One Camera's 18 film looks, and when to use each
Every look previews live in the viewfinder before you shoot, and the grade is written into the photo or video itself. Here's what each one is for, and which to reach for in golden hour, on a night street, in the rain or for a portrait.
How the looks work
- Live, not added later. Tap the chip in the viewfinder and swipe a row of previews, each tile showing your own scene in that grade. The one you pick is written into the file as you shoot.
- Photos and video. In video the looks hold from telephoto down to the 0.6x ultrawide, even when you change lens mid-take.
- Your order. Drag the looks into the order you shoot in.
- Two free, sixteen with Pro. Chrome and Pastel are free. Pro is a one-time purchase, or one short ad unlocks everything for 24 hours.
Which look for which light
Best look for golden hour
The hour after sunrise and before sunset brings low, warm light and long shadows. Expose for the bright sky so the warm tones don't wash out, and let the shadows go deep.
In One Camera: Ochre
Best look for the half hour after sunset
Once the sun is down, the sky turns soft and cool while street and window lights start to glow. Brace the phone: shutter speeds get slower fast.
In One Camera: Dusk
Best looks for bright, sunny days
Hard sunlight means strong colour, deep shadows and bright highlights that clip easily. Watch the sky and pale surfaces, and let strong colours carry the picture.
Best looks for overcast days
Cloud cover is a giant softbox: no harsh shadows, gentle contrast and muted colour. Quieter, softer looks suit it better than trying to force punch into flat light.
Best look for night streets
After dark, light comes from signs, shop windows and street lamps, often in several colours at once. Expose for the lights, keep the phone steady, and let the shadows stay dark.
In One Camera: Shibuya
Best looks for indoors
Indoor light is dimmer and often warm. Window light by day is soft and flattering; lamps at night are much warmer and lower.
Best looks for portraits
Skin tones show colour shifts more than anything else, so gentler looks usually flatter people. Strongly saturated looks suit objects better than faces.
Best looks for street and documentary
Street photography is about moments and texture. Contrast and a bit of grit help, and flat daylight shows detail without hard shadows.
Best looks for travel and holidays
Holiday photos are about the feel of a place: colour, light and the small things you notice along the way.
Best look for rain and bad weather
Rain, wet concrete and grey skies have their own mood. Lean into it rather than fighting it, and look for reflections.
In One Camera: Bleach
Best look for food and flowers
Food, flowers and graffiti are about colour, so a saturated look makes them sing. Keep it away from skin, where strong saturation looks unnatural.
In One Camera: Vivid
Best look for video
If you'll colour-grade footage later, start from a look built for it.
In One Camera: Cine
Best look for black and white
Without colour, a picture is about shape, light and texture. Strong side light and clear shapes work best.
In One Camera: Mono
Not sure? Start here
When the light is mixed or you're shooting a bit of everything, a balanced default is the safest choice.
In One Camera: Signature
All 18 looks
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Kyoto PRO
Best for Streets and gardens in flat daylight
overcast days · street and documentary · travel and holidays
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Shibuya PRO
Best for After dark, where signs light the street
Questions
How many film looks does One Camera have?
Eighteen. Chrome and Pastel are free, and the other sixteen come with One Camera Pro.
Are One Camera's looks filters?
No. You preview each look live in the viewfinder, and the grade is written into the photo or video as you shoot, not laid over it afterwards.
Do the looks work in video?
Yes. In video the looks hold from telephoto down to the 0.6x ultrawide, and you can change lens in the middle of a take.
Can I change the order of the looks?
Yes. Tap the chip in the viewfinder to open the row of live previews, then drag the looks into the order you shoot in.
Which One Camera looks are free?
Chrome and Pastel are free. The rest come with Pro, a one-time purchase, or one short ad unlocks every Pro feature for 24 hours.
Want to make any photo look more like film, in any app? Read how to make phone photos look like film.