Any replacement for deprecated `jpegStillImageNSDataRepresentation` method

Question

Four years ago, I used this type method that is now deprecated (as well as its AVCaptureStillImageOutput class).

func jpegStillImageNSDataRepresentation(_ jpegSampleBuffer: CMSampleBuffer) -> Data? { }

let data = AVCaptureStillImageOutput.jpegStillImageNSDataRepresentation(jpegBuffer)    

The AVCapturePhotoOutput class designed to replace the AVCaptureStillImageOutput class does not have the required method in its arsenal. What method should I use instead of deprecated one?

Answer 1

So you indeed need to implement AVCapturePhotoOutput, something like (very rough idea of implementation, follow Apple's guide instead):

class PhotoCapturer {
    var photoOutput = AVCapturePhotoOutput()
    
    func takePhoto() {
        let photoSettings: AVCapturePhotoSettings = {
            let processedFormat: [String: Any] = [AVVideoCodecKey: AVVideoCodecType.jpeg]
            return AVCapturePhotoSettings(format: processedFormat)
        }()
        photoOutput.capturePhoto(with: photoSettings, delegate: self)
    }
}

As you notice, we also need to implement the AVCapturePhotoCaptureDelegate delegate, like so:

extension PhotoCapturer: AVCapturePhotoCaptureDelegate {

    /// Receives this message whenever a captured image is ready
    func photoOutput(_ output: AVCapturePhotoOutput, didFinishProcessingPhoto photo: AVCapturePhoto, error: Error?) {

When the image is taken, this method will receive it in the AVCapturePhoto format. From here you have a variety of options, depending on your needs:

• .fileDataRepresentation() - a flat data representation suitable for saving in file. Since we requested the jpeg format above, the data will represent the jpeg as well.
• .cgImageRepresentation() - a CGImage representation. Good for if you want to show or edit the image. Not quite JPEG, but JPEG-convertable using UIImage(cgImage: ...).jpegData(compressionQuality:...)
• Finally, there's pixelBuffer, which returns you to a familiar PixelBuffer format, if you wish to reuse some parts of your existing processing.