I’m left-handed and I shoot with my iPhone with my left hand. I use the volume button for taking photos. I’m curious to hear how other left-handers are using or adapting to the new dedicated camera button.
As left-handed, what is your impression?
Haven’t used it much but we might have it easier than right handed folks? My ring finger is almost always millimeters away from where the button is
I‘m right handed. I still have to get used to the button. I find it needs quite a force to press it and am afraid this will lead to involuntary movement. I just learned you can adjust the pressure needed in the settings though.
I like the button when holding the phone in landscape mode and with two hands. Lefthanders could just hold it with the button downwards and operate it with their thumb I guess.
I find it pretty uncomfortable to operate the button when holding the phone in portrait mode and one handed. You have to flex your thumb pretty much for this.
It might in fact be easier for a leftie to use their ringfinger or middle finger.
Actually I might try that myself for casual photos out of one hand. I might also try to press the shutter with left thumb in landscape mode (button down) when shooting two handed. You‘d have your right hand free for adjustments on the screen.
That’s interesting to hear about using the ring finger. Does it require some pressure or light taps? I wish I could test it but I think November is the closest we’ll get the 16 in here.
Were you able to test it again with just one hand?
I‘m currently trying different grips and methods. I have the feeling that changing the sensitivity in the setting only affected the light touch – thus involuntarily triggering the mode selection, but not making it easier to press the shutter.
I am a little annoyed right now, I feel it’s really hard to use the button without moving the phone. But maybe I just need to get used to it more. I found that I automatically started using the on-screen button. I have to discipline myself to use the other one.
Proper pressure like you’d press the lock button. Once you’re in the camera, you can fake press which feels quite similar to the mode on Apple trackpads that have a setting to tap instead of click to press. I find once I’m in the camera, using that secondary menu requires two handed operation.
Upgraded phones this weekend. I’m a lefty and hold the phone in my left hand. I’m finding that if I’m already holding the phone, I’m activating the camera with my middle finger. If I’m picking up the phone to take a picture, I’m hitting the button with my thumb as I pick it up.
Big (not really) gripe: pressing and holding the button doesn’t start recording video. And, if you press, then press and hold too quickly, it takes a photo. You have to wait a sec, then press and hold will take video. I’m hoping that the latter is a bug or timing adjustment that could be patched. The former would have to be a design change.
Also, for photo and video, it’d be nice to be able to select two different camera apps for the button if not using the default, e.g. Halide for photo and Kino for video.
I’m caseless for now, so no issue with the recessed button, but I can see how that aspect is a problem.
Liking the addition, overall.
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I’m not going to get my hold-to-take-video wish. If they improve the tap → hold timing, I’ll be good.
Later this year, Camera Control will unlock visual intelligence to help users learn about objects and places faster than ever before. Users can click and hold Camera Control to pull up the hours or ratings for a restaurant they pass, add an event from a flyer to their calendar, quickly identify a dog by breed, and more. Camera Control will also serve as a gateway into third-party tools with specific domain expertise, like when users want to search on Google to find where they can buy an item, or to benefit from ChatGPT’s problem-solving skills.
I’m left-handed, and I’ve been having a hard time remembering which direction to rotate the iPhone 16 to be able to use the Camera Capture button. So I just made a shortcut for the Action button that - if and only if the phone is in Landscape Right orientation, i.e. rotated to the right so the left side is up - the Action button launches the Camera. (I have it launch Flashlight if the phone is held upright in Portrait mode, and - provisionally - Remote if it’s in any other orientation.)
That way, I can at least rotate the phone either way and launch the camera with the button near my right index finger. Still not a huge fan of the half-press menu functionality, and I may turn it off in Accessibility > Camera Control > Light-Press so that the button does one and only one thing, whichever way I turn the phone.
Anyone else do something similar?