Screen to open Camera instantly — no passcode needed. Once open, you can take photos freely. However, by design, you cannot access your existing photo library from this state (photos taken are viewable, but previous photos require authentication). This protects your library even if someone grabs your locked phone.
15 Photographic Styles (Permanent Look)
Photographic Styles (iPhone 13+) let you set a permanent visual treatment for all your photos — Vibrant, Rich Contrast, Warm, or Cool — applied in real time by the camera's image pipeline, not as a filter. Unlike filters, Styles intelligently protect skin tones even as they shift other colors. Set it at Settings → Camera → Photographic Style and every photo you take will have your preferred look automatically.
For more ways to manage the photos these features generate, see our guides on bulk deleting iPhone photos and clearing Recently Deleted.
Great Camera Features Create More Photos to Manage
More shooting features means more photos to sort through. Swype Photo Cleaner makes it fast — swipe left to delete, right to keep. Clean your entire camera roll in minutes.
Free · iPhone · iOS 16+ · 100% on-device, zero uploads
Free · iPhone · iOS 16+