Third-party camera apps are scarce on Android. Most of the camera apps on the Play Store are so underwhelming that they make you fall in love with your phone's default camera app even more. Most users search for a third-party camera app for two main reasons – more features or better privacy. Some of the other reasons include better processing and a customisable user interface. And while there's no one size fits all, but you don't have to choose as all of them are free to use. Here are the five best camera apps for Android.
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Blackmagic Camera – Best Camera App for Videos
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Blackmagic needs no introduction. They make cinema cameras and are also the makers of one of the most popular free video editing software, DaVinci Resolve. Not too long ago, Blackmagic made a camera app for Android and iOS. While the app primarily focuses on video recording, it offers extensive features that we could start talking about and this list would never end.
Right off the bat, you get all the advanced options such as the ability to select a lens, set the frame rate, change shutter speed, ISO, White balance and tint. You can also adjust the exposure, zoom and stabilisation modes.
Head over to the app's settings, and you will find even more options like choosing a codec, resolution and colour space. Then there's lens correction and de-noising alongside sharpening and anamorphic de-squeeze.
You can also tinker with the audio by adjusting the sample rate, audio metering and picking between stereo and mono modes. The user interface is simple and intuitive, and all things considered, it's a solid app for budding creators exploring content creation with smartphones.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Advanced video recording capabilities | Exclusive for videography |
Free to use | Could be an overkill for casual users |
Excellent user interface | Some Android devices may be unsupported |
Comprehensive monitor settings |
Pricing: Free
2
Open Camera – Best Camera App for Privacy
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Respecting others' privacy is a fundamental thing when shooting, but what if the camera app you use doesn't respect yours? Well, that's when you ditch your phone's default camera app and use Open Camera.
As the name suggests, Open Camera is an open source camera app that requires no unnecessary permissions. With a simple user interface that's a bit too old for our liking, the app gets the job done. It may seem like a simple app, but you'd be surprised about just how much you can tinker in it.
For starters, you can customize the GUI and get many more features like optimizing focus, changing the image quality, format, enabling noise reduction, selecting different HDR tone mapping, removing EXIF data. For videos, you can change the resolution, format, maximum duration, audio source, channels, bitrate and more. Overall, while it may not be the best camera app in terms of user experience, it won't make you miss the default camera app experience. Just give it some time to get used to.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Free and open-source | Ancient and sluggish user interface |
Customisable | |
Packed with features | |
Compatible with almost all Android devices |
Pricing: Free
3
ProCCD – Best Vintage Camera App for Android
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Vintage cameras are all the trend these days thanks to their ability to capture photos that evoke nostalgia. Filters are a great way to mimic the same feel, but what if you want your camera app to shoot like an old camera? ProCCD is the app for you.
The app features tons of presets from old point and shoot and professional cameras. The UI is nostalgic just like the photos you can shoot with the app, alongside the ability to add effects, timestamps and adjusting the aspect ratio.
Now, you only get five camera presets to get started with, while the rest can be purchased individually or at once by getting the lifetime subscription. The app comes with exposure control, white balance, framing, live photos and many themes to customise the overall UI. Overall, it's one of the fun camera apps on Android if you're into vintage photography.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Loads of camera picture profiles | Users report issues with restoring previous purchases |
Great user interface | Expensive |
Customisable user interface | Might not have great privacy |
Additional features like frames and collages | |
Comes with a lifetime paid tier |
Pricing: Free/ Rs 390 per month or Rs 1,400 for lifetime
4
ReLens – Best DSLR Simulator Camera App
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Fan of DSLR-like bokeh and cinematic shots but don't own a DSLR? ReLens is worth trying out. It brings pro-style depth of field feature alongside colour grading, lens simulations and editing tools. It features tools that let you apply background blurs, adjust focus after captures and apply different effects to mimic professional cameras. The app features different lens simulations, including anamorphic and fisheye.
The app also brings advanced manual controls like ISO shutter speed, white balance for enthusiasts who like to take full control of their images. ReLens' user interface is mostly intuitive, but could at times feel a bit overwhelming to use. The filters and effects, too, can sometimes look too artificial.
Most of the features are locked behind a paywall, leaving only a few functional features in the app. Overall, ReLens adds a distinct cinematic flair to enhance your photos, but don't expect professional camera-level images.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Realistic lens simulations | UI can be overwhelming |
Manual controls | Blur could seem artificial at times |
Colour grading | Free version is limited |
One-time purchase available |
Pricing: Free/ Rs 290 per month or Rs 1,650 for lifetime
5
ProShot - Best Advanced Paid Camera App
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ProShot is a powerful manual camera app that gives you more control over your photos. It boasts the ability to set white balance, focus and exposure, alongside ISO and shutter speed.
You can shoot in both RAW and JPEG, making it even better for budding photography enthusiasts. However, one of the standout features of the app has to be custom shooting modes. These help you create and save presets and make it easier to switch on the fly.
Besides, the app also supports time-lapse and burst mode, alongside advanced video recording that helps you adjust the frame rate, resolution and bit rate of the video. The user interface is easy and quite intuitive, with a reasonable learning curve. While ProShot is a paid app, it's not for someone who needs flashy filters and fun effects, but for those who want to get the most out of their smartphone cameras. Overall, it's easily one of the best paid camera apps for Android.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Manual controls | Slightly steeper learning curve |
Support for RAW and JPEG | Resource extensive |
Advanced video recording | |
Great UI |
Pricing: Rs 750 for lifetime access
And those were some of the best camera apps you can download on your Android device. For videos, there's no beating Blackmagic camera for its superior UI and features. For privacy, Open Camera or Graphene OS' Secure Camera are both great options.
However, if you want to play with colours, filters and bokeh, ProCCD and ReLens are great apps. Finally, for advanced camera and video options, ProShot is a paid but pretty much the go-to app for enthusiasts.
