Halide Mark II - Pro Camera

I am on Halide’s trial. I love the interface. I really think that the interface AND the macro mode are the biggest strengths of this app (I’m on an iPhone 14 Pro). I love being able to change formats, choose raw + jpeg right there on the main screen, and I also love to adjust exposure compensation with a swipe up or down. Unfortunately whenever ProRaw is used there’s a bigger delay than what we get on the native iPhone camera. It doesn’t matter if it’s 12 MP or 48 MP, the native camera allows you to shoot back-to-back shots faster, and that’s important for me (as I do a lot of street or documentary photography). Also. The volume up button is supposed to work as shutter release, but it’s buggy and sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. I’ve found auto-focus to be also a problem. It doesn’t auto-recognize faces as the native camera does and will often focus on objects that are closer instead. When in manual mode the controls are a bit confusing, it’s hard to change speed only without messing with ISO… I wish there was a shutter priority mode. Oh… and manual mode doesn’t work on 48 MP captures. I honestly would not mind paying for the subscription if what I mentioned here is fixed - the autofocus problems, the delay between proraw shots, the volume up shutter, a more intuitive manual mode or shutter priority mode. As it is now I think I’ll continue using the native camera.

I’m new to IPhone photography and I have an IPhone XR “yes I know the 12 is out “ but that’s not an option for me right now lol. I poured over review after review on which camera app was best for me as a beginner and was instantly drawn to Halide even though I was Nervous I wouldn’t understand how to use it. I went back-and-forth for about a week and all of a sudden the mark two announcement was made. I took that as a sign since Halide had already been out for a bit. With only a couple days using the app I have to say I feel like it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made on the App Store. The ability have the raw, JPEG and the mixed image is amazing Because it gives beginners the ability to actually see the difference side-by-side. The UI is very clean elegant and calm and very much appreciated by a noob like myself. I’m still in my Trial period but my photos look amazing and I cannot stop taking pictures lol. Super excited to edit some of my raw photos this evening. To all my newbies out there who may be in a position like I was where you want the best quality but you also need it to be cost effective and future proof you will not regret Halide . Ben, Sebastiaan,Rebecca, Thank you for a beautiful product and Cheers to you all.

I’ve just upgraded to Halide mark ii, and I’m remembering now why for the past several years the original halide has just sat unused on my app screen. I should have known when their launch “novel” included a paragraph or two in their new fonts they designed. Design seems to be a big deal for the folks at Lux, although it’s obvious they subscribe to the Form over Function school, when it comes to that discipline. The user is met with a dizzying array of beautifully rendered, meaningless icons, hidden control screens, and misnamed features (Instant RAW is just a processed HEIF, as is MAX mode). Ive spent way too much time just trying to get this thing to export a RAW file today.. which I always assumed was the point of RAW programs like this. Finally, there is something seriously wrong with the exposure algorithm they are using.. often in manual mode you are met with a control box (like apple’s exp/focus) just begging you to touch it. Wow to the fool who does .. as you’ll watch watch your image burn to solid white (regardless of what you touched) and manual controls become futile. Slide open one of the hidden screens, you’ll find the program has switched to auto but has locked the iso to “max”.. your only recourse is to switch to manual and reset everything. That’s just for starters. I’m giving this program a 3 because it is capable, and you know...that font... but it’s the hottest mess I’ve seen in a very long time. I hope they get busy and clean it up.