By AppHub Editorial Team · Updated August 5, 2026
Open Camera
Overview
Photography
Mark Harman
Free
Oct 17, 2013
1.55
5.0
No
Aug 18, 2025
Features
Open Camera has the following features:
Open Camera has the following features:
Download Open Camera
Get the official app from the trusted app stores. You will be redirected to the download page.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Ratings breakdown
286,000 reviewsDeveloper contact
Name
Mark David William Harman
Address
28 Charles Street CAMBRIDGE CB1 3LZ United Kingdom
Website
https://opencamera.org.uk/Support
mark.harman.apps@gmail.com
Privacy
View policyFrequently Asked Questions
Is Open Camera really free and ad-free? high
Yes, according to the app description. The developer states 'No third party ads in the app' and the app is listed for free with no in-app purchases.
Source: app_metadata, app_description
Does Open Camera support RAW (DNG) photos? high
Yes, the app description states it supports RAW (DNG) files via the Camera2 API, but only on devices that support Camera2 API.
Source: app_description
Does Open Camera work on older Android phones? high
Open Camera requires Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or newer, so it works on many older devices. However, the app description warns that not all features (such as Camera2 API features like manual controls and RAW) may be available on all devices.
Source: app_metadata, app_description
Can I use Open Camera to take better night photos? low
The app includes noise reduction and low light night mode, but one reviewer notes a shutter time limit of 0.6 seconds, which they consider too short for high quality night photography.
Source: app_description, user_reviews
How to Use
Open Camera is a free, open-source camera app that offers advanced manual controls, various scene modes, and tools like auto-level, grid overlays, and GPS tagging. (app_description)
Getting Started
Source: app_description_and_user_feedback_noted
- Install Open Camera from Google Play and open the app.
- Grant camera and storage permissions when prompted.
- Use the settings menu to configure features like auto-level, timer, and save location (note: default folder is 'OpenCamera').
- Tap the shutter button to take a photo or switch to video mode for recording.
- Explore advanced options like HDR, panorama, and manual controls (if your device supports Camera2 API).
Key Features (from app listing)
Source: app_description
- Auto-level to keep photos level
- Manual controls via Camera2 API (ISO, shutter speed, focus, white balance)
- RAW (DNG) photo capture
- No third-party ads
Derived from a user complaint in recent_reviews about the default 'OpenCamera' folder being hard for other apps to find, and the app description confirming the save location can be customized.
How this content was created
Content type: pattern_analysis_of_user_reviews_and_metadata
AI generated: Yes
- Google Play user reviews (5 (smaller than preferred 12-20) per app), January 01, 2026 to February 16, 2021
- Google Play ratings distribution
- App Store listing metadata
- Review samples are not statistically representative of all user sentiment
- Only 5 reviews in the sample—findings are tentative
- Claims labeled 'low confidence' are based on single-review observations only
- No real-world app testing was conducted
- Feature availability may vary by region, device, and app version
- Ratings distribution was not available to provide broader context
Pros & Cons
Based on analysis of Google Play user reviews
Pros
- The app is praised for delivering sharp images with minimal processing and good controls that are not overwhelming, making it one of the best basic camera apps compared to stock options. low
Theme 'sharp images and good controls' identified in recent_review #1 (rating 3). The reviewer explicitly says 'Hands down one of the best basic camera apps than stock. Sharp images, minimal to no processing if desired and good controls/options without being overwhelming.'
Evidence (1)
“Hands down one of the best basic camera apps than stock. Sharp images, minimal to no processing if desired and good controls/options without being overwhelming.”Rating: 3★ January 01, 2026 66 likes - The app offers extensive control over camera settings including exposures, timer, and other features, and is considered worth using despite potential ads. low
Theme 'extensive controls and worth it' identified in recent_review #5 (rating 5). The reviewer states 'Love it! ... Control over my camera for taking times pictures. Offers so many features to set it up the way you want it for exposures, times, etc.'
