Camera app in iOS 27 reportedly includes four major pro photography features

Code in the Camera app of the upcoming iOS 27 beta allegedly hints at the inclusion of four significant professional photography and videography features. Although the stock camera app has become increasingly powerful over time, these reported findings are unexpected for an app primarily designed for casual snapshots. Historically, Apple has aimed to balance making the Camera app user-friendly for point-and-shoot users while providing some creative control for more serious photographers and videographers.

However, most professionals typically rely on third-party apps. If the discoveries prove accurate, the introduction of these powerful features, commonly found in professional cameras, could change this dynamic. Developer pdfu claims to have identified code supporting four primary features currently unavailable in any of the beta versions.

Judging exposure visually can be challenging, especially when viewing the iPhone screen in bright sunlight. Dedicated cameras often provide a histogram feature, displaying an accurate exposure, whereas video editing software may utilize a waveform for the same purpose. Pdfu discovered code for both these features within the beta.

The depth of field in a photograph, which determines what elements remain in focus, depends on various factors. Judging what is and isn't in focus through visual observation can be unreliable, so professional video cameras employ a technique called focus peaking. This displays an overlay highlighting the parts of the photo in focus, typically in red, although the example shown uses yellow.

Overexposure is a major concern as it can lead to the loss of highlights, which cannot be recovered. Many professional cameras use zebra indicators, red stripes signaling areas with blown highlights. The camera app currently allows for focus locking on a specific element, but only when combined with exposure locking on the same point via AE/AF lock.

Apple has reportedly tested true manual focus in the camera app via a slider, which might be limited to upcoming new iPhones, according to pdfu. Apart from these Pro features, there will reportedly be an option to take a series of self-timed photos. This feature could be beneficial for group photos, enabling users to put the iPhone on a tripod or place it somewhere and capture multiple shots for later selection.

Lastly, there is an indication of a new image processing approach to accommodate the anticipated variable aperture in the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro. None of the features mentioned are currently enabled in any iOS 27 beta, and while Apple's inclusion of these features in the stock camera app seems unlikely, the report appears credible. Please share your thoughts on this report in the comments.