Filed under: iPhone, App Store, App Review
First Look: Best Camera App for iPhone
The first thing I normally do when someone names their application "The Best..." is roll my eyes and delete the PR email. However, when I saw a press release about the Best Camera app for iPhone, I decided to take a look and I'm glad I did.Best Camera [iTunes link] is a collaboration between professional photographer Chase Jarvis and iPhone dev firm Übermind. The app gets its name from Jarvis's book "The Best Camera is The One That's With You," a collection of photos taken all over the world by Jarvis with his iPhone.
The US$2.99 app features 14 useful filters and effects that can be stacked; in other words, you can take a photo with the iPhone camera, then apply several filters and/or effects before sharing your handiwork. The filters and effects are on a side-scrolling "dock" at the bottom of the screen, and you apply them by simply tapping on the icons. Sharing includes saving the photo on your iPhone camera roll, sending it out via email, or blasting it to your Facebook or Twitter account.
There's also one more place to share your photo. While filters and effects are nothing new, Jarvis has created a community at thebestcamera.com where photos that have been submitted are displayed on a constantly changing photo wall. These photos are also viewable in the app itself, and by tapping a photo in either location, you can view information about the photographer. On the website, the information also includes a list of the filers or effects that were used on the original photo so you can re-create photos that you find fascinating.
Check out the gallery below for some screenshots of the Best Camera app in action.
Gallery: Best Camera App
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Bobby said 7:09PM on 9-22-2009
$2.99 is way too much. No thanks.
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ijohnjones said 8:22PM on 9-22-2009
I laugh sometimes. People spend quite a bit from other phones, not including the monthly bill, and when a $3 app comes along that might help you take better pictures I hear the "Too much" flag raised.
Yes, I could apply those filters after I move them to iPhoto, or other app on my Mac/PC, but if I can save time and do it on the iPhone I think I can manage. Time is money, no? Sure $3 to some people is three cheeseburgers, or six tacos to and even a grande sized coffee from Starbucks... but I think after spending all the money on the phone and service itself, more people could stand to splurge a few bucks here and there for something that might be worthwhile.
Just my two cents on your outrage of the three dollars.
Aten said 10:27PM on 9-22-2009
What the fuck... $3?
This app is worth more... I love it!
By far the greatest iPhone camera app i have ever used
design said 11:09PM on 9-22-2009
You have got to be kidding... $2.99 is too much? Do you have any idea how much time developers spend on creating an application? It's sad how spoiled consumers have become.
Pace Ripley said 7:29PM on 9-22-2009
Not sure how this is better than other camera apps exactly.
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mentalsticks said 2:06AM on 9-23-2009
I agree. I got sucked in to buying this, and it's nothing special compared to say Camerabag.
mentalsticks said 2:09AM on 9-23-2009
It would've been an okay app if they didn't call it "Best Camera" and have very arrogant "we are better than the rest" marketing. They deserve some flak as the app is rather mediocre.
Chris said 10:45PM on 9-23-2009
you're missing the point behind this app....
chase said 7:42PM on 9-22-2009
Pace: it's the only photo app that allows you to shoot, creatively edit, and share images to the likes of Twitter and Facebook all from within one app. It's also the only app with live stream of all the images created with the app worldwide on device (where you can review and rate) and online at the community site thebestcamera.com.
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mentalsticks said 2:13AM on 9-23-2009
1. There are a zillion apps out there with other photo streams (granted, not 'best camera app' streams but hey).
2. It's not a HUGE problem having to use a separate app to upload a picture. In fact, it's better cause you don't get a banner.
3. Those creative edits aren't very creative, are they? They're not even adjustable I believe *disclaimer: I didn't play with the app very long).
squilky said 8:17PM on 9-22-2009
The thing I hate about this app is that whenever I post a photo to Facebook, it puts up a banner saying it was edited with Best Photo. LAAAAAAME!
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lowbit said 8:31PM on 9-22-2009
I was going to go buy this app, but tacking on an advertising banner like that is definitely a deal-breaker for me. :(
nicleT said 10:57PM on 9-22-2009
Count me out too. This banner / advertising method is kind of common with free apps but for a $2.99 app, this is a shame.
FAILD !
danno~ said 10:43PM on 9-22-2009
so it's a paid app and it still has a banner on it when you upload it?
ouch... bad move there.
rocksteady,
danno~
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danno~ said 10:45PM on 9-22-2009
so it's a paid app and it still has a banner on it when you upload it?
ouch... bad move there.
rocksteady,
danno~
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more_dlc said 12:24AM on 9-23-2009
I just waisted $2.99 on THIS?!!!
People, Photogene ($2.99) has been around for a long time and offers WAY more than this. This app isn't even in the same league. I've used Photogene for so many pictures for enhancing, effects, cropping, straightening, adding captions.
I'd like to know what kind if payoff was involved in this promotion. If there was none, it shows a disturbing lack of knowledge as to what apps are out there.
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mentalsticks said 2:07AM on 9-23-2009
... you sound surprised about that...?
IZodiac339 said 1:48AM on 9-23-2009
Ummm wow it ads a banner to your uploaded pics. Super Fail. Everyone screw this and get Photogene instead.
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chase said 2:59AM on 9-23-2009
Chase here, the photographer behind Best Camera....seems like i'm late to the party here, but I would like to address the facebook "branding" point more clearly
the phenom that some of you are rightly calling out is a known bug that we've found occurs if you put captions in facebook and decide to share to facebook and thebestcamera.
you're right to be concerned and to raise this point. it was never intended and I was mortified when we discovered it. It was note was written by the coder as dummy copy to be overwritten with users facebook update, and this was not discovered in testing. this is not an excuse. we should have found it. I can assure you it is the first thing that our development partner will address in our ver 1.1 THIS week.
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Mentalsticks said 6:10AM on 9-23-2009
What, you mean you didn't test it?