Evidence (1)
“Love it! Put on my Stylo 6. Just what I wanted. Control over my camera for taking times pictures. Offers so many features to set it up the way you want it for exposures, times, etc.”Rating: 5★ February 16, 2021 964 likes
Cons
- The app has a screen-fading issue after touch-to-focus that occurs most of the time, not always. low
Theme 'screen fading after touch-to-focus' identified in recent_review #1 (rating 3). The reviewer reports 'Screen literally fades to black after touch to focus. Not all the time, most of the time.'
Evidence (1)
“PROBLEM: Weird. Screen literally fades to black after touch to focus. Not all the time, most of the time. Thought it was an exposure issue”Rating: 3★ January 01, 2026 66 likes - The app has a shutter time limitation of 0.6 seconds, which is too short for high quality night photography. low
Theme 'shutter time limitation' identified in recent_review #2 (rating 3). The reviewer states 'One is the shutter time limitation of 0.6 s - far too short for high quality night time photography.'
Evidence (1)
“One is the shutter time limitation of 0.6 s - far too short for high quality night time photography.”Rating: 3★ May 02, 2024 307 likes - The app fails to remember the setting for flash storage, causing photos to be saved to an unknown location instead of the SD card. low
Theme 'forgetting flash storage setting' identified in recent_review #3 (rating 2). The reviewer says 'It just can't seem to remember the setting for my flash storage and I've taken too many pictures now where it just sends the image into nowhere land instead of saving it to my card.'
Evidence (1)
“It just can't seem to remember the setting for my flash storage and I've taken too many pictures now where it just sends the image into nowhere land instead of saving it to my card.”Rating: 2★ November 25, 2019 209 likes - Photos are saved to a default folder named 'OpenCamera' that other apps do not always find, and changing the save location is cumbersome. low
Theme 'default save folder issue' identified in recent_review #4 (rating 4). The reviewer states 'my only complaint is that the photos are saved to a folder called OpenCamera, so other apps don't always find them. Changing the save location is rather cumbersome as you have to type in the location.'
Evidence (1)
“my only complaint is that the photos are saved to a folder called OpenCamera, so other apps don't always find them. Changing the save location is rather cumbersome as you have to type in the location”Rating: 4★ March 17, 2025 179 likes
Recent Reviews
Caroline B
3★Hands down one of the best basic camera apps than stock. Sharp images, minimal to no processing if desired and good controls/options without being overwhelming. PROBLEM: Weird. Screen literally fades to black after touch to focus. Not all the time, most of the time. Thought it was an exposure issue in high contrast scenes but no, this is definitely an app anomaly. I took a screen recording to show this - dev, how can I show this to you? Using S25 Ultra.
Lee Traynor
3★Most of the functionality of this app relies on what the camera can do and that can be disappointing in its own right. However, there are two issues where the app falls short: One is the shutter time limitation of 0.6 s - far too short for high quality night time photography. The other is that when the camera is held upside down (which I have to do to attach it to a gimbal) the "right handed" menu is on the left (as is the left-handed menu). Not good. Also interval shooting is quite inaccurate.
A Google user
2★Deleted. It may be a nice app for others, but the one reason I got it, it has failed completely at for the last time. It just can't seem to remember the setting for my flash storage and I've taken too many pictures now where it just sends the image into nowhere land instead of saving it to my card. Too many memories lost now. That has to be the one thing that a camera app cannot fail at. The second thing is to ensure as good a picture as possible with as little input from the user as possible. All I want is a simple click and shoot and save and don't use all the fancy bells and whistles of the app.
Nicole S
4★Over all I like this app. I find it easier to use than the stock app that came on my phone. So far my only complaint is that the photos are saved to a folder called OpenCamera, so other apps don't always find them. Changing the save location is rather cumbersome as you have to type in the location of where you want to save your photos rather than just navigating to the folder and selecting it. Other than that .. I am liking it.
Steve J
5★Love it! Put on my Stylo 6. Just what I wanted. Control over my camera for taking times pictures. Offers so many features to set it up the way you want it for exposures, times, etc. I honestly do not see where it pops up ads yet. IF it does I really do not care. Worth it. Went thru a number of apps, deleted all of them. Kept this. May not do what some people want but does exactly what I want.