Photos on 5s. How to Take Perfect iPhone Photos: A Lesson from The Verge

Pictures from DP Review taken on iPhone 5s

Reading reviews of a smartphone on specialized websites about photography is quite strange. Especially when it comes to very old and respected Internet portals. If you are interested in or earn money from photography, then you have definitely visited DP Review more than once or twice. A few days ago, journalists from his mobile section gave a verdict on his photographic abilities. Looking ahead, everything is good, even if not as good as some competitors.

iPhone 5s dual flash operation

Naturally, we are not talking about the iPhone 5c, because it is exactly the same “five”, only in a different body and with a slightly improved front camera. iPhone 5s, in the best traditions, forced the local editors to write 11 pages detailed review exclusively the photo and video capabilities of the device. A large sheet of text will definitely be appreciated by professionals, and we, being lazy children and adults of the Internet, will immediately look at last page- to conclusions.

Pros:

• Good exposure in a wide variety of situations
• Good image detail, moderate noise reduction
• Nice color rendering
• Good flash with accurate color matching
• Very responsive, negligible shutter lag
• Very fast continuous shooting, 10 frames per second
• Very easy to use camera app
• Better panorama mode than others
• Fun slow motion video mode
• Effective HDR mode with very little ghosting
• Digital video stabilization works relatively well
• High-quality gallery app design (Photos)

Minuses:

• Less detail in good light than larger sensors
• Minimal manual control in the camera app
• Ergonomics are not the best for photography
• Picky frame focus can lead to undesirable results
• Small screen
• No optical image stabilization
• No separate two-stage shutter button
• Video is too dark in low light conditions
• Images with filters are exported in low resolution

Total 8.1 points out of ten. The scale, of course, applies exclusively to mobile devices and has nothing in common with the rating of regular cameras on the site. The leader of the rating for objective reasons is Nokia 1020, whose sensor and image quality were recognized as best in class mobile devices. A Samsung Galaxy S4 scored 8.0 points, albeit taking slightly less quality pictures, but having a large viewfinder screen. Otherwise, photographers have a unique view of the pros and cons, not at all the same as the average user. If interested, the full text of the iPhone 5s photo review can be read here: [dpreview]

Please rate it.

During the presentation of new smartphones, representatives Apple paid Special attention the main camera of the new flagship. Obviously, when developing the model, we took into account the shortcomings that were inherent in optics, in particular the low level of detail and color rendition when shooting in low light conditions.

Despite the fact that one of the most popular indicators for assessing the quality of a camera, matrix resolution, remained at the same level (8 megapixels), the developers Apple have carried out quite a serious amount of work to optimize the optical properties of the component. Thus, the camera is equipped with a more powerful F 2.2 aperture, which allows to avoid diffraction blur to a greater extent, and a dual LED flash, which can automatic mode adjust shades for more realistic colors. In addition, a function has appeared to automatically select the most successful shot during burst shooting in Burst Mode. In addition, the developers have implemented the ability to shoot 720 p quality video in Slow-motion mode at a frequency of 120 frames per second.






Indeed, the quality of the images demonstrated at the presentation of the new smartphone suggests that the resolution of the matrix for modern optics is not at all the decisive criterion. It is noted that all photographs were taken using standard capabilities without the use of additional peripheral devices.

Not all people pay close attention to small details. After all, if you're just planning on sharing photos on Facebook, it really doesn't matter what quality those photos are. At least that's what most people think. The fact is that different cameras can provide completely different levels photographic quality. Some of the most obvious and visible criteria for photography are the camera's ability to work in low light conditions and the focal length of the lens. If you compare photographs taken with a phone camera and a regular high-quality camera, the difference becomes noticeable. Phone photos tend to be grainier and less vibrant. This is due to the lens and image processor, which is much more powerful on mirrorless and DSLR cameras. Even when comparing photos from different phones, the difference is visible, depending on how high-quality the cameras of these models are.

Technical comparison of camera functions of Apple iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C and iPhone 5

Before we continue discussing the differences between iPhone cameras 5S, iPhone 5C and iPhone 5, let's look at a comparison of the characteristics of these cameras. This will make it much easier for us to explain the differences between photographs of different models.

(module Yandex direct (7))

The iPhone 5C uses the same cameras as the iPhone 5. With the iPhone 5S, Apple focused its Newest technologies. The first thing Apple did was: started using a larger sensor. The iPhone 5S now has a 1/3-inch backlit sensor, which is 15% larger than the one in the iPhone and iPhone 5C 5. This means you will now get larger micron pixels than the 5C and 5. This should lead to improved photo quality in low light conditions, since each pixel can collect more light.

