Best Camera Apps for Android: Free and Paid

Cameras on mobile devices have become better than ever in recent years. The developers are doing their best to make them more reliable, improve the quality of photos in low light, and add new functionality. Many people choose a smartphone based on the quality of its camera. Additionally, camera performance can be improved by choosing the right application. It is capable of offering its own functionality and settings. Below is a list of the best camera apps on Android.

BestMe Selfie

Program for selfie photos. There are 125 filters with real-time overlay capabilities, stickers, emojis, blur effect, vignettes, selfie stick support, etc. This is a high-quality program, especially for posting photos on social networks. The creators also promise to soon add support for the Android Wear platform and video filters. The same team created a good HD Camera application.

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BestMe Selfie camera

Developer: RILEY CILLIAN

Price: Free

Android Camera Guide

This guide completes a series of reviews of applications related to viewing, processing and shooting photos. Last time we talked about editors, today we’ll try to find a replacement for the standard Android camera. The checklist for selected participants is as follows:

• Shooting modes, video recording capability
• Availability of effects
• Editor capabilities, if available
• Saving formats, export to the Internet

Key review participants:

• Camera MX
• ProCapture camera
• Camera FV-5
• Camera360 Ultimate

Applications will also be mentioned:

• Candy Camera - Selfie Selfies
• Retrica
• Line camera – Selfie & Collage
• Instagram
• GIF Camera
• Open Camera
• Cymera – Photoeditor & Camera
• Little Photo

Camera MX

Google Play

Camera MX allows you to take photos and videos, use real-time effects in the process, edit and upload the results to the cloud and social networks. The application is available for Android OS 2.3 and higher in Russian.

Camera MX does not have additional photo and video shooting modes other than “as is”. On the top panel of the application there is a switch for the flash and a timer for the front and rear cameras. You can use the volume keys to control. Effects, overlays and frames are available in the left panel (FX) list.

In Camera MX, effects are applied not only in real time, but also after capture on camera. There are about 20 effects to choose from: HDR, TiltShift & Little Planet, Vintage, Lomo, Color Splash, Pop Art, Black & White, Sepia and others.

The camera settings have several interesting options for optimization - including for the Android 4.3 platform and higher, so you can distribute resources optimally. However, it should be noted that when shooting video, inevitable freezes begin, while photos can be taken with effects turned on.

In addition to the camera itself, Camera MX includes a functional editor. With its help, you can apply standard operations to photos and videos: auto adjustment and white balance, brightness, contrast, saturation, clockwise rotation, etc., right down to trimming the video after shooting. From pictures you can create a full-fledged slideshow with an audio track, it is possible to add effects, overlays and borders to an existing image, and add text.

The resulting images are saved in their original format; for JPG, you can specify the quality. The camera takes photos in a 16:9 ratio, even if it is not officially supported by the camera.

It is possible to save files to the cloud (there are corresponding sections on the application’s start page), publish on Facebook, Flickr, Tumblr and Twitter, Instagram. When saving a photo, location information (GPS) will be included in the file - which will be useful for Instagram.

Summary

. There are a few interesting things to note about Camera MX. First, adjust JPG quality and device optimization. Secondly, the ability to seamlessly store data in the cloud. Thirdly, a convenient and functional editor that allows you to make changes after capturing an image or video.

ProCapture camera

Google Play

ProCapture enhances the capabilities of a standard camera by adding a number of interesting shooting features. There is no own editor here, although there is a minimum set for photo post-processing. There are two editions of ProCapture - paid and free. The paid version allows you to save pictures in higher resolution, use the selective focus function, and more. The application also does not include a video camera; you can only shoot a video through an external application.

In the camera settings, on the main screen, you can specify the focus mode, enable location recording, histogram, grid or Fibonacci spiral.

The Fibonacci spiral is an asymmetrical grid that is convenient for focusing. Just like a standard composition grid, it is overlaid on top of the image. These tools are accordingly complemented by custom focus and histogram.

Next comes: exposure adjustment, white balance, color effects - they are applied in real time. There are also many shooting modes, including night, sports, etc. - about two dozen to choose from. The adjacent ProCapture section also applies to shooting modes - you can set up timer shooting, turn on noise reduction, take a wide-format photo or panorama. The most interesting in this section is the noise reduction mode: you can take two pictures and combine them into one, thereby improving the quality of the result.

