Lux Optics has released a new update to Halide Mark III, and the iPhone 18 Pro’s variable aperture is finally under your direct control. The app now lets you set any f-stop value between f/1.48 and f/4.0 on the phone’s main camera, a level of precision no other third-party app has offered yet.
The update arrives with two new photography looks too. One is Dawn, described as “filmic warmth in the mid-tones and highlights with gentle, rich shadows.” The other is Quicksilver, which “pairs high contrast with muted color, inspired by silver-retention processes.”
The New Aperture Control
The iPhone 18 Pro’s main camera ships with a variable aperture mechanism. Apple’s native iOS camera app currently limits you to four preset stops. Halide Mark III removes that limit entirely.
You can now dial in any f-stop setting within the camera’s physical range, from the wide-open f/1.48 down to the closed-down f/4.0. That includes fractional stops that sit between the 10 presets offered by competing apps like BlackMagic Camera and Moment Pro Camera II.
Those rivals expand the native app’s four presets to ten, spaced in thirds. Halide Mark III goes further still, allowing any setting within the hardware’s tolerance.
Why This Matters for Photographers
The practical difference between f/4.0 and f/3.99 is small enough that the Halide developers admit it is hard to see. But the option exists anyway, and the developers are listening to users about adding f-stop presets in future updates.
For professionals who want to match a shot to exact conditions, the freedom is real. You can now expose for the same light levels as you would on a dedicated camera, rather than settling for a preset Apple chose.
The comparison table below lays out where each app sits:
| App | Aperture Control |
|---|---|
| Native iOS Camera | Four fixed presets |
| BlackMagic Camera | Ten presets in thirds |
| Moment Pro Camera II | Ten presets in thirds |
| Halide Mark III | Any f-stop setting from f/1.48 to f/4.0 |
The Look Options in This Update
Dawn is the warmer of the two new additions. It adds warmth to mid-tones and highlights while keeping shadows rich and gentle. Quicksilver is the cooler cousin, pairing high contrast with muted color and drawing on silver-retention processes for its inspiration.
Both are film simulations, a category Halide Mark III already expanded when it launched earlier this year. The new update simply adds two more entries to that collection.
What Halide Mark III Has Done So Far
Halide Mark III launched earlier this year with a new film simulation engine and multiple looks that can be applied to photos. The app has been building out its feature set since then, and this aperture update continues that trend.
The developers have signaled they are watching user feedback closely. They are considering adding f-stop presets in future updates based on what users want.
The Case for Halide Over Apple’s Native App
The core argument for Halide is simple: more control. Apple’s native app offers four presets and nothing more.
Third-party apps like BlackMagic Camera and Moment Pro Camera II have expanded that to ten presets in thirds, matching what most digital cameras offer. Halide Mark III now goes beyond that, giving you any f-stop you want within the camera’s physical range.
If you want to match a shot to exact conditions, the freedom is real. You can now expose for the same light levels as you would on a dedicated camera, rather than settling for a preset Apple chose.
What We Make of This Update
Halide Mark III’s approach is a genuine step forward for photographers who want more than presets. The ability to dial in any f-stop is a real gain, even if the difference between some stops is hard to see.
The new looks are a pleasant bonus. Dawn and Quicksilver extend the app’s film simulation library without reinventing it.
This is a useful update for anyone who uses Halide regularly. For everyone else, it is a reminder that the app exists and now offers a feature the competition does not.
The question of whether anyone will actually use the fractional stops remains open. But the option is there, and that is the point.
Source material: “The Halide camera app now offers full control of the iPhone 18 Pro’s aperture,” The Verge.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.