How to use the built-in level in the iOS 12 Camera app

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in iOS edited October 2020
One thing people may have missed in the iOS Camera app is a built-in level -- though it appears only under very specific circumstances.

iOS 12 Camera app


Before anything, you'll have to have the Camera's grid layer enabled. Usually the grid is there only to aid regular composition, for instance when obeying the rule of thirds.

To turn the grid on, open the Settings app, then scroll down until you find the Camera menu. You'll find the toggle there.

iOS 12 Camera settings


The level still won't appear if you aim at most objects. Instead, it only appears as crosshairs when you point straight up or down, presumably so you can get a perfectly flat view of subjects at those angles, which might otherwise be difficult to judge. This can be especially handy for capturing documents to email or scan with OCR (optical character recognition).

Align the crosshairs, and you should be shooting level.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 7
    wandersowanderso Posts: 116member
    I downloaded the camera app called Halide. This feature appears with the click of the grid button.  There are several cool features of it as well, such as forcing the depth feature in portrait mode to work when Apple’s default camera app says the object is too close. I expect it will be a welcome addition for XR users who only get the depth feature on people, not objects. (I’m guessing that will work to override Apple’s people only limitation on the XR; I own an XS.  I sent a note to Halide to confirm their plans for the XR)
    edited October 2018
  • Reply 2 of 7
    doggonedoggone Posts: 377member
    OK - I get how it works and may be useful for taking pictures of items on the ground or table.

    Having a guide for getting a picture straight would be good.  The guides do help when there is a horizon in the image.  I would have imagined that the gyroscope could be used to provide information on how level the image is.
  • Reply 3 of 7
    ihatescreennamesihatescreennames Posts: 1,904member
    AppleInsider said:

    Align the crosshairs, and voila, you should be shooting in pure vertical.
    Don’t you mean horizontal? Or am I misunderstanding something here?
  • Reply 4 of 7
    macguimacgui Posts: 2,357member
    ihatescreennames said:
    AppleInsider said:

    Align the crosshairs, and voila, you should be shooting in pure vertical.
    Don’t you mean horizontal? Or am I misunderstanding something here?
    That could be seen in two ways:
    Horizontal in respect to the phone's position ie parallel to the subject you're shooting.

    Vertical ('true vertical') as in centered directly above the subject and not just horizontal but to the left or right or some other angle to your work.
  • Reply 5 of 7
    hike1272hike1272 Posts: 15member
    I discovered this feature while taking photos of items that I put on eBay.  After taking a number of pictures, I realized that the pictures with the cross hairs aligned properly were clearer and sharper -- thus better pictures that displayed the items more accurately.  I like this feature.
  • Reply 6 of 7
    YvLyYvLy Posts: 89member
    I love these little tips ... never knew that crosshair even existed ... thanks!
    radarthekatGeorgeBMacwillcropoint
  • Reply 7 of 7
    rcfarcfa Posts: 1,124member
    Unfortunately Apple has no equivalent visual guide to make sure you hold the camera straight and perpendicular to a level ground when taking regular pictures, such as to avoid distorted perspective and falling lines, slanted horizon, etc.
Sign In or Register to comment.