Expert explains what iPhone camera feature actually does after people call for it to be removed
A photography expert has weighed in after Apple buffs complained over the tech giant's iPhone camera feature.
Apple users have been left unhappy after the company introduced a change to the way pictures can be taken through the camera app.
The feature is called night mode - introduced in iOS 17 - which allows you to take well-lit photos at night without using flash.
Why do people dislike night mode?
The feature has garnered criticism for changing the way pictures look in dark environments away from what Apple users had already grown accustomed to.
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Plus, because the feature is automatic, some find it bothersome to have to turn it off manually when they have no intention of using the feature.
Notably, one poster on X took umbrage with the addition, harshly stating: “Whoever added [Night Mode] to the iPhone camera needs to be killed.”
However, photographers were quick to come to the feature’s defense, with one quoting the original poster and commenting on the general lack of camera knowledge possessed by those angered by the feature.
“As a photographer you tend to forget that people know absolutely nothing about how cameras & light work,” they noted.
“No shame in not knowing what it does! I wouldn’t know about it if I wasn’t into photography either.”
How does night mode work?
Luckily for those confused about what the feature does, several different websites and experts have given full rundowns on how to use Night Mode.
This includes an explanation of the shutter system, which is an aspect of Night Mode that makes it look like the screen is lagging as it takes the photo.
One such site is TomsGuide, which explains the feature in simple terms for people unfamiliar with photography
The site explains: “Built for low light conditions, Night mode alters the duration of that your iPhone's shutter stays open, resulting in a longer exposure and a brighter image.”
Tips for using night mode well
In order to get the best snaps using the feature, the site advises to ensure you hold your camera still until the capture completes.
It also explains that you can adjust the shutter speed by tapping the moon icon in the options and adjusting the slider.
If your picture looks unusually bright in night mode, you can fix this by adjusting the exposure by tapping anywhere on the screen and adjusting the brightness slider.
While understanding what the feature does and why it does it will likely quiet some of the naysayers, others seem unmoved by that knowledge.
“It’s a bad user experience,” claimed one X user. “Apple should know that the average consumer doesn’t know what a long exposure does & it should be an advanced tool, not default.”
Another commenter echoed the previous sentiments, theorizing that the frustration surrounding night mode stems from its implementation rather than its actual use.
“The feature is just overly aggressive,” the user wrote. “Having to turn it off a bunch when they shouldn’t have to is what annoys people, I think.”
What do you think?
Dylan Murray