Long-exposure photography is a technique that can produce some stunning results. But you don’t need a fancy expensive camera to create long-exposure images.
You can get incredible results using your smartphone! So we list six of the best long-exposure apps available.
6 Best Long-Exposure Camera Apps
Here are the six best long-exposure camera apps for you to try. We have a mix of iOS and Android options.
But before starting with long-exposure photography, don’t forget to get a mount and tripod for your phone! They are just as essential for phones as for cameras.
1. ProCamera (iOS)
ProCamera is a camera app with advanced manual settings. It’s designed to give you a DSLR-like photography experience.
Besides other settings—like ISO and exposure compensation—it lets you adjust the shutter speed. This feature makes this app suitable for taking long exposures with an iPhone.
You can set it to shutter priority or manual mode for complete control. After you have a shot with a slow shutter speed, you can edit it within the app.
Quality always comes with a price. This popular application is the most expensive on this list. But if you shoot a lot with your phone, it’s worth the relatively low price.
Download it for iOS from the Apple app store.
2. ProShot (Android)
ProShot is a full-featured photography app for Android smartphones. The app is jam-packed with tools to help you develop your smartphone photography skills.
You have automatic, semi-automatic, and fully manual controls. That means anyone from beginner to experienced users can use this app with great success.
You have control over the aperture, ISO, and, of course, shutter speed. You can select long shutter speeds. Or you can use the manual shutter to give yourself even more creative control.
But it’s not just the basic exposure controls. You can shoot time-lapse videos. There are HDR and bokeh effects to add new layers to your smartphone photos.
And the app gives you a histogram to help you improve your photography. You can even shoot in RAW+JPEG mode for better editing results.
Smartphone videographers can also use ProShot for movies. As with still photography, you have control over the exposure settings.
Plus, you have a selection of frame rates between 24 and 240 fps. It also supports external audio devices and allows you to monitor sound levels.
Download it for Andriod from the Google Play app store.
3. Camera+ Pro Camera and Editor (iOS)
Camera+ is one of the most popular camera apps for phones. It gives manual control over shutter speed and ISO. It also offers image stabilization, RAW file shooting, and editing to enhance images.
With this app’s built-in presets, you can edit your images for specific purposes. These include macro or action photography.
The Slow Shutter preset makes it possible to take long-exposure photos even in daylight!
To access manual mode at all times, go to Advanced Controls and choose “always show.” You can choose either full manual or shutter priority mode.
This app is about twice the price of the other apps on this list. But it is still affordable and worth it for all the manual settings and features you get.
Download it for iOS from the Apple app store.
4. Slow Shutter Cam (iOS)
The Slow Sutter Cam app is the most popular for long exposures on an iPhone. It even has a hashtag on Instagram you can follow if you are interested in the pictures taken with this app.
After opening the app, you must click on the Settings icon to adjust them manually. You can also choose from several built-in presets for specific scenarios.
These include Light Trail, Motion Blur, and Low-Light presets. With this app, you can achieve long-exposure effects with your phone that wouldn’t have been possible before.
Slow Shutter Cam will help you bring the most out of your long-exposure photos. And it is available for a low price.
Download it for iOS from the Apple app store.
5. Manual Camera DSLR (Android)
Manual Camera DSLR allows you to have manual control over your phone’s camera. The interface reminds the user of DSLR cameras.
It also lets you control the shutter speed for long-exposure shots. You can even record videos using the manual settings this app provides you.
This manual camera DSLR app is accessible for Android devices. It has a free version, but it doesn’t give you access to the app’s full capabilities.
Download it for Andriod from the Google Play app store.
6. Long Exposure: Motion ProCam (Android)
As the name suggests, Long Exposure is an app dedicated to long-exposure photography. And anyone can produce stunning images with this app.
It doesn’t have a wide range of photography features like other apps. But it makes long-exposure photography easy and accessible. The controls couldn’t be simpler.
You select the exposure time and shoot. If you’re shooting day or night, the camera sorts out the other exposure settings. All you need to do is keep the camera in position.
The app does have stabilization. But it only works for exposures up to five seconds.
A smartphone or mini tripod is the best solution for longer exposure times. And the Long Exposure app allows you to shoot for up to 20 minutes!
If you feel limited by the basic app, you can upgrade to the premium account. It gives you more manual controls.
And you can shoot in RAW file formats. That’s perfect for fine-tuning your images using photo editing apps or software.
When Should You Use a Long-Exposure App?
We use a slower shutter speed than usual when taking long-exposure photos. By leaving the shutter open for a longer time, we can achieve certain effects that give a unique look to our photos.
Generally, we talk about long-exposure photography when the shutter speed is slow enough to blur motion. This usually means setting it to seconds instead of fractions of seconds.
Photographers usually use this technique when they are aiming to blur motion:
- Landscape photographers take long exposures to make moving water smooth and silky.
- During night photography, it is used to create light trails of traffic.
- Astrophotographers use it to let more light hit the sensor, thus capturing the stars.
You can also think of using a long exposure creatively. You can blur people in the street or capture motion during sports. You can even use it to draw with light in the dark.
You might think you are missing out on these opportunities if you don’t have a camera. Luckily, all this becomes possible with long-exposure apps.
Conclusion: Best Long-Exposure Apps
Long-exposure photography is an experimental technique you should try in your photography. It comes in handy in several niches of photography.
It gives your pictures a unique look. And with these apps, you don’t need a DSLR camera to take long exposures!
We hope you find the best long-exposure camera app to help you explore this technique more. If you want to explore another technique more, try our Total Time-Lapse video course to capture beautiful moments with motion.
