iPhone 6 Noise Reduction too Strong?

[SteveJobs2.0]

They should reduce the noise reduction a bit, but we have reached the limits of what we can do with current sensor size and optics. Unless the future phones improve in those areas it will be fairly minor improvements here and there.

 

[brittadine]

Insanely Heavy Handed Noise Reduction on iPhone 6

I purchased an iPhone 6 on 12.26.14 and returned it today (12.27.14). I was aghast at the insane heavy-handedness of the noise reduction. I, too, use my camera for photographic purposes related to my work and the watercolor effect was unbearable. I will be going back to the 5 and upgrading to the 5s when the time comes. I am REALLY hoping Apple reconsiders this decision. The images from my 6 were absolutely horrible. I am so disappointed.

Images show side by side iPhone 5 versus iPhone 6.

 

[Bearxor]

The other day I mentioned I was a bit disappointed in the 6 Plus camera. I went back and checked put DPReview's review (connect.dpreview.com) and did some looking on their test shots compared to the iPhone 5S and there is a clear, noticeable difference between the two shots. Apple is definitely being way too aggressive with noise filtering all the way to the point of ruining shots, IMO.

 

[meistervu]

The other day I mentioned I was a bit disappointed in the 6 Plus camera. I went back and checked put DPReview's review (connect.dpreview.com) and did some looking on their test shots compared to the iPhone 5S and there is a clear, noticeable difference between the two shots. Apple is definitely being way too aggressive with noise filtering all the way to the point of ruining shots, IMO.

Here is the link to the review so people can draw their own conclusion. I have never read their phone camera reviews before but their camera reviews have been around for about a decade and they are known for being very thorough.

Link to the summary:

http://connect.dpreview.com/post/6303555427/apple-iphone-6-plus-camera-review?page=11

 

[Bearxor]

Here is the link to the review so people can draw their own conclusion. I have never read their phone camera reviews before but their camera reviews have been around for about a decade and they are known for being very thorough.

Link to the summary:

http://connect.dpreview.com/post/6303555427/apple-iphone-6-plus-camera-review?page=11

Yeah I always use them for their phone camera reviews but its hard with an iPhone because they don't get them out fast enough.

I'm not sure which page you actually need to link to because I'm on mobile, but you want the one where the have their test poster set up. Just choose the iPhone 5S in the second drop down and look at some of the finer detail items. If I get back home, I might take some screen shots and put them on imgur.

 

[cababah]

I purchased an iPhone 6 on 12.26.14 and returned it today (12.27.14). I was aghast at the insane heavy-handedness of the noise reduction. I, too, use my camera for photographic purposes related to my work and the watercolor effect was unbearable. I will be going back to the 5 and upgrading to the 5s when the time comes. I am REALLY hoping Apple reconsiders this decision. The images from my 6 were absolutely horrible. I am so disappointed.

Images show side by side iPhone 5 versus iPhone 6.

Image

Image

Wow, the iPhone 5 pictures look way better than the 6!

 

[StoptimeLA]

impressionist painting iphone 6plus

There is an app called camera + and it now has an option to shoot uncompressed tiff images and each exposure is 11 MB thereabouts each. Get it here: Camera+ by tap tap tap
https://appsto.re/us/X-LPt.i

Maybe there's some apps out there that will run noise reduction to make it look better using a higher megabyte file or uncompressed tiff image...I have had very good luck with cortex camera but the object that you're shooting has to be sitting still and it is not to be used on moving objects. That's the only negative side about it. Another cool app for keeping your phone stable is average camera pro. With average camera pro, you can tell your camera to shoot 8 to 128 photos that are stacked on top of each other to get rid of noise. I have come away with digital SLR quality images using this app. Again, you have to set your phone down and don't touch it while it's taking the photos so they will be properly aligned.
Average Camera Pro by Dominik Seibold
https://appsto.re/us/rCtXy.i

Thank you SO much for that recommendation. I just downloaded the Camera + app and the quality is much better. No more impressionist paint effect!

 

[Renecharles]

Ah!

I've seen this in very low light situations. Last friday I took a picture of our party at an outdoor restaurant near dusk before they turned the lights on and it's almost like someone used a watercolor effect on the image. Very strange.

