After first being announced in December 2024, Lux Optics has finally released the latest version of its Halide camera app for the iPhone and iPad. The Halide Mark III app’s most compelling feature is a new film simulation engine and a collection of five new Looks that can be applied to photos as they’re taken. Co-developed with Cullen Kelly, a “renowned Hollywood colorist,” the different looks are tailored for landscape photography, portraits, and cityscapes, plus a black-and-white option with extra film grain.
Halide Mark III is available now through the App Store for a one-time purchase price of $59.99, or as part of a $19.99/year subscription, but it’s a free upgrade for those who purchased Halide Mark II. It’s compatible with iPhones running iOS 18 or later, and iPads running iPadOS 18 or later.
Apple’s tablets may not seem like a great fit for the app given their limited camera capabilities, but a surprise new feature of Halide Mark III could benefit from their larger screens. The company describes the app’s new Photo Lab as a “streamlined and approachable” photo editor that first presents you with a Quick Edit section where you can apply the various Looks, toggle HDR, and make exposure adjustments.
More advanced controls are also available, including adjustments for cropping, aspect ratio, white balance, and a Tone Fusion tool for recovering details in shadows and highlights. For the first time, Halide Mark III can also process RAW images imported from Sony, Nikon, Canon, Fujifilm, Hasselblad, and Leica cameras, although the company currently considers that a beta feature, according to DPReview.
Other Mark III upgrades include improvements to Halide’s interface that has been redesigned to keep critical controls within easy reach, while making more advanced options accessible through an iOS three-dot menu. If you’re an existing user not thrilled with the changes, you can switch back to the Halide Mark II interface at any point.
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