Best and Worst iOS 8 Camera Apps

One of the key new features of iOS 8 is the ability to manually control such camera settings as shutter speed, focus and light sensitivity (ISO). This applies not only to the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, but also to older iPhones that upgrade to the new operating system.

But you can only use these tools if you have an app that takes advantage of them. Manual controls are not built into the iPhone's native camera app. But, thankfully, plenty of camera-app makers are integrating the new features, so that more-advanced photographers (or those who aspire to be) can gain fuller control over their shots. Aside from the app called Manual, all of these apps also have full photo-editing tools.

You may have seen the VSCO hashtag in your Instagram or Facebook feed, since this is one of the more popular camera apps around. The latest update to VSCO Cam offers not just dedicated focus and exposure circles that you can separate on the viewfinder but a scale on which to adjust color temperature (or white balance). You can select shutter speed, exposure compensation, white balance and manual focus. VSCO also packs a 'Precision Slider' to let you adjust the strengths of editing effects you apply after the image is snapped. There's also a thriving community of photographers sharing and looking at pictures posted to VSCO's Weekly Selects portal, so you can get some attention for your shots - or inspiration for new ones. While its interface is pleasantly clean, VSCO's settings are frustratingly hard to access. First, you'll have to tap the gear icon to show such basic controls as flash on/off, grid overlay and white balance lock. Then you'll need to press the Advanced button on the top right to bring up a slider at the bottom of the viewfinder. You'll then have to toggle through a series of settings to edit each one. We prefer having an overview that offers one-touch access to specific controls, such as white balance, focus, ISO and shutter speed. Camera+ and Pro Camera 8 provide this functionality. VSCO does have one big plus: It's the only free app so far that offers these manual controls.

Not Recommended Staff Writer Cherlynn Low has been editing pictures on Adobe Photoshop since 2003. Follow her @cherlynnlow. Follow Tom's Guide at and on .