# Manual – RAW Camera — Custom Exposure Camera

> Manual camera control app for iPhone, saving RAW DNG images. (iPhone/iPad app by Will Global.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manual-raw-camera/id917146276 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Will Global](https://appshunter.io/developer/306029453)
- Category: Photo & Video
- Price: $3.99 with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.20/5 from 279 App Store ratings · 372 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 11.4 · 12 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2014-09-23
- Data updated: 2026-08-31
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manual-raw-camera/id917146276/reviews.md

## What is Manual?

Custom exposure for your iPhone camera. A simple intuitive interface for powerful controls, saving images in the RAW DNG format to your camera roll.

Featured in the NYTimes "If you like to manually adjust camera settings, you’ll love Manual".

A powerful camera app with full control over your image. Quickly and simply adjust all parameters of your image. Every control a professional needs to take a photo is within reach. No more tapping and hoping automatic can understand what you want. Take control.

Full independent control of

• Shutter
• ISO
• Focus
• Exposure Compensation

Cool Things®

• RAW DNG and/or HEIF format
• Focus Zoom
• Histogram
• Level
• Timer
• Depth Capture
• Fill Flash Mode (Flashlight)
• Grid Overlays (Thirds, Square)
• Light & Dark Themes
• EXIF Viewer

If you're a photographer tired of trying to tap your way to the exposure you want, then this is the app for you. Fighting to get the sweet spot between a blown out background and a silhouetted subject? Stop tapping and just set the ISO and shutter yourself – you know how, stop letting your silly pocket computer decide what looks good to you.

Be better than automatic. Shoot Manual.

—

Requires iOS 11 or later.  RAW capture available on iPhone SE, 6s and above. HEIF capture is available iPhone 7 and above.

—

Made by William Wilkinson & Deepak Mantena
@shootmanual
http://shootmanual.co

## Key features

- Custom exposure controls
- RAW DNG image format
- Shutter speed adjustment
- ISO control
- Manual focus
- Focus zoom
- Histogram

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: $3.99.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tip 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tip 3 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Tip 2 | $2.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Manual?

Overall sentiment: neutral

**Pros**

- 🚀 Great manual controls
- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
- 🔍 Precise control over ISO, shutter speed, and white balance
- 📷 Powerful photography tool for iPhone
- 🎨 Allows creative control over photos

**Cons**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable
- 👎 Finicky and unintuitive controls
- 🔍 Difficult to precisely set desired settings
- 🔍 Cropped viewfinder
- 🔍 Missing features like aperture control

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Crashes and freezes
- Settings reset unexpectedly
- RAW images come out blurry
- Exposure compensation not working as expected
- Focus issues on certain devices

**Most requested features**

- Longer shutter speed options
- Self-timer and burst mode
- Ability to lock white balance
- Improved RAW image quality
- Volume button shutter release

## Recent user reviews (10 of 372)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manual-raw-camera/id917146276/reviews.md

### 4/5 — Covers the function, but user interface a little flaky.

*2025-11-12, version 3.1*

I found adjusting the ISO to be wonky. I could drag my finger down and it would start to decrease and then start to increase again. But that may just be operator error. I’m glad to have the app on my phone!

### 3/5 — Đánh giá sơ bộ Manual - raw camera

*2025-01-14, version 3.1*

Thực sự rất khó chỉnh

### 3/5 — Great but recent UI is clunky

*2024-01-01, version 3.1*

Not sure what has changed but the sliders for SS/ISO take way longer to change now compared to a few years ago.

### 1/5 — Almost there

*2023-03-29, version 3.1*

With no control over f/stop this really isn’t a manual camera app. You control ISO, Shutter speed and white balance. If there were just control over f/stop this would be a very good app.

### 1/5 — I hate the tutorial waste of money tutorial makes app impossible to use

*2022-11-30, version 3.1*

Waste of money you can’t get out of the tutorial so you can barely use the app. I want my money back this is trash

### 4/5 — Zoom missed?

*2022-11-26, version 3.1*

Almost perfect but, what happen with a simple/digital zoom tool? :(

### 3/5 — Disappointing a few years later…

*2022-10-19, version 3.1*

This app was great on my 1st generation iPhone SE but it seems a bit unexceptional now - especially not filly supporting iPads so it is easier, especially on the eyes, to use the Apple camera app.

### 1/5 — Whack a mole app

*2022-07-28, version 3.1*

Changing one setting turns off or changes other settings.  I feel like I’m playing whack a mole.  Very unintuitive.   What a waste of four dollars.