Speaking about the matrix architecture, it is worth noting some improvements in technology. The iPhone 5S uses the same size matrix as HTC's phone One UltraPixel. However, the camera HTC One UltraPixel has a lower resolution of 4MP, which results in a much larger pixel size of 2 microns. Thus, comparing only the pixel sizes, it turns out that the HTC has much larger pixels.

In addition, iPhone 5S features a newly developed 64-bit image processor A7. This new processor 40 times faster, than the one used in the original iPhone, and twice as fast as the A6. Having a high-performance image processor results in better quality photos, improving the graphical performance of the phone.

First of all, the iPhone 5S can take photos 10fps continuous shooting. Secondly, it allows the camera to record slow-motion video in 720p120 HD. Videos will be captured at a frequency 120fps, as well as 30 frames per second. This also means better dynamic range, better shadow detection and more detail in the image, as well as reducing image noise.

Equipped with improved stabilization iPhone images 5S, compared to iPhone 5C and iPhone 5. New system Image stabilization is capable of capturing 4 photos simultaneously, which are then combined into a single image that looks much sharper. This is a great opportunity to improve blur in images based on neither optical image stabilization nor sensor shift.

Speaking of photography in low light conditions, new apple The iPhone 5S has a dual LED flash system, while the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5 only have a single LED. Each LED corresponds to a different color temperature, providing more accurate and natural images when shooting in different lighting conditions and with different light sources. When you take a picture in low light conditions, the white LED lights up and the yellow LED blinks at the same time (with different intensities). The result is to create a natural look. As a result, there will be no effect on image quality during subsequent processing.

I think this is a problem with most phone cameras. Photos taken with flash look very unnatural. The new LED flash on the iPhone 5S takes this problem to perfection.

With the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5, you can use an app that guarantees you continuous shooting speeds of 3 to 5 frames per second, which is probably technically limited by the phone's capabilities. There is no exact information about the continuous shooting speed of the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5. It is known that the updated iPhone version The 5S can take photos up to 10 frames per second. This will help when photographing moving objects, by photographing many frames, the photographer can then choose the best one.

An equally important feature of the new phone’s camera is video recording at 120 frames per second in 720p format. A video shot at this frequency will have an original slow-motion effect. Once you've created your video, you can decide which parts of the video should be in slow motion and which parts will run at the typical frame rate of 30 frames per second. You can create videos with such interesting inserts using the built-in video editor.

Many of those who follow the development of the company Apple were dissatisfied with the innovations that appeared in, because they were not as revolutionary as earlier models.

For example, compared to iPhone 5, the camera of the new flagship has been improved slightly, however, according to statements Apple The presented improvements significantly improve the quality of the resulting photographs, namely:

• the number of pixels increased by 15%,
• wider lens with increased aperture,
• updated flash,
• more fast processor, which provides the following advantages when shooting: rapid adjustment of the level of light and shadow; multi-shot, which allows you to avoid blurry photos; a new panoramic shooting mode that can adjust the brightness level during shooting; shooting mode.

Now we propose to look at specific examples of how the changes described above affected the quality of the resulting photographs.

It's all about speed

Screen

While many manufacturers are struggling to create displays that are as bright and contrasty as possible, Apple They take a different path - they try to make the most realistic display on the screen. Thus, the screens on iPhone 5 and they don’t look much the same as calibrated monitors.

Conclusion

Of course, it's quite difficult to consider as a professional photography tool. However, it is extremely convenient for daily use when you need to quickly take a fairly high-quality photo. In addition, the smartphone camera has many entertainment components, such as a panorama mode or slo-mo slow-motion video.

The Verge at Work is a series of articles from The Verge about how to do something and do it well. Today we're going to talk about how to create amazing photos using your iPhone. The author of this article, Jordan Oplinger, warns that all advice and solutions discussed are based on his personal experience and are subjective, however, we can always discuss controversial issues in the comments. Enjoy reading.

I have always loved photography and have always believed that best camera- this is the one who is always with you. In the age of smartphones, this statement is more relevant than ever, because now almost everyone has a camera in their pocket at all times. I've changed smartphones over the years and downloaded a lot of photography apps on them, and today the perfect combination for me is my iPhone 5S and a dozen photo apps for all occasions.

IN App Store There are hundreds or even thousands of apps for taking and editing photos. I for a long time“sat” on PhotoForge2 and PictureShow, then switched to SwankoLab and Noir Photo, where there are amazing opportunities for vignetting (approx. - darkening the edges of a photo). In fact, each app does one or two things perfectly, which forces me to constantly import and export photos from app to app. But the result, fortunately, is always worth it.

Shooting

It all starts with taking the photographs yourself. You can adjust the exposure, choose the color temperature and increase the sharpness during the processing process, but it will be much easier for you if the photo is taken correctly from the beginning. Focus and exposure are your top priorities. When you're not sure you've focused properly, refocus and take another shot. And one more.