The panorama and extended shot modes are similar in nature and processing speed to the capabilities of a standard camera.

When saving a photo, the user can specify the aspect ratio, size and quality of the photo, and the original saving format.

Summary

. ProCapture features focus on creating the right image. This is done by fine-tuning the camera: setting the required focus, the shutter mode, etc. Transformations after shooting, in this case, are secondary.

Camera FV-5

Google Play

A special feature of the Camera FV-5 is full control when creating a photo. The viewfinder is slightly similar in design to a “DSLR” (DSLR). Effects and editor are not provided here.

The viewfinder displays a histogram (RGB) and a grid, both of which are highly customizable: you can turn on a live histogram, change the style of the grid, and more.

The user can flexibly control shutter speed, exposure, and focus in real time. The left panel presents the following parameters: white balance, focus mode, sensor sensitivity (ISO), exposure compensation.

On the top panel there are shooting utilities: exposure bracketing, intervalometer, auto-starter, stabilizer, continuous shooting.

Let's talk a little more about some parameters. Shutter speeds range from 1/80000 to 2″, depending on the device. Long shutter speeds are supported, allowing you to shoot in night mode and more. Focusing works in the following modes: autofocus, macro mode, pointing sharpness, manual focus control, focus lock.

Additional options that are also important when shooting include the volume of camera sounds, camera behavior when focusing, and control keys.

Camera FV-5 works with various formats: JPEG, RAW (16 bit) DNG format, lossless PNG. The saving format is determined in the main settings. For long exposure photographs it can be specified separately.

Summary

. Camera FV-5, like ProCapture, gives you complete control when shooting. Again, there is no editor or any decorations or effects, but exposure settings, shutter speed, focus can be adjusted in detail, and there are additional tools. Several save formats are supported - which is actually rare for such applications.

Camera360 Ultimate

Google Play

Camera360 Ultimate is another well-known photo and video app for Android. Available for Android OS 2.3 and higher, there is no Russian version available.

First, a few words about shooting modes. There are more than a dozen of them - selfies, with effects, posters, “funny” cameras, tilt-shift, audio and video modes, etc. The options available on the screen include flash, timer and tapping. Additionally, in the application settings you can enable the grid, real-time viewing, enable/disable sound, etc.

In total, there are more than 200 filters with the possibility of expanding the list; add-ons can be purchased on the Camera360 website. If Live View is activated, all changes are displayed through the viewfinder, but enabling this option results in a noticeable decrease in the screen refresh rate.

Camera360 includes basic editing tools: crop, rotate, blur, texture, color adjustment, and more. Facial recognition functions are perhaps the main feature of the editor, making the camera suitable for selfies and portrait photos. After shooting, the photo is analyzed, the shape of the face is determined, after which adjustments can be made. Tools include smoothing the skin, changing the shape of the face and eyes.

The cloud in Camera360 is free. Photos can be uploaded to protected albums with synchronization capabilities. The cloud also provides editing and file management functions; you can access uploaded photos at cloud.camera360.com. Speaking about the network capabilities of the camera, we should note the fast publication on social services Facebook, Flickr, Instagram and Twitter.

When saving a photo, the aspect ratio (16:9, 4:3, 1:1) and the resolution of the image are indicated. If necessary, a GPS and time stamp can be recorded in the file.

Summary

. Of course, Camera360 can't compete with feature-rich apps when it comes to adjusting exposure, ISO, and other shooting parameters. This camera has different tasks - taking selfies, applying quick effects. The editor will be primarily useful when processing portraits on a mobile device. Additionally, Camera360 has two features worth highlighting: cloud storage and photo album management.

comparison table

Worth mentioning

Candy Camera - Selfie Selfies

Google Play

Candy Camera is a simple camera in terms of functionality. There are few control buttons on the main screen: turning on/off the flash, overlaying a grid, setting a timer, and activating shooting by touching the screen. The effects are divided into two categories - selfies and regular ones and, for the most part, give the photo a “vanilla” tint.