### 1/5 — Horrible

*2022-07-14, version 3.1*

Nada de lo ofrecido es 
Pido la devolución de mi dinero

### 1/5 — Extremely frustrating

*2022-06-18, version 3.1*

Read the reviews first. There should be a refund available. 5minutes using the most frustrating interface on the planet. I just wasted my time and money, I hate that I was so stupid.

## Frequently asked questions about Manual

### What does the Manual app do?

This app provides advanced manual controls for your iPhone camera, allowing you to adjust settings like shutter speed, ISO, focus, and exposure compensation. It enables you to take full creative control over your photos, moving beyond the limitations of automatic camera modes. Images can be saved in RAW DNG format for maximum editing flexibility.

### What are the key features of Manual?

Key features include independent control over shutter speed, ISO, focus, and exposure compensation. It also offers RAW DNG and HEIF format saving, focus zoom, a histogram, a level tool, a timer, and grid overlays. The app aims to put every control a professional photographer needs within easy reach.

### How much does Manual cost?

The app is free to download and use, with in-app purchases available. This model allows users to try out the core functionality before committing to any purchases. Specific pricing for in-app features is not detailed in the provided description.

### What are the compatibility requirements for Manual?

The app requires iOS 11 or later. RAW capture is available on iPhone SE, 6s, and above. HEIF capture is available on iPhone 7 and above. It is designed specifically for Apple's iOS ecosystem.

### Who is the target audience for Manual?

This app is designed for photographers who are tired of relying on automatic camera settings and want more precise control over their image capture. It's for users who understand photographic principles like shutter speed and ISO and want to apply them directly through their iPhone camera.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.1 — 2020-01-28

– Updated lens switcher to include 0.5x lens on compatible models
– I hope you're having a nice day today

### 3.0.1 — 2019-07-18

– Added setting to disable haptic vibrations
– Added feedback button to settings pane
– You can now swipe up to close the settings pane
– Increased tap area for camera shutter
– Rise n grine baby

### 3.0 — 2019-06-26

We're so excited to release Manual 3.0!

– A complete rebuild of Manual!! Wow.
– A refreshed design
– New ISO and shutter pickers (hold down and slide up or down)
– New EV exposure bracketing (while in Auto, slide up or down on the right edge of viewfinder)
– HEIF format capture
– Depth capture for portrait effects (utilize depth from editor in Photos.app)
– Share or fave right from photo viewer
– View EXIF data from photo viewer
– New level with spirit bubble for straight up/down shots
– Kiss me u fool

This is a completely free update to all existing Manual users - but if you appreciate the update, or wish to support further updates, we'd appreciate any tips. Tips can be made as an in-app purchase from the settings. Thank you!

### 2.2 — 2018-04-19

– iPhone X support.
– Fixed crash triggered by volume button shutter.
– This a hold over release while we finish up a big new version of Manual.
– The daddy of this app got distracted trying to follow his dreams. Thanks for your patience <3
– I miss being held in your powerful arms..

### 2.1 — 2016-09-30

– Lens switcher for the iPhone 7 Plus. Tap the 1x button in the top icon row to toggle between the 28mm and 56mm lenses. Neat!
– New widget for fast access to Manual from lock screen! To add the widget swipe right on lock or home screen, scroll to bottom of widgets, tap Edit and add Manual as top item. Wow fast.
– We added some nice little haptic feedback bumps and clicks for iPhone 7. Feels good, man.
– Fixed dumb bug where RAW files didn't save location.
– Have you been working out?

Just a few reminders for handling the RAW DNG files:

– The Photos app doesn't support viewing DNG properly, so instead it shows the low resolution preview image embedded in the DNG.
– If an app doesn't understand DNG it will import the low resolution preview and look bad. Make sure it's compatible.
– Some apps will misread the metadata on the file as having a very small resolution, again this is the low res preview file being read. RAW always captures the full resolution of the sensor. You just need to open the DNG in a compatible app.

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## More apps by Will Global

- [Everyday](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/everyday/id398081659)
- [Slide – 3D GIF Camera](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/slide-3d-gif-camera/id1058107684)

All apps by Will Global: https://appshunter.io/developer/306029453

## Related topics

[manual](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/manual) · [manual camera 4](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/manual-camera-4) · [slr raw camera manual controls](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/slr-raw-camera-manual-controls) · [manual cam](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/manual-cam)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-31.*