Camera+ for iOS review: Still making your pictures even better

Camera+ helps you take better pictures, add effects, and more, with a tool layout that helps you get the look you want quickly.

The app offers several options for making unique-looking images out of photos on your camera roll, or you can snap pictures from within the program using Camera+ extra tools. When taking a picture, you can use a 6x digital zoom for close-up shots, a stabilizer that automatically takes the shot when your hand is most stable, and a grid overlay so you can line up your shots as straight as possible.

Once you have the perfect shot, Camera+ gives you several ways to enhance the image. Manage your images using the Lightbox -- a backlit display area that makes it easy to find the images you want to work with. Use digital-camera-like scenes to apply common camera effects in specific situations like simulated flash, sunset, backlit images, and portraits. You also can crop your images to your specs or select from several standard sizes.

To add effects to your images, you can pick from several color and retro effects divided up into categories that are helpfully laid out on the screen so you can preview the results before committing to an effect. Finish up by selecting a border for your image. When you're finished you can share your work on Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, or via e-mail from within the app.

Camera+ was one of the earlier photo-editing apps at the App Store (originally released in 2010), and with several updates, many new tweaks and enhancements have been added to the app. Recent additions include a front flash that illuminates the screen momentarily so you can take pictures at night with your front-facing camera. There's a new horizon level tool so you never take crooked shots. You also can now get exposure info in real time on ISO and shutter speed. Developers Tap Tap Tap seem to always be at work on the next update, so expect more changes and new features to come.

One thing Camera+ doesn't have is the ability to see live previews of effects before you take your picture. While it's not a huge problem, many newer photo-editing apps let you see effects and virtual lenses in real time, then let you edit further once the picture is taken if you want.

Still, Camera+ is a solid image-editing tool that makes creating cool-looking shots easy and all the upgrades since its release mean it has tons of useful tweaks. Anyone who wants well-rounded photo effects in an image-editing tool should try this app.