Halide Mark III introduces creative cinematic features to one of the top iPhone camera applications.

      Stunning film-inspired styles, a robust photo lab, and everything else you need seamlessly integrated.

      I dislike the overly processed images captured by iPhones nowadays, which is why Halide has become my go-to camera app. Its Process Zero capture mode revitalizes photos by eliminating the excess processing applied by Apple, resulting in images that resemble those from a classic camera. The camera app is so impressive that even Apple attempted to acquire it.

      Halide Mark II was already one of the top iPhone camera applications, and now, Lux Optics, the creator of Halide, has launched Halide Mark III — a significant update designed to make it the only camera app you'll ever need, and based on what I can see, it may succeed.

      So, what exactly are Looks?

      The standout feature is Looks, a curated selection of film-inspired color profiles created in partnership with Hollywood colorist Cullen Kelly. Instead of overwhelming you with countless presets, Halide opted for a small yet exceptional collection. If you've ever worked with a Fuji camera, this is akin to their film simulations.

      With Halide, you have options like Valencia for landscapes, Rembrandt for portraits, Nova for vibrant colors, the subtle Zephyr for everyday scenes, and Chroma Noir for black and white photography. Each Look also supports HDR, adding significantly more detail in both highlights and shadows.

      What additional features does Halide Mark III offer?

      Halide has introduced a complete Photo Lab for editing RAW files directly within the app. There’s a Quick Edit pane for quick adjustments, an Exposure panel featuring a histogram, and a Film tab where you can customize grain, halation, and vignetting according to your preference.

      If that feels overwhelming, the Quick Edit pane manages most scenarios without needing to delve deeper. The Photo Lab is also compatible with iPad, where the additional screen space enhances navigation.

      The camera interface has received improvements as well. The most frequently used tools, like aspect ratio controls and guide overlays, are now more prominently displayed. There’s a new lens picker that allows users to choose cropped views along with the standard lenses.

      Manual exposure controls now feature Shutter Priority and ISO Priority modes. Additionally, for those who use conventional cameras, Halide now supports the import of RAW files from external cameras to process with the same Looks and tools.

      Mark III is available as a free upgrade for current Mark II users and subscribers. New users can subscribe for $19.99 annually or purchase the app outright for $59.99.

      Rachit is an experienced tech journalist with over ten years of experience reporting on consumer technology.

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