Of course, there are a huge number of alternative applications to the standard iOS camera, but it seems to me that its capabilities are quite sufficient in almost all cases. There's a grid here (turn it on if you haven't already: Settings > Photos & Camera > Grid) that keeps me from forgetting the rule of thirds. I don't always follow this rule, but the grid allows me to break it consciously rather than accidentally.

I also like the ability to lock autofocus and exposure. Press and hold the frame on a specific area of ​​the composition, and the application itself will calculate focus and exposure, without paying attention to other areas. This is very convenient if, for example, you photograph a silhouette at sunset or macro in front of a window.

There are also apps that provide the ability to separate exposure and focus so you can adjust them separately. Sometimes this can be useful, but they lose in speed. When you need to take photos quickly, a standard camera has no equal.

HDR

The iPhone 5S has the best photo sensor on the smartphone market, but it is also insignificant compared to the equipment of professional cameras. This becomes obvious when the iPhone encounters a high-contrast scene—details, shadows, and tones are lost. And then, HDR comes into play. The program combines two identical images (don't move the camera!), one of which is overexposed and the other underexposed. The result is truly amazing. Many people use it to create unrealistic pictures, but I prefer to use it to compensate for shortcomings mobile camera. The standard function is not bad, but I chose it for myself a long time ago - this application is really capable of a lot.

The process is incredibly simple: in front of you are two sliders - drag one to the light point, the other to the dark one. Don't choose maximum values, this can make the photo look too contrasty and unnatural. Stop at 80% and take a photo. It may not work the first time if, for example, you moved the camera slightly or filmed moving objects.

Treatment

Previously, it was a real torture - increasing sharpness in one application, increasing contrast in another, and already using filters in a third. But all this was left behind when I, like many before me, switched to VSCO Cam. A large selection of options, and most importantly, the ability to choose the intensity of the filters. By the way, very beautiful and stylish filters. I literally fell in love with this application and now I do almost everything in it.

There are all stages from shooting to publishing online. The library is ideal for importing many photos at once, deleting the same or unsuccessful ones, marking the good ones and, of course, making them even better.

Most often, the first thing I do is increase the sharpness. Of course, this is not the best habit, but this is what makes me understand how “promising” this photo is. A gain of 1 or 2 is quite enough, but if you fail with the focus, you can even try 5 or 6. Try it. The more you sharpen the sharpness, the more noise will appear in the photo, and don't forget that what looks stunningly sharp on a mobile screen may not live up to expectations on a larger display.

Exposure:

You should also be careful with exposure, 1 or 2 in the direction you want is the maximum. Of course, you may be able to save some too dark (or vice versa) photo, but this is the exception rather than the rule.

Temperature:

Flower temperature is a setting that many people underestimate. However, it can seriously improve the result. For example, photos taken in natural light may appear natural until you step inside the room. In artificial light they will look too warm, but by adjusting the temperature you can easily fix this.

Using just these three settings you can significantly improve the image. They are, in my opinion, the main ones. In addition to them, there are a dozen more, but they should be used carefully and in cases where it is really necessary.

Filters

In addition to free ones, VSCO has filters that need to be purchased for money. I recommend that you don’t skimp and purchase the “launch bundle” first. Once the filter is selected, I go to the Tools again to adjust the contrast and saturation (often these need to be reduced to make the filter look more natural). Sometimes I adjust the shadows in a “shadow save” to bring back details that have become less clear after applying a filter. When the photo looks the way you want it, just import it into the gallery (save to camera roll). You can directly send photos from VSCO Cam to Instgram, Twitter, Facebook, Weibo or email.

“Camera Roll 0”

You took a photo, processed it using several applications and posted it, for example, on Instagram. Let me guess, your gallery has even more unnecessary copies of the same photo? Some strive for an empty box Email, but personally I dream of an empty iOS gallery.

Plenty of apps promise to help you deal with the chaos in your albums, but none of them are perfect. Everpix came close, but unfortunately it's no longer there. I use a combination of Google+ and Flickr. Google+ automatically saves every shot I take at full resolution, which is really reassuring and gives me peace of mind that a good shot won't be lost forever. I send the processed photos to Flickr, where there are terabytes free space enough for everyone. Then, I delete everything from the “Camera Roll” - cleanliness and order.

In conclusion, the way we take photos on our smartphones is constantly changing. New applications are released every day, each of them can theoretically change the entire process or just part of it. In addition, new smartphones are coming out. Products like the Lumia 1020 and Galaxy Camera put photography at the forefront and define the future of mobile photography.

Clear, sharp and tastefully edited photography.