The fact that Candy Camera is suitable for selfie photos is indicated not only by the effects, but also by the editor’s adjustment tools. In particular, there is a filter for smoothing the skin - it will help hide individual imperfections and various artifacts after shooting on camera. Correction functions are as follows: whitening, stain removal, make-up. Post-processing tools include adjusting brightness, contrast, saturation and resolution, crop and rotate, mosaic, lomo effects and blur.

Retrica

Google Play

The Retrica camera has virtually no settings; it cannot be optimized, despite the fact that the application does not work quickly. And yet, the program is valuable for its effects. There are about hundreds of them, they are used in real time.

The main effects include blur, vignetting and collage. The collage is created directly during shooting, the time interval is pre-set. As a result, there is no need to contact a separate editor; the collage can be immediately saved to a file and quickly posted on the Internet.

Other useful features of Retrica include adding a watermark and/or logo, adding geotags, and setting a timer when shooting.

Line camera – Selfie & Collage

Google Play

Similar to Candy Camera, Line camera will benefit from correction functions. The editor's tools allow you to “smooth” the skin, lighten certain areas in the photo, eliminate dark circles under the eyes, change the size of the eyes, and improve detail.

Line camera includes several auxiliary functions: silent mode, timer, grid, shooting by tapping on the screen. You can specify the aspect ratio yourself: 1:1 or 3:4.

Instagram

Google Play

Instagram, a service for publishing photos and videos, needs no introduction. The Android application of the same name allows you to conveniently integrate your device’s camera with this service.

At first glance, the camera on Instagram is modest: there is a shooting button on the screen, a composition grid overlay, a flash, and switching the camera from the front to the inside. Nearby you can find about three dozen filters for subsequent processing of the material (the application does not support real-time effects).

Conveniently, filters can be organized through the settings, disabling unnecessary ones from the list. In addition to filters, the editor contains basic tools: control of brightness, contrast, saturation, sharpness, shadows, darkening edges, etc. - that is, a full range of possibilities for creating Instagram.

Captured images and videos can be uploaded directly to the service (optional: Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr and Foursquare), added to your feed, shared with friends, and commented on.

GIF Camera

Google Play

Compared to other cameras for Android, GIF Camera is somewhat different. The footage shot with this camera is compiled into an animated GIF file. Moreover, this is the only possible format for export. When saving, you can specify the frame rate (up to 20 per second), set the cards in the reverse order (reverse). As an option, it’s easy to “glue together” a GIF video from local photos by selecting the necessary ones from the gallery.

Briefly about other features of GIF Camera. There are built-in albums with examples and user posts. The program contains advertising, but the functionality is not limited.

Open Camera

Google Play

Open Camera features an informative and customizable viewfinder. When shooting, you can control the angle and direction of the camera, and the format for saving the future image. The screen also displays the time and battery charge.

Second important point. The Open Camera user has a full set of saving options for both photos (format, JPG quality, resolution) and video (bitrate, frame rate, video duration, audio availability, etc.). You can include geotags, date and time in the saved file.

Other conveniences available when taking photos in the Open Camera app:

• flash control (you can turn on silent mode)
• Lighting, color, balance, ISO and exposure settings
• setting up the composition grid
• selecting focus mode (macro and custom focus, i.e., touch)
• auto image stabilization.

Cymera – Photoeditor & Camera

Google Play

Cymera is an all-in-one solution: it's a photo sharing app, a camera, and an image editor at the same time.

On the top panel of the viewfinder you can control blur, select a shooting mode (selecting timer, touch shooting and stabilization); on the bottom panel there are zoom controls. In addition, you can enable the composition grid and silent shooting mode.

One of the distinctive features of Cymera is the ability to use lenses with different effects. The lenses imitate “analog” effects and more: film, collage, fisheye, etc. The Cymera supports Bluetooth monopads and is generally great for taking selfies.

After capturing, the photo is sent to the editor, where photo retouching is available: enlarging, cleaning up spots, “pulling out” certain areas of the skin. Decorative elements (annotations, frames, backgrounds), filters (more than 100), and creation of collages are possible.

As for online features, this includes creating private albums and publishing photos online.

