# ca-mera

> Cellular Automaton Camera

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1271078637](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1271078637)

## Overview

- **ID:** `id1271078637`
- **Platform:** Apple
- **Type:** Apple app
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Fritz Menzer
- **Category:** Photo & Video
- **Rating:** 4.70 / 5 (30 ratings)
- **Version:** 2.0
- **Last updated:** 2022-06-02
- **First published:** 2017-08-16
- **Size:** 2.38 MB
- **Data as of:** 2026-10-16
- **Store listing:** [Apple App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ca-mera/id1271078637)
- **Website:** [http://fb.me/mnsignalprocessing](http://fb.me/mnsignalprocessing)
- **Privacy policy:** [http://mnsp.ch/privacy.html](http://mnsp.ch/privacy.html)

## Description

Use cellular automata to create unique and intriguing images that will make your friends and followers envious. Download now, it's totally free and respects your privacy!

Probably the nerdiest camera app ever made, ca-mera uses a cellular automaton to interpret the brightness values of your camera stream. The resulting images are black/white and pixelated, and contain unique patterns created by the cellular automaton (Wolfram rule 126).

This app provides a "selfie" mode, and lets you change the appearance of the pictures by controlling the automaton application direction, the resolution, the input brightness, and the input fidelity (i.e. to which extent the cellular automaton is allowed to run freely).

Furthermore, features from the more advanced ca-mera+ app can be unlocked inside ca-mera by tapping the "+" button and watching our handcrafted ads.

## Rankings

- #211,065 — Overall

## Review summary

Users praise ca-mera for its unique Wolfram cellular-automata concept and visually striking retro-style output. It’s valued as a creative tool that can turn real objects into pixel sprites with a dithered look. A common thread is the request for broader input/output, especially importing and processing camera-roll images and videos (and share/Files integration) and video creation within the app. Reviewers note ongoing development and improvements, with some seeing API opportunities for personal projects. Overall, the app is admired for innovation, paired with clear feature-expansion requests.

### Pros

- Unique Wolfram cellular-automata concept and retro-style visuals
- Strong ability to turn real objects into pixel sprites with a dithered look
- Interest in API access for personal projects
- Active development and ongoing improvements

### Cons

- Missing ability to import/process camera-roll images and videos; lacking iOS share/Files integration
- No built-in video processing/creation capability yet; video support is a common request

## Similar extensions and apps

- [ca-mera+](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1616228106) — 4.80 / 5
- [Camare Experimental Camera](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1326620863) — 4.20 / 5
- [eion cam](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1638948082)
- [Cam-Era](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6758325308)
- [Smolcam](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6757683044) — 5.00 / 5
- [CellCam0.01MP](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6787092932)
- [Camera Eye (Former Easy Calc)](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id471366587) — 4.20 / 5
- [ASCII Camera](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6748850196) — 5.00 / 5
- [Glowcam: Selfie Camera](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6744735295) — 4.60 / 5
- [DitherCamApp ASCII](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6799120769)
- [Cellular Automata: Life Sim](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id317822041) — 5.00 / 5
- [DarkCam Inconspicuous Camera](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1000754146) — 3.00 / 5

---

Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1271078637)