Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro brought variable aperture back to a modern flagship, which is the kind of thing that makes an Android photographer glance across the aisle and think about their own kit. Most modern Android sensors expose a real manual mode through Camera2 API, and the default camera app almost never uses it. Third-party apps do. RAW capture, shutter down to 30 seconds, ISO the phone’s stock app pretends it does not have, and full control over white balance.
We tested seven manual-camera apps on Android across a Pixel 9 Pro, a Galaxy S24 Ultra, and a mid-range Nothing Phone. Each one lets you take a photo that looks nothing like the auto-mode default.
What matters in a manual camera app on Android
- Full Camera2 API support. Half the market ships apps that gate ISO or shutter on the flagship-only “Level 3” implementations.
- RAW capture that actually saves DNG. Some apps write RAW that only opens in their own editor.
- Real focus peaking and zebras. Zebras for exposure, peaking for focus. Focus assist is what separates a pro app from a toy.
- Multi-camera awareness. Access to the wide, ultrawide, tele, and depth lenses. Not just the main sensor.
- Long shutter without crashes. 30-second exposures on a phone are demanding on thermal and memory.
- Video with manual exposure locking. A stable exposure across a pan is what most stock camera apps cannot do.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Camera | Everything, for free | Full open source | Free | 4.5 |
| Camera FV-5 | The old-school DSLR interface | Trial | around $4 one-time | 4.4 |
| ProShot | The most balanced pro UI | 5-day trial | around $6 one-time | 4.6 |
| Manual Camera | The simplest manual control | Compatibility test free | around $3 one-time | 4.3 |
| Adobe Lightroom | RAW capture plus editing in one app | Free tier | Photography Plan around $10/mo | 4.5 |
| Moment Pro Camera | Video-first manual capture | 7-day trial | around $6 one-time | 4.5 |
| MotionCam Pro | Cinema-grade RAW video | Free tier | Pro around $8 one-time | 4.4 |
The apps
1. Open Camera — Best free manual camera
Open Camera is the app you install first. Full Camera2 support on any device that exposes it, RAW capture on Level 3 sensors, exposure and focus zebras, timer, HDR, and multi-camera switching. Free, open source, no ads, and actively updated. On mid-range phones where paid apps are gated by device limits, Open Camera usually still works.
Where it falls short: UI feels engineer-designed. The learning curve is real if you are used to a Pixel-style shutter button and nothing else.
Pricing:
- Free: Full app
- Paid: None (donations welcome)
Platforms: Android
Download: Aptoide · Google Play · F-Droid
Bottom line: Install this on every Android phone. If you only want one manual camera app, this is it.
2. Camera FV-5 — Best DSLR-style manual UI
Camera FV-5 reproduces a DSLR’s four-dial interface: shutter, aperture (soft, since fixed on most phones), ISO, EV. Every setting is visible at once. Files save with EXIF metadata that matches what a real camera would embed, which matters when you post-process in Lightroom.
Where it falls short: Design is 2015. Newer sensors sometimes get flagged as unsupported until an update.
Pricing:
- Free: Trial with reduced resolution
- Paid: Full unlock around $4 one-time
Platforms: Android
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: The pick if you have muscle memory from a Canon or Nikon and want the same layout.
3. ProShot — Best balanced pro camera
ProShot is the app most photographers I know recommend to friends who are stepping up from Auto. Clean manual controls, three custom presets you can swap between with one tap, DNG RAW output, video with manual exposure, and a light meter that actually behaves.
Where it falls short: Feels premium and priced accordingly. Some device-specific quirks in the ultrawide sensor.
Pricing:
- Free: 5-day trial
- Paid: Around $6 one-time
Platforms: Android, iOS
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Best pick if you are new to manual and want an app that eases the learning curve without hiding the controls.
4. Manual Camera — Best minimalist take
Manual Camera is the least-cluttered manual camera on the store. Three sliders: shutter, ISO, focus. RAW toggle. That is the whole app. Great for street shooters who want a fast, quiet interface.
Where it falls short: No video mode, no zebras, no peaking. It is called Manual Camera and it does exactly that.
Pricing:
- Free: Compatibility check
- Paid: Full app around $3 one-time
Platforms: Android
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: For anyone who wants three knobs, not thirty.
5. Adobe Lightroom — Best RAW capture with editing in one app
Adobe Lightroom has a full manual capture mode built in, saves to DNG, and hands the file straight to the same editor Adobe uses on desktop. Presets sync between phone and desktop through Creative Cloud, and mobile edits push to the same catalog.
Where it falls short: Subscription-locked for the useful features. The free tier does not include the Photography Plan’s cloud storage.
Pricing:
- Free: Basic mobile editor
- Paid: Photography Plan around $10 per month bundles Lightroom and Photoshop
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Pick this when you already pay for the Photography Plan and want capture and edit in the same app.
6. Moment Pro Camera — Best for phone video with manual exposure
Moment Pro Camera started as an add-on for Moment’s wide-angle phone lenses and grew into a serious manual video app. Full manual exposure, focus assist, log color profile, and a horizon leveler.
Where it falls short: The best video features are on iOS first and land on Android a version behind.
Pricing:
- Free: 7-day trial
- Paid: Around $6 one-time or subscription for premium features
Platforms: Android, iOS
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: The pick if you shoot handheld video and want manual exposure that behaves like a real camera.
7. MotionCam Pro — Best RAW video
MotionCam Pro records RAW video on Android by writing sensor frames straight to disk. Grades in DaVinci Resolve or Premiere. It is the closest an Android phone gets to a cinema camera.
Where it falls short: Storage is brutal; 8 GB per minute is normal. Only works on select flagship sensors that expose RAW video mode through Camera2.
Pricing:
- Free: Compressed capture
- Paid: Pro around $8 one-time for RAW
Platforms: Android
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: The niche pick for phone filmmakers who want more grading headroom than any stock app allows.
How to pick the right one
- If you only install one manual camera and want it free: Open Camera.
- If you came from a DSLR: Camera FV-5.
- If you want a modern paid pro camera: ProShot.
- If you want three controls and nothing else: Manual Camera.
- If you already pay for Adobe: Lightroom’s manual mode wins.
- If you shoot video handheld: Moment Pro Camera.
- If you want RAW video and are okay burning storage: MotionCam Pro.
FAQ
What is Camera2 API and why does it matter? Camera2 is the Android API third-party camera apps use to access manual controls. Devices declare a “hardware level” of Legacy, Limited, Full, or Level 3. Level 3 supports RAW, per-frame controls, and high-speed video. Manual apps on lower-level devices lose some features.
Can I still take good photos with Auto mode? Yes. Modern computational photography on Pixel and Galaxy devices is excellent for daylight scenes. Manual matters most for low light, long exposure, and specific creative looks (bokeh at a controlled ISO, panning shots, astro).
Do these work on foldables? Open Camera, ProShot, and Camera FV-5 all handle the outer and inner display on Galaxy Fold devices. Manual Camera and MotionCam Pro sometimes need a device restart when switching displays.
Is there a manual camera for the ultrawide or telephoto lens? ProShot and Open Camera both allow lens selection. On Pixel devices some manual settings only apply to the main sensor because Google gates the ultrawide.
How do I get shallow depth-of-field on a phone camera? Get close to your subject, use the telephoto lens (usually 2x or 3x), and shoot in Portrait mode for the software blur. Manual mode helps with ISO and shutter, not with the physical aperture.
