



I would’ve preferred easier shortcuts to the other lenses because it takes too long to get to them in a pinch whenever I had to quickly change focal lengths while shooting. Rather than give you shortcuts to each rear lens, you get an onscreen dial with callouts to focal zooms that coincide with each lens on the iPhone that’s why 0.5x and 3x stood out on the iPhone 13 Pro I tested the app with. A Smart HDR setting also lets you opt for a “De-sharpen” mode when you want to push back against any excessive sharpening when the phone processes a photo after you’ve taken it. Even for video, you can select from Dolby Vision and HDR10. On top of the standard shutter speed, ISO, white balance, exposure, and spot metering, it also lets you choose between manual, automatic, or continuous autofocus, as well as RAW or ProRAW. For starters, it brings in as many manual controls it can squeeze into the interface. That’s why it’s probably best to break down the app into a few of its constituent parts. In fairness to the developers behind Varlens, they do cram in a lot for the price. These figures can always change, but even if they do go up, they won’t be expensive compared to other options on the App Store. The “2045 Singularity,” which amounts to a lifetime subscription, goes for $74.99. While discounts do happen, you can choose to pay $2.99 per month or as low as $14.99 for the year. First, it’s worth pointing out that the app is free to download, but it will cost you to unlock everything it offers.
