How to Master the iPhone 7 Plus Camera App (iOS 10 Guide)

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The iPhone 7 Plus brought major camera upgrades to iOS 10—especially for photography fans. With dual lenses, Portrait Mode, Live Photos, and more, your iPhone is capable of some seriously impressive shots.
Here’s everything you need to know about using and getting the most out of your iPhone 7 Plus camera.

iPhone 7 Plus Camera Basics

You can shoot photos and videos using either the rear dual-camera or the front-facing FaceTime camera. Thanks to the dual 12MP setup, you’ll enjoy sharper images, better low-light shots, optical zoom, and more vibrant colors.

How to Launch the Camera App

  • From the Lock Screen:
    Swipe from right to left to instantly open the Camera.
  • From the Home Screen:
    Tap the Camera app icon.
  • With 3D Touch:
    Press the Camera icon to quickly access shortcuts like taking a selfie or recording video.
  • Using Siri:
    Say “Hey Siri, take a photo” or “Open Camera”.

How to Take a Photo

  • Open Camera.
  • Choose a mode: Photo, Square, or Portrait.
  • Tap the Shutter button or press a Volume button to snap the photo.

How to Use Portrait Mode

Portrait Mode lets you capture stunning shots with blurred backgrounds (bokeh effect).

To use it:

  • Open Camera.
  • Swipe to Portrait mode.
  • Frame your subject and tap the Shutter button.
  • Look for the Depth Effect label on your photos.

Tip:
You can manage Portrait settings by going to Settings > Photos & Camera > Keep Normal Photo to save or discard non-blurred versions.

How to Take a Live Photo

  • Make sure Live Photo (the concentric circle icon) is ON.
  • Tap the Shutter button.
  • Your iPhone captures a short video clip along with the photo.

You can edit Live Photos later just like any regular photo.

How to Take Burst Photos

Need multiple shots in a moment?

To take burst shots:

  • Open Camera in Photo or Square mode.
  • Press and hold the Shutter button.

You’ll see a counter showing how many frames you’ve captured.

How to Use Retina Flash for Selfies

For brighter selfies in low light:

  • Turn Flash ON.
  • Switch to the front camera.
  • Take your shot—your screen will flash as a light source!

How to Take a Panorama

To capture a panoramic photo:

  • Open Camera > select Pano.
  • Tap the Shutter button.
  • Slowly move your iPhone in the direction of the on-screen arrow.

To reverse direction, tap the arrow before starting the pan.

Using Zoom

  • Tap 1x or 2x button above the shutter for optical zoom.
  • Pinch the screen to zoom further digitally (up to 10x for photos).

For finer zoom control, touch and hold the zoom button, then slide left or right.

Other Helpful Camera Settings

  • Gridlines:
    Enable Grid to straighten your shots (Settings > Photos & Camera > Grid).
  • Timer:
    Use a 3- or 10-second timer for selfies or group shots.
  • Filters:
    Swipe left on the camera screen to apply live filters.

How to Take a Screenshot

  • Navigate to the screen you want.
  • Press and quickly release the Power + Home buttons together.
  • Find your screenshots in the Photos app under Screenshots.

How to Manage and Delete Photos

To delete photos:

  • Open Photos.
  • Select the photo/video.
  • Tap the Trash icon > Delete Photo.

Deleted photos move to the Recently Deleted album for 30 days before being permanently erased.

Tips for Better Photo Management

  • Use iCloud Photo Library to sync and back up your photos automatically.
  • Regularly delete unwanted shots to free up space.
  • Use the Depth Effect album to quickly find Portrait Mode photos.

How to Import Photos Using USB Camera Adapters

You can import photos from digital cameras using Apple’s USB adapters.

Steps:

  • Connect your iPhone and camera with the adapter.
  • Follow the on-screen import instructions.

If you have connection issues:

  • Unplug the adapter and devices.
  • Restart your iPhone.
  • Reconnect everything.

Note: You’ll need iOS 9.3 or later to use the Apple USB 3 Camera Adapter.

Quick Tricks to Maximize Your iPhone 7 Plus Camera

  • Use the capture timer for group shots.
  • Enable Preserve Settings to keep your preferred filters and modes between sessions (Settings > Photos & Camera).
  • Keep your lens clean for the sharpest photos.
  • Use Portrait Lighting tricks (even manually) by adjusting natural lighting before taking the shot.

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