Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

HDR actually works pretty well.

Megalobyte said:
I won't debate the merits of HDR as people have different opinions. But it does seem to work very well and effortlessly, and does appear to have its uses.

Here's a pretty good example and situation where HDR can help. I'd say there's no question it improved the photo.

Anybody else have good examples, not so much the professional oriented shots, but practical everyday situations?

d386da25.jpg
237cd7d8.jpg
Click to expand...
Sorry, dude, but my Nikon D3S does a much better job, without HDR.
 
PBF said:
Sorry, dude, but my Nikon D3S does a much better job, without HDR.
Click to expand...

haha thats funny comparing fullframe dslr to mobile phone making hdrs with automatic software..I recon my hasselblad h4d makes even better photos than your lousy D3 :D (no i dont have hasselblad..)
 
PBF said:
Sorry, dude, but my Nikon D3S does a much better job, without HDR.
Click to expand...
Sorry dude, but my iPhone does a much better job of making and receiving phone calls than your D3s, with or without HDR. :p It probably has at least a slight edge in web browsing, messaging and e-mailing too.

Now try this: slide your D3s in the pocket of your shorts and take it out on a walkaround. While you're out, take a snapshot with it and MMS the photo to one of your friends. Let me know how that works out for you.

I'd certainly hope that a $4,700 full-frame dSLR can take a better picture than any cell phone's camera. I'm sure people with Ferraris log on to Smart Car forums just to say their car goes faster and handles better, too.
 
Here are my examples. Amazing how HDR brings out the detail.

HDR is an excellent improvement to the iPhone photo capability. It basically removes the videoish look of the pictures.

(picture on left is with HDR. Picture on right is without)
 

Attachments

  • withhdr.JPG
    withhdr.JPG
    1.1 MB · Views: 91
  • nohdr.JPG
    nohdr.JPG
    1 MB · Views: 73
It's not the perfect HDR solution for sure, I know you can tinker with settings in Photmatix or Photoshop to get things to look better/different. But for on the fly, it's pretty darn good.
 
i hate tinkering with ps/photomatix when photos arent raws it limits so much :( meaby in next big ios update :)
 
I believe some apps do have access to the raw image now. Would be nice if an app came out that allowed us to pull them off the phone, but not essential.
 
It ain't HDR. It's a slightly improved tonal range in a phone camera with a fancy moniker by the marketing gurus at Apple. Anyone who really cares about how their pics come out will use a standalone camera with some controls.
 
FieldingMellish said:
It ain't HDR. It's a slightly improved tonal range in a phone camera with a fancy moniker by the marketing gurus at Apple. Anyone who really cares about how their pics come out will use a standalone camera with some controls.
Click to expand...

Oh please, don't start that nonsense.

I've got a couple of D-SLR's and would consider photography a 'serious' hobby of mine. I'll regularly haul my D90 and lenses around on days where I've got no other objective but to get the best pics I can (well, that and see some nice sights on the way). But I've got no interest whatsoever in carrying around a dedicated camera, let alone a D-SLR, on a daily basis. That's where the iPhone, or indeed any cameraphone, comes in very handy. No, they're never going to be a match for my dedicated kit but when the choice is between taking a photo at (relatively) lower quality or taking NO photo then there's really no debate. Frankly, providing the camera you're using can provide a reasonable image then a good photographer will (usually) get a good photograph. Always amuses me how many geeks seem to think its the hardware that makes the difference.

As for HDR on the iPhone, yes it is proper HDR in that it's taking multiple shots at different exposure points and combining them into one image. That's what HDR is. In fact, frankly, I prefer the iPhone approach of using that technique to provide a better quality picture than the massively unrealistic crap that has flooded the web since the technique became popular. Don't get me wrong, HDR when used by someone who a) knows what they're doing and b) has an eye for composition is spectacular but sadly such images are few and far between. Using it on a cameraphone is a great idea and, in my own experience in situations where HDR should be able to help an image, it works very very nicely indeed.
 
smiddlehurst +1

btw i have D90 too :) and i used to carry it and my lenses everywhere i went but it started to piss me off to carry all that gear..
 
It's interesting that so many DSLR photo enthusiasts are getting upset about an upgrade to a camera phone. They are almost begging people not to use it.

Don't worry guys, even though my phone has become for more useful for casual photos, a larger frame manually adjustable DSLR with quality lenses wont be replaced any time soon.
 
