Halide Developer Takes a Deep Dive Into iPhone XS Camera and Skin Smoothing Rumors

[H3LL5P4WN]

TL;DR: Working as designed, nothing wrong, but if you want it fixed then buy this guy's app.

Pretty bad reporting by MacRumors imo.

Not really. Halide existed long before the Xs's and it's a quality app. While the dev is obviously taking this opportunity to sell a few more copies, their write up goes into depth about what the stock app is actually doing and how they've been able to take advantage of the Xs's new sensor specifically. It's worth the read.

 

[Swift]

Apple is busy automating photography because they understand they are redoing the Kodak revolution in the digital era. With machine learning and neural networking on a chip, the chances are very good that every photo you take is acceptable and maybe extraordinary, compared to my mother’s and grandfather’s photos in the early 20th century. It’s good enough in video that some very good shorts have been made on an iPhone. The families of the future will have a much more beautiful set of images to release to posterity. And if you check out pro cameras, the same Revolution hit them years ago. Canon, Nikon and Sony have revolutionized pro photography. And there is a lot of digital innovation to go. The pros always want to fine-tune. Amateurs want to point and shoot.

 

[Sixcranker]

«Meant for a laugh» does’t justify posts like that.

So you're the justifiable post police? Fine, take me to jail.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

This debate is hilarious. Professional photographer takes a smoothes things in Photoshop. Perfectly acceptable. Phone software does the same thing so that everyone can enjoy the same professional-style results? OMG THE WORLD IS ENDING!!!!

The same "professionals" that complained about the iPhone for photography for years now think their use case (the 1%) is more important than the use case of the 99% of iPhone users who aren't professionals and will benefit greatly from this software application to improved photography.

 

[Nabby]

Wouldn't this be the instagram narcissists favourite feature?

Isn't the phrase instagram narcissists usually redundant???

 

[mdorais]

Not really. Halide existed long before the Xs's and it's a quality app. While the dev is obviously taking this opportunity to sell a few more copies, their write up goes into depth about what the stock app is actually doing and how they've been able to take advantage of the Xs's new sensor specifically. It's worth the read.

I disagree. The post comes off as they HAD to do it this way to improve the quality of photos in a "It's not a bug it's really an enhancement" kind of way. They also post a link to his app at the bottom basically saying, if you want it back the old way then pay money for this app. To me it comes off as bad taste.

They just need to make it an option. I know other improvements might get lost but at least we get to decide. I absolutely hate the effect and I don't want to have to pay for some guy's app to remove it.

 

[jonnyb098]

This image shows how much over-processing is done in the native camera app. The RAW image from Halide (left) is NIGHT AND DAY amazing, almost looks like its from a film camera. Who cares if it has more noise, the color, mood, clarity beats the living hell out of the overly processed camera.app hands down.

 

[mdorais]

This image shows how much over-processing is done in the native camera app. The RAW image from Halide (left) is NIGHT AND DAY amazing, like a film camera. Who cares if it has more noise, the color, mood, clarity beats the living hell out of the overly processes camera.app hands down.

Holy moly I'd take the left version any day over that monstrosity of a photo on the right. That's how it should be by default.

 

[x-evil-x]

There should be an option for more detail honestly. It’s not a small thing people are making it out to be.
I want more accurate photos and details. I don’t want smoothing.
If I wanted to smooth things I want an option for it like using my photography apps to do so. Usually I turn up sharpness anyway on things.
It bullshhh that apple desides what we should get and that’s it. I think the photos on my x look better then my xmax. This phone is going back this week.

 

[doboy]

Complete bs. U can say as many fancy words as u like, anyone with at least one brain cell should understand that these new phones sacrifice massive amounts of detail in exchange for an unnatural look to please 12 year old Instagramers.

All evidence shows that.

I guess someone's missing the last brain cell.

 

[beermode]

You can take away detail in post processing. Can't really filter it back in if the file doesn't have it in the first place.

In other words, give us detailed photographs that cameras are supposed to have rather give into a stupid trend.

 

[MR.Raul]

This debate is hilarious. Professional photographer takes a smoothes things in Photoshop. Perfectly acceptable. Phone software does the same thing so that everyone can enjoy the same professional-style results? OMG THE WORLD IS ENDING!!!!

The same "professionals" that complained about the iPhone for photography for years now think their use case (the 1%) is more important than the use case of the 99% of iPhone users who aren't professionals and will benefit greatly from this software application to improved photography.

