iPhone Photo Apps: FishEye

If you are looking for a way to add additional photography features to your iPhone's camera, then FishEye, by Lotogram, could be just what you're looking for. The iPhone has one of the best cameras on any current mobile phone and, despite being unable to compete with similarly appointed point-and-shoot digicams, it's a pretty darn good pocket-sized camera that already goes everywhere you go.

A fisheye lens is something few people own. These effects are sometimes very useful, but they are rarely needed. FishEye makes it possible to emulate a similar effect using your iPhone's camera.

Downloading the App

FishEye is available via your iPhone's App Store in two different versions:

• FishEye is completely free (as of December, 2012) and includes one lens (LOMO Fisheye Lens 2), "MX" mode to take multiple exposure photos, a full screen shooting mode, a number of flash options (including Flashlight mode), the ability to save your work in your Camera Library (up to 2048x1366 pixels), and three film stocks (Kodachrome,
  LOTO400, and Sakura)

• FishEye Pro costs $0.99 (as of December, 2012) includes everything above, and adds two more lenses (LOMO Fisheye Lens 1 and Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm) as well as six more film stocks (Sepia 200, Lotocolor 1920, Lotogram X-pro 200, "Kodak Tri-X 400TX, Redscale, and Fujichrome Velvia)

Taking FishEye Photos

Using FishEye to take photos is very simple and almost exactly like using your iPhone's native camera app. Launch FishEye by tapping the app's icon, select your lens (if you have Pro) and film stock by touching the little "wrench" symbol, frame your shot, and tap the large circular "shutter" button. 

Here's an example of what a photo looks like from the standard iPhone camera:

And here's the exact same framing, as taken with FishEye a moment later:

Another nice feature about FishEye and FishEye pro is the ability to add the fisheye lens look to pictures already in your library. Here's a parking garage as seen through my iPhone 4S:

I then opened up FishEye, selected "Sakura" film stock, and produced this new and separate image (the original file remains unchanged):

Sharing Photos

Once you have taken a new photo, or enhanced an old one, in FishEye, now it's time to save and share it. FishEye automatically saves your "FishEye Library" to your iPhone's "Camera Roll" (aka Library), but you have the option to email your photos, post them to Twitter, or share them on Facebook right from the FishEye application. Or, should you prefer it, you can also email, post, or share these photos to Facebook as you would any photo on your iPhone.

Verdict

FishEye is a lot of fun to use. While it's more of a novelty than anything else, there are times that you will find it useful. The free version will fit many needs, but I also enjoyed the expanded customization of the $0.99 Pro edition.

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