Little Photo

Google Play

Little Photo is a small camera with a built-in editor and the ability to add vintage effects. There are about 70 tools and filters available - this is perhaps the main thing that is in the application. There are practically no interesting options, except that when applying a particular filter you can specify the intensity.

Little Photo has a minimalistic interface. On the screen there are only flash and camera control buttons, there is almost no graphic design. The application is not demanding on resources; in the main settings you can specify the original resolution for pictures (low rec camera) in case of system errors.

Camera JB+

This is a remake of the stock Android Jelly Bean app. It has a simple, point-and-shoot design. Video shooting, panoramic mode, live effects, Burst burst mode, quality settings and 4K video format are available here, if the smartphone itself supports it. This is a good option if you want something very simple. This developer also created Camera KK for Android KitKat and Camera ICS for Android Ice Cream Sandwich.

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Camera JB+ - Camera JB+

Developer: Moblynx

Price: 149.90 RUR

Unleash your creativity

Now that you have some great handheld camera apps at your disposal, go out and amaze everyone with your creativity. If you are new to manual controls, check out this simple post about manual camera controls and what they do.

However, remember that the performance of each camera app depends on the smartphone you are using and how you use it. You'll need to experiment with these apps to see what works best for you and your device.

Cymera

Cymera has been around for quite a long time and the number of downloads has reached 200 million. It has good functionality, many filters, stickers, and you can draw on the photos you take. There is an image editor, you can edit skin, hair, eyes, etc. for better selfies. There are no manual settings, but everything works fine.

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Cymera-Cam, beautiful editor

Developer: SK Communications

Price: Free

Price: free

Camera MX is one of the camera apps that have been around for a very long time, but still manage to remain relevant.

It boasts rich functionality, including Live Shot mode, various scene presets, support for 16:9 aspect ratio and a variety of photo and video editing capabilities: frame rotation, adjusting brightness, contrast, saturation, color temperature and many others.

There are no manual presets that serious photographers look for, but the app is more than decent for amateur photographers who need a good shot.

Camera MX photo and video camera

Price: Free

Google Camera

This program hasn't always been one of the best cameras out there, but has improved greatly in recent years. Users get a simple interface and several features including Auto-HDR+, Slow Motion Video, Smart Burst Mode, Lens Blur, Wide Angle, Panoramic, and Photosphere. The functionality here is not too extensive; the main advantage is simplicity.

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Google Camera

Developer: Google LLC

Price: Free

Camera360

Camera360 is one of the most popular free camera apps for Android that lets you take photos like a pro. The application has a wide selection of “cams” ​​with dozens of unique effects of all kinds.

You can also integrate effects directly into the image while it is being captured. However, the app is not very intuitive compared to other camera apps. It may be difficult to navigate at first, but once you get to know it and all of its features properly, you'll easily be able to take some fantastic, professional-looking photos. Other features include motion stickers, an in-app photo gallery, sophisticated filters, and a custom photo editor.

Price - Free

Which application to choose

The Internet space is full of links to utilities in the “camera” category that are alternative to standard applications. It’s not difficult to find reviews of such software online; all experts recommend relying on them when choosing the best option. However, this is far from the only useful criterion.

Others include:

• your own financial capabilities in order to immediately decide whether a paid or free utility will be installed;
• technical characteristics of the mobile device;
• version of the gadget's operating system (the newer, the greater the chance of installing a modern multifunctional application);
• rating of your favorite programs, reviews of them from those who have already assessed their quality in practice.

A good camera application completely replaces the standard one and even allows you to forget about using a camera or video camera. With it you can create high-quality photographs, animations, videos, as well as edit files saved on your phone.

Snapchat

Snapchat is one of the most popular social networks, used by millions of people around the world. In Snapchat, you get a variety of live filters that can give a unique look to your selfies. There is also a store where you can download selfie filters from independent creators around the world. You can take selfies and instantly share them with your friends on Snapchat. Snapchat is also completely free.

Perfect365

Perfect365 is one of the best selfie tools. With this app, you can make your selfies perfect with just one tap. The app comes with a vast collection of over 200 preset hot styles that you can apply to your selfies with just a tap. If you want more control over editing, you can use 20 makeup and beauty tools to make your selfies perfect. This is a free app, but it contains ads and in-app purchases.