Show HN: Camera Sun – Fixing the iPhone's Camera App • Hacker News Board

Show HN: Camera Sun – Fixing the iPhone's Camera App

#1

Post by zahirbmirza » Sat, Aug 08, 2026, 8:17 PM UTC

The most annoying issue with taking photos on iPhone Pros, for me, is the shutter. The physical buttons only work if the phone is in the "right" orientation.

This is especially an issue on manual/pro camera apps. Unlike on DSLRs, you can't use multiple fingers on just one hand easily to take photos at particular settings.

This is where the idea for my app came from... How could I adjust exposure/focus/iso and shoot with just my thumb? Ie controlling from my hand position whenever I take horizontal or vertical photos. I have designed Camera Sun so that you can swipe over the shutter area, as soon as have your settings adjusted, to just snap your pic.

If you want to see it in action without downloading...

https://youtu.be/Av4eDk_HCno?is=tiLXIsCB0NgHRLby

This was a token heavy (ie expensive) project. I burned through multiple limits. Most annoyingly, Cursor defaulted to Grok (without warning) when faced with Fable Limits, and Grok could not manage with the tasks. Im sure there would have been away around this. I think for my next project I will be moving away from Cursor.

My lack of regret, however, is that I, at least, no longer have to complain about the shutter button.

On the Apple App Store

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/camera-sun-pro-camera/id679683...

Re: Show HN: Camera Sun – Fixing the iPhone's Camera App

#2

Post by allears » Sat, Aug 08, 2026, 9:28 PM UTC

I downloaded it (and paid for it!) but it's fussy to use, and perhaps a bit buggy but it's hard to tell. There's apparently 2 zones that fire the shutter, and just one touch takes multiple photos. Also, there's a lot of lag between changing settings and seeing results, and sometimes when I remove my fingers it keeps changing settings on its own -- perhaps I tapped or swiped too many times and it takes a while to execute those actions? More detailed documentation might help.

Re: Show HN: Camera Sun – Fixing the iPhone's Camera App

#3

Post by zahirbmirza » Sat, Aug 08, 2026, 9:47 PM UTC

allears wrote: post #2

I downloaded it (and paid for it!) but it's fussy to use, and perhaps a bit buggy but it's hard to tell. There's apparently 2 zones that fire the shutter, and just one touch takes multiple photos. Also, there's a lot of lag between changing settings and seeing results, and sometimes when I remove my fingers it keeps changing settings on its own -- perhaps I tapped or swiped too many times and it takes a while to exec…

Oh wow, thanks for the feedback. I am really, really grateful. Ill have an update asap.

If the shutter speed get too long, as with many "pro" apps, the refresh becomes slow. Like a mirrorless, best to keep the iso low as poss as the shutter speed to match your needs. Small sensors are not great at long exposures.

I think I may have let it enter burst mode way too quickly if the shutter zone is pressed. Ill fix that...Actually, ill implement a toggle.

Anything else in particular re the fussiness? I would love to make this as good as you expected it to have been for a paid app. Thank you.

Re: Show HN: Camera Sun – Fixing the iPhone's Camera App

#4

Post by zahirbmirza » Sat, Aug 08, 2026, 9:57 PM UTC

zahirbmirza wrote: post #3

allears wrote: post #2

I downloaded it (and paid for it!) but it's fussy to use, and perhaps a bit buggy but it's hard to tell. There's apparently 2 zones that fire the shutter, and just one touch takes multiple photos. Also, there's a lot of lag between changing settings and seeing results, and sometimes when I remove my fingers it keeps changing settings on its own -- perhaps I tapped or swiped too many times and it takes a while to exec…

Oh wow, thanks for the feedback. I am really, really grateful. Ill have an update asap. If the shutter speed get too long, as with many "pro" apps, the refresh becomes slow. Like a mirrorless, best to keep the iso low as poss as the shutter speed to match your needs. Small sensors are not great at long exposures. I think I may have let it enter burst mode way too quickly if the shutter zone is pressed. Ill fix that..…

Also, just a note, the displays reflect the adjusted parameter to get the desired exposure value in Tv(shutter speed) and Sv (ISO) modes...so one value in one of those modes will always adjust live to compensate to get the exposure. I

like app best in M mode. I basically lower the iso and adjust the shutter because I like taking pics of high contrast scenes.