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outsidethebox

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 10, 2008
90
27
After looking at so many of the amazing photos people have previously posted in the many "Post your photos taken from your 4/4S" threads, I am really surprised. I have been really disappointed with the output of my 4S's photos, the sharpness and colour seem to be nowhere near what some of the people are posting here even after I try editing them in-phone.

I have tried using the standard camera app, instagram, and then I bought Camera+, but regardless of where my photos end up (flickr, facebook, email) they never look nearly as good as what people have here. They are always dull/not sharp and I can see a lot of noise even in bright shots during the day.

I've been using DSLR's for many years so I understand the in and outs of photography, but I just can't seem to get good photos out of it. Any advice? Could there be something wrong with my camera, or are most of these people editing their photos on their computer and just not saying?
 
The very first step is for everyone to turn their iPhone sideways into landscape (horizontal) position. This is the biggest mistake I see with new iPhone photographers. There are time when portrait mode is best but not as often!
 
I always hold in landscape mode. I even use the grid, and always hold as steady as possible (as I said, I also use a dslr).

It's really frustrating, even my friends with blackberries seem to be getting better pictures than me, in sharpness, colour and in clarity.
 
For the majority of your pictures, just hold it sideways, tap to focus, adjust it a bit and take it. The flash on the iPhone isn't all that great, so I'd recommend turning it off. For photos with lots of colours like a sunset or a landscape, I'd recommend HDR.

I'm sure you knew most of this, but this is just about all I can tell you.
 
Post some of your pics up here. I am no camera expert, but it's pretty hard to tell you how to do better if we don't even know what you are doing wrong.
 
Wirelessly posted

Snapseed and camera + is all u need. I would post some of my pics but this forum always give me errors about multiple tabs and doesnt let me attach photos
 
The age old saying is true. It's not the camera that makes the picture, it's the photographer. Learning the limitations of your camera and doing creative focusing and choosing the best spot in the frame for lighting is key, especially with Camera+ that gives so much control..

Post processing is also important and that's where you can get really creative. Don't limit yourself to one tool either.

An iPhone isn't a SLR, don't treat it with the same mentality.
 
Here's something using camera+ and instagram.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1333810770.954580.jpg ImageUploadedByTapatalk1333810784.116856.jpg

Yuck, tapatalk put small images.
 

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Make sure you "tap to focus" on the object you want to photograph. Hold the camera still. I use a trick where I hold my elbows to my side to keep the camera more stable.
The picture is taken when you release the button.
 
1. Open camera app (or whichever you choose, I do camera and then import into Camera+)
2. Focus
3. Press volume button
4. Do so in landscape mode... I never understood why ppl take pics in portrait mode. You can easily crop landscape photos later if need be.
 
For example, this is a shot I took the other day over dinner (I only cropped the top to take out faces).

Although it was evening, there were lights and candles all over, so it was really well lit, and yet the picture is AWFUL. Detail is horrendous, and there is noise everywhere.

My 3MP Samsung phone from 3 years ago took far better pictures, even in non-ideal conditions for light - these kind of photos the 4S is giving me are practically unusable in my opinion, and I don't think I'm being unreasonable considering the 4S is widely considered far and above the best camera phone.
 
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For example, this is a shot I took the other day over dinner (I only cropped the top to take out faces).

Although it was evening, there were lights and candles all over, so it was really well lit, and yet the picture is AWFUL. Detail is horrendous, and there is noise everywhere.

My 3MP Samsung phone from 3 years ago took far better pictures, even in non-ideal conditions for light - these kind of photos the 4S is giving me are practically unusable in my opinion, and I don't think I'm being unreasonable considering the 4S is widely considered far and above the best camera phone.



You might think there is enough light but the number one cause of poor images on any cell phone is not enough light. The grain is due the the camera boosting the ISO and some of the blurr came from what would be a too slow of a shutter speed. Using the flash would also not be an option as it lack the power required.

More light will yield better images.
 
I've been using DSLR's for many years so I understand the in and outs of photography
You may need to brush up some more then. Sounds like you understand DSLR photography but not photography in general.

Lighting is typically the biggest challenge. As a rule of thumb small sensors need lots of light.

Although it was evening, there were lights and candles all over, so it was really well lit, and yet the picture is AWFUL. Detail is horrendous, and there is noise everywhere.
Well lit to your eyes != well lit for a small imaging sensor. The noise you refer to is your big clue that lighting is insufficient. You get noise when amplification is used. Amplification is used in low lighting situations. This isn't unique to the iPhone or phone cameras.
 
I take my photos with the stock camera app, then I like to edit with Photo Forge 2. It has just about everything you need (curves, levels, and tons more).
 
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