"It ain't HDR. It's a slightly improved tonal range in a phone camera with a fancy moniker by the marketing gurus at Apple. Anyone who really cares about how their pics come out will use a standalone camera with some controls."

Ridiculous! It absolutely is HDR, by definition. Anyone who CARES about how their pics come out, take the time to frame, compose and shoot the shot, REGARDLESS of camera involved!
-Photography 101!!!!

No worries, ERR404...there are plenty of us that are EXTREMELY happy with iP4's capabilities! Count me in as one. Those that spread drivel, do NOT own one...and have NOT shot with one. Any pro I know would consider the iP4 camera excellent in the P&S arena...and as a "Carry Everywhere you Go" cam. It's an item that is ALWAYS with you! How often do we print or post anything more than 4x6/5x7...or maybe an 8x10??? It's not as if anyone has declared A+ quality at 13x19! But as I guy that has made his mortgage payment for two decades doing still and video/audio production...I can attest to the iP4's camera abilities.

It's awesome! And the HDR functionality is a REAL bonus!!!

J
 
smiddlehurst said:
Oh please, don't start that nonsense.

I've got a couple of D-SLR's and would consider photography a 'serious' hobby of mine. I'll regularly haul my D90 and lenses around on days where I've got no other objective but to get the best pics I can (well, that and see some nice sights on the way). But I've got no interest whatsoever in carrying around a dedicated camera, let alone a D-SLR, on a daily basis. That's where the iPhone, or indeed any cameraphone, comes in very handy. No, they're never going to be a match for my dedicated kit but when the choice is between taking a photo at (relatively) lower quality or taking NO photo then there's really no debate. Frankly, providing the camera you're using can provide a reasonable image then a good photographer will (usually) get a good photograph. Always amuses me how many geeks seem to think its the hardware that makes the difference.

As for HDR on the iPhone, yes it is proper HDR in that it's taking multiple shots at different exposure points and combining them into one image. That's what HDR is. In fact, frankly, I prefer the iPhone approach of using that technique to provide a better quality picture than the massively unrealistic crap that has flooded the web since the technique became popular. Don't get me wrong, HDR when used by someone who a) knows what they're doing and b) has an eye for composition is spectacular but sadly such images are few and far between. Using it on a cameraphone is a great idea and, in my own experience in situations where HDR should be able to help an image, it works very very nicely indeed.
Click to expand...
Well said!
 
FieldingMellish said:
It ain't HDR. It's a slightly improved tonal range in a phone camera with a fancy moniker by the marketing gurus at Apple.
Click to expand...

Everyone's bashing you mate. But actually you are correct. Apples implementation is not 'proper' HDR, just basic tone mapping. The proof is it works with moving objects, which true HDR can't. The Pro HDR app is, but still only uses 2 images (even though its still MILES better).

FieldingMellish said:
Anyone who really cares about how their pics come out will use a standalone camera with some controls.
Click to expand...

Well obviously!
 
domrevans said:
Everyone's bashing you mate. But actually you are correct. Apples implementation is not 'proper' HDR, just basic tone mapping. The proof is it works with moving objects, which true HDR can't. The Pro HDR app is, but still only uses 2 images (even though its still MILES better).
Click to expand...

You should really do a little more research before making such bold statements! Seriously.
 
I know that the camera on the Touch isn't great by any means, but does it do HDR too or is that feature iPhone only?

I remember Jobs saying it was a feature of 4.1 or 4.2 but no elaboration if it was device agnostic.
 
I thought it worked great in this pic I took the other day. Sun was high over my right shoulder and really washed out the sky, trees and leaves. HDR shot on bottom has much more definition.
 

Attachments

  • HDR Test.JPG
    HDR Test.JPG
    130.3 KB · Views: 71
domrevans said:
Everyone's bashing you mate. But actually you are correct. Apples implementation is not 'proper' HDR, just basic tone mapping. The proof is it works with moving objects, which true HDR can't. The Pro HDR app is, but still only uses 2 images (even though its still MILES better).
Click to expand...
Apple's HRD takes 3 shots, but they are VERY fast. You can clearly see doubled images when there is fast motion. There are some good examples of this in another thread where a fast moving car has two sets of wheels. Apple reduces this effect as much as possible by only using the dark areas from the overexposed and bright areas from the underexposed shots. Areas that were properly expose in the primary photo will not exhibit this effect. It's a pretty slick algorithm.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back