Some have reported better results using Cortex Camera - your mileage may vary.

This is a denoise or noise reduction filter they have added in the new iPhone software.

please go give feedback on how much you hate it so that hopefully they will give an option to turn it off!

https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

 

[ToddH]

I sent my feedback! Read below what was sent...

Hi, I upgraded to the iPhone 6s Plus. love it!, love the camera, which is one of the main reasons I upgraded. I also am a photographer and I have noticed heavy noise reduction in the camera software. Compared to the iPhone 5, the iPhone 6 6/s seem to use heavier noise reduction in the photos, especially in low light. I know the sensors in both cameras are different in the way they have been designed, I would really like to see a camera update for the iPhone 6s, it seems too sharp sometimes depending on the subject. i use a manual app (645 pro) sometimes to be able to use the lowest iso possible. I guess to describe what I see better, landscape shots tend to look like a watercolor painting rather than a photo when viewed at full resolution on a monitor. Is there a fix? Can NR be reduced?

 

[deadsoul]

The 6/6S series is crap, aggresive noise reduction and white balance sucks. Decided to keep my 5s I hope the next cycle, the camera gets better....

 

[ToddH]

The 6/6S series is crap, aggresive noise reduction and white balance sucks. Decided to keep my 5s I hope the next cycle, the camera gets better....

Seriously? It's not that bad dude! White balance can be adjusted in processing, using a low ISO cuts down or eliminates heavy NR. There are apps out there that allow you to adjust the shutter and ISO. If your not willing to try to be a better photographer and process your photos, then I call that laziness! Expecting a perfect camera in a phone is unrealistic. Sure the iPhone 5/s had a good camera, but there was visible noise in the blue sky! So honestly, it wasn't spectacular. You have to take time to process your photos and make them better, that's what photographers do. If you're not a photographer, then learn to be one.

 

[TL24]

I've also submitted feedback via their feedback app since I'm running iOS 9.2 PB 1. Let's hope the actually take our requests/feedback into consideration!

 

[sunking101]

I've also submitted feedback via their feedback app since I'm running iOS 9.2 PB 1. Let's hope the actually take our requests/feedback into consideration!

Doubtful. Everyone raves about the 6/6s cameras, even review sites.

 

[TL24]

Doubtful. Everyone raves about the 6/6s cameras, even review sites.

You're probably right but we still have to give it a shot. Those that refuse to acknowledge the issue are either blind or Apple loyalists.... That are also blind lol

 

[sunking101]

You're probably right but we still have to give it a shot. Those that refuse to acknowledge the issue are either blind or Apple loyalists.... That are also blind lol

I've seen some truly stunning photos taken with the 6S+, but also some shockers. We are definitely at the limit where these tiny, cheap sensors and lenses are concerned. To try and 'improve' them with software trickery is starting to have a negative effect.

 

[Trickhot3102]

ISO 125 at 1/8th second shutter speed via my 6+

Regular and then 100% crop. See how bad the details are smudged. I think my 5s had more noise in low light but was overall sharper. Anecdotal of course, as I didn't compare the two side by side. Anyone else have any thoughts?

Yeah I can see what you're talking about! I don't think I've noticed that on my 5s. Hopefully Apple can fix it via iOS update!

BTW, nice Telecaster!! Check out my profile pic

 

[Genkakuzai]

Edit: Misread.

 

[deadsoul]

Bringing back the old thread let's hope this is fixed in the 7

 

[hunkim]

Bringing back the old thread let's hope this is fixed in the 7

Haha indeed.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Seems my wife noticed her pictures look "smeared or like watercolor" out of her iPhone 6 plus. She mentioned it to me tonight and I had just read a similar post here.

I, personally, am see tack sharp images without the smearing. Possible it's a sensor issue and not software? If it's software, hopefully Apple tunes it up. Most reviews on the camera from major tech blogs rant and rave about how sharp and beautiful it is. Is this a few isolated cases?

In low light the software will crank up the NR to hide the noise. Images are best with good lighting. Price we pay for tiny sensors.

 

[deadsoul]

The problem is that even in daylight there's noise in the pictures, it was way better in the older models...