# The Progression of Camera Control on the iPhone 16 Pro
When Apple introduced the iPhone 16, one of its key highlights was the Camera Control button, intended to transform how users engage with their device’s camera. Nonetheless, initial feedback was varied, with numerous users finding the button overly complex and not as user-friendly as expected. As someone who initially echoed these sentiments, my view on Camera Control has evolved considerably over the past six months.
## Initial Thoughts on iPhone 16 Pro’s Key Feature
Upon unboxing my iPhone 16 Pro, I was keen to experiment with Camera Control. However, my first encounter was quite disappointing. It became evident that Apple had primarily tailored this feature for users who enjoy capturing images in landscape mode, holding their phone horizontally. Unfortunately, I am not one of those individuals; I usually photograph in portrait mode.
This mismatch in orientation resulted in two significant challenges:
1. **Unintentional Activation**: Gripping my iPhone vertically often led to unintentional half-presses of the Camera Control button due to my one-handed hold.
2. **Clumsy Functionality**: The advanced controls for manipulating zoom and other parameters felt awkward and impractical when the phone was held upright.
While I understood that utilizing Camera Control in landscape orientation would alleviate these issues, it did not resonate with my photographic preferences. To add to the frustration, one of the features I was most eager to try—visual intelligence—was not available at launch, rendering Camera Control somewhat superfluous.
## Camera Control Became Valuable After iOS 18 Enhancements
Fortunately, the rollout of iOS 18 introduced several updates that greatly improved the Camera Control experience. One of the most beneficial changes was the inclusion of a new setting that allows users to **disable the ‘Require Screen On’ toggle**. Originally found under Display & Brightness settings, this option has now moved to Settings > Camera > Camera Control.
This update addressed a significant inconvenience: previously, I had to press the Camera Control button twice to open the Camera app—once to wake the device and again to launch the app. This inconsistency made the feature seem unreliable. With the new setting, I can launch the Camera app with a single press, regardless of whether the screen is active or not, resulting in a far more seamless experience.
Moreover, the introduction of **visual intelligence** in iOS 18.2, followed by improvements in iOS 18.3, has added more substance to Camera Control. Although I don’t utilize this feature extensively, I value its potential and have found it beneficial on several occasions.
## Winter Photography is Enhanced with Camera Control Too
As winter set in, I found another practical advantage of Camera Control: its effectiveness in chilly conditions. I tend to feel cold easily and often wear gloves during the winter. My experiences with touchscreen-compatible gloves have been inconsistent, but I’ve realized that Camera Control is significantly better than tapping the screen, even with decent gloves.
In past winters, capturing moments often required me to take off my gloves, which was both bothersome and cold. However, with Camera Control, I can promptly launch the Camera app and snap photos without exposing my hands to the frigid air. This has made capturing special moments much more pleasant and efficient.
## Camera Control as Capture Button: Conclusion
In summary, the improvements to Camera Control, alongside my personal experiences, have made me appreciative of this feature. I now view it as a crucial aspect of my iPhone experience and would hesitate to return to a device devoid of it.
That said, I still mainly utilize Camera Control as a straightforward capture button, having turned off many additional functionalities like ‘Light-Press’ gestures, zoom, and exposure adjustments. For my preferred portrait photography, the capabilities it offers are more than adequate.
As I keep exploring the functionalities of my iPhone 16 Pro, I’m interested to learn how others are leveraging Camera Control. Have you found it to be a helpful tool in your photography? Share your thoughts in the comments!
