Need info on camera app

[Lou Sander]

I'm a reasonably astute computer person and amateur photographer.

The camera app in the Alcatel IDOL 4S seems to have a lot of features, but I haven't a clue to the meaning and use of the various controls, other than extremely basic stuff. (This is my first smartphone camera.) For example, those circles come up unexpectedly, are hard to understand, and aren't easy to dismiss.

Who can guide me to some more information about this seemingly wonderful camera?

 

[Lou Sander]

What is the 3/4" circle with a white dot in the middle? It appears on my camera display at what seems to be random times. Maybe it is some sort of face detector, but it comes up when I'm shooting the green grass of my lawn.

 

[Michael Bromley]

You may wish to review the Idol S4 Picture and Video thread: https://forums.windowscentral.com/alcatel-idol-4s/445106-13.htm

That circle is for focus and lighting. Aim it at different spots and touch with your finger and it will apply the best settings for that particular object/distance/lighting to the entire image. Quite useful.

 

[Lou Sander]

Thanks for enlightening me about the useful focus spot. Now what about all those other mysterious controls that come and go so quickly? We newbies are totally in the dark about them. BTW, maybe I am missing something, but the picture and video thread seems to be just a place for people to show off their pictures.