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iOS 18.2: Lock exposure and focus with the Camera Control capture button, DSLR style

2024 November 13
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A new toggle in iOS 18.2 permits you to lock auto exposure and auto focus in the Camera app by lightly pressing and holding the Camera Control capture button.

This feature is disabled by default. To enable it, go to Settings > Camera > Camera Control and turn on the switch labeled AE/AF Lock. Soon, this new DSLR-like functionality for the capture button will be available on all iOS 18-compatible iPhones.

Apple is testing iOS 18.2 alongside related updates before release in early December. The updates pack in the second wave of Apple Intelligence features (Image Playground, Image Wand, Genmoji, ChatGPT integration) and quality-of-life changes such as location sharing for AirTag and third-party items trackers, setting default apps for messaging, calling, contactless transaction, etc.

iOS 18.2 brings DSLR-like exposure and focus locking to Camera Control

With the enabled AE/AF Lock setting, you can lock your focus and exposure in the built-in Camera app by lightly pressing and holding the Camera Control button. Then, you can press the button harder to snap an image with locked focus and exposure.

Letting go of the button will unlock these settings, allowing the camera to dynamically apply appropriate focus and exposure again. This is very similar to how DSLRs work, where a light press-and-hold action locks the focus and exposure until you release the capture button or press it deeper to actually take a picture.

Closeup of the Require Screen On switch in the Camera Control settings on iPhone.

iOS 18.2 brings more new options in the Camera Control settings, like adjusting the button’s double-click speed and setting Camera Control to require your iPhone to be awake to register clicks. I immediately turned it on to avoid inadvertently pressing the Camera Control button when pulling an iPhone out of my pocket.

Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2024/11/13/apple-ios-18-2-iphone-camera-control-lock-focus-exposure/

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