The iPhone 16 is around the corner. Apple will unveil it on Monday, Sept. 9, and many expect it to come with a new photography feature: a dedicated button for the camera.
This physical button, called the “Capture button,” will reportedly function similarly to the two-stage shutter button on DSLR cameras. Pressing it halfway down will apparently focus the image, and pressing it all the way down will take the picture. If it pans out, this feature should be particularly exciting for mobile photography enthusiasts.
A Button That Is Anything But New
The concept of a physical two-stage capture button has been present in conventional cameras for a long time, but it hasn’t gained significant traction in phones, despite some manufacturers investing in it.
Sony has included a two-stage physical capture button in its high-end phones for years. Image: Galaxus.at
Manufacturers like Sony have been using it in some of their phones, including the Sony Xperia 1 III released in 2021, for years. It was clear then that Sony’s implementation had two main issues. First, the camera app lacked a touch shutter button, requiring photos to be taken using the physical shutter button.
Second, the button’s placement was suitable for landscape photos but uncomfortable when taking vertical photos, which is important in the age of vertical photos and videos on platforms like Instagram.
Despite these issues, Sony has persisted in including a dedicated camera button in its high-end phones, such as the recent Sony Xperia 1 VI, the generational successor to the earlier model. This latest iteration not only retains the physical button but also introduces a redesigned app with a touch capture button.
However, even with these advanced mobile photography options, Sony’s high-end phones haven’t achieved widespread popularity, considering most users simply want a good automatic mode that simplifies their photography experience.
As a matter of fact, photography enthusiasts using these Sony Xperia models can use manual control features similar to DSLR cameras. However, for the general public, these options can be overwhelming.
One of the main challenges with the physical shutter button on the iPhone is precisely to ensure that it doesn’t overwhelm users. Apple will hopefully continue to provide equally good or even better results in the automatic shooting mode, which is currently activated with the on-screen button in the app.
In this respect, Apple shouldn’t make the mistake of overwhelming iPhone users with the physical shutter button. Many users appreciate these devices for their ability to capture good photos with a simple touch of the screen.
The Haptic Zoom Is Coming
Furthermore, some rumors suggest the new iPhone 16 will have a touch-sensitive capture button that can also be used for zooming by sliding your finger across the button. This feature resembles an invisible dial and could be very useful.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra offers an optional “photography case” with a two-stage shutter button and a zoom control dial, among other options.
If this feature is confirmed, it could make using the button very interesting, considering managing zoom from the screen isn’t always ideal. For example, pinching with two fingers works in many scenarios but it doesn’t offer precise control over the zoom.
Xiaomi implemented a similar feature on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra through an optional case called the “Xiaomi 14 Ultra Photography Kit,” which adds a physical two-stage button, a physical zoom control dial, a separate button for video recording, and a 1,500 mAh auxiliary battery that extends the phone’s battery life by 23%.
Apple’s proposal seems quite different from what Xiaomi and Sony offer with their cases and high-end phones. The iPhone 16 will, in theory, conceptually combine the best of all these worlds, potentially giving users access to traditional iPhone photographic modes while also introducing an intriguing option for enthusiasts of manual modes, which have always been the distinctive aspect of traditional high-end cameras.
Opting For Traditional Photography
Here’s an additional thought: Google and its Pixel 9 have revolutionized mobile photography by integrating artificial intelligence into the process, potentially changing our perception of reality.
At the moment, Apple seems to be taking a different approach, focusing on traditional photography and video. For instance, the iPhone 15 Pro/Max can connect to a hard drive via the USB-C port and record Apple ProRes video in LOG at speeds of up to 4K at 30 fps.
These phones have been evolving into portable recording studios, and the potential introduction of a two-stage or two-phase shooting button further solidifies their position as leaders in mobile photography without relying solely on AI and algorithms.
Image | Xataka
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