It should be an on/off toggle button, that way pretty much everyone will be pleased.

 

[Glideslope]

Complete bs. U can say as many fancy words as u like, anyone with at least one brain cell should understand that these new phones sacrifice massive amounts of detail in exchange for an unnatural look to please 12 year old Instagramers.

All evidence shows that.

Bam!!!!! Nailed it. The Animoji Zombies are still #1 IMO.
iPhone is becoming an expensive Tech Toy. Their usefulness as a productivity enhancing tool is reduced every year.

I miss SJ.

 

[rp2011]

I know these are just automatic point and shoot modes for amateurs, so perhaps the comparisons of the cameras should be done on a specific third party manual app.
The output of the automatic settings on the default camera apps are usually unnatural and just about preference rather than technical. Contrast and blow outs are more natural than synthetic HDR modes.

 

[Blaze4G]

This thread is funny with some members here trying all their might go defend Apple. These same members said in the past they prefer their photos to look true to life and that's why photos on Samsing phones are bad.

Now selfies are not true to life and suddenly they don't want photos that are true to life.

 

[Hieveryone]

I had heard they did it to please Asian markets?

Is this true?

Do the Asian markets prefer smoothened out photos?

I’m not saying that’s a bad thing (for them).

I’m just saying I ABSOLUTEY DO NOT WANT MY FACE LOOKING LIKE THESE EXAMPLES. PLEASE LISTEN APPLE. GIVE US THE OPTION TO TURN IT OFF!!!!

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

Also known as beauty mode or wax mode...
View attachment 791105

I take it it that this is fake. I.e. The Xs doesn't really do this!

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

It should be an on/off toggle button, that way pretty much everyone will be pleased.

Apple has never been about that. There are a million options that could be added all across iOS but they don't. Why? Because Apple makes things for the 99%. They don't offer a standard for the 99% plus an option for the 1%. They start offering all those options and it'd quickly become a cluttered mess just to appease a very small group of people that make up a very small piece of their audience. The cost and investment to make that small group happy simply isn't worth it.

Sorry guys. You want super specific controls of your camera? A DSLR is going to be where you should be turning.

 

[1050792]

Apple has never been about that. There are a million options that could be added all across iOS but they don't. Why? Because Apple makes things for the 99%. They don't offer a standard for the 99% plus an option for the 1%. They start offering all those options and it'd quickly become a cluttered mess just to appease a very small group of people that make up a very small piece of their audience. The cost and investment to make that small group happy simply isn't worth it.

Sorry guys. You want super specific controls of your camera? A DSLR is going to be where you should be turning.

Or a Galaxy Note 9.

 

[MattSwartSydney]

Or a Galaxy Note 9.

Exactly right. No idea why people keep posting year after year that they miss SJ. If Apple is so bad then move on, stop giving Apple money.

 

[rp2011]

I had heard they did it to please Asian markets?

Is this true?

Do the Asian markets prefer smoothened out photos?

I’m not saying that’s a bad thing (for them).

I’m just saying I ABSOLUTEY DO NOT WANT MY FACE LOOKING LIKE THESE EXAMPLES. PLEASE LISTEN APPLE. GIVE US THE OPTION TO TURN IT OFF!!!!

They did it to upset you specifically.

 

[tehStickMan]

Blog author explains away the BeautyGate by saying "it's all this new fancy stuff in Smart HDR!".

Doesn't realise it has an on/off toggle and it still happens with it off.

 

[trifid]

Blog author explains away the BeautyGate by saying "it's all this new fancy stuff in Smart HDR!".

Doesn't realise it has an on/off toggle and it still happens with it off.

That’s quite true isn’t it... plus the fact it happens with faces only. This article needs to be scrapped.

 

[iop]

Iphone XS should be more expensive because it uses a revolutionary camera technology. If you have an Iphone X, it's time to upgrade if you want the best camera. People complaining about the loss of details have no idea what they are talking about. The details are still there — they are just invisible. It's a non-issue.

 

[pdoobs]

Complete bs. U can say as many fancy words as u like, anyone with at least one brain cell should understand that these new phones sacrifice massive amounts of detail in exchange for an unnatural look to please 12 year old Instagramers.

All evidence shows that.

what 12 year olds need a face smoothing feature? this is very obviously designed for those 28 and up to hide wrinkles and years of alcohol abuse. this cuts out the step of opening Facetune and accidentally removing your nose for thirsty moms everywhere.