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iPhone 6 plus: photos look...grainy
- Thread starter dryice589
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I'm kinda sensitive about the game last night so save the jokes! 
This was taken at my desk. Normal office atmosphere lighting.
This was taken at my desk. Normal office atmosphere lighting.
Its the overly excessive use of noise cancellation.
Happens on the iPhone 6 too.
Hopefully an update will address it.
Happens on the iPhone 6 too.
Hopefully an update will address it.
I think most people will prefer the heavy noise reduction for their selfies and baby head pics. More flattering.
You also have to take into account pixel size. DSLRs not only have larger sensors but larger pixels. The reason Apple keeps the megapixel count low is so they can have larger pixels which helps with low light.
In comparison the Nokia Lumia 1020 has a 41.3 megapixel camera but the pixels are 1.12 um, compared to the iPhone which is 8 megapixels and has 2.2 um pixels.
In comparison the Nokia Lumia 1020 has a 41.3 megapixel camera but the pixels are 1.12 um, compared to the iPhone which is 8 megapixels and has 2.2 um pixels.
Is Slow-Motion Grainy For you guys?
Hey, I just noticed this, but my slow motion looks really grainy. It seems like the quality compared to the other camera features is poor. Is this because it's the slow motion feature? Is it the software? I hope it's not the hardware.
Hey, I just noticed this, but my slow motion looks really grainy. It seems like the quality compared to the other camera features is poor. Is this because it's the slow motion feature? Is it the software? I hope it's not the hardware.
Guys, after seeing all these smeary photos on here I decided to file an enhancement request about the new iPhones. I ordered an iPhone 6 but I haven't received it yet so I can't comment on the image quality, however, I think it is important to point this issue out to Apple and I ask you to do the same if you feel worried like myself so they can fix it in a subsequent software update.
Here's a copy of what I sent them:
"I am writing you because I am worried about the amount of noise reduction applied to the photos taken on the new iPhones, I have seen photos on several Apple-related forums where heavy amounts of NR got applied to the photos taken in already sufficiently lit scenes, however, I don't own an iPhone 6 yet and I can't confirm if any of this is true. It seems to me that your top priority this time around was to get the photos as low-noise as possible. As a hobby photographer I know that noise reduction creates smearing artifacts which don't look any good. NR can always be applied later, if needed. In fact, I ask you to reconsider the image processing steps taken on the new iPhones because in my mind the amount of NR applied is so much it severely affects the quality of the images."
Here's a copy of what I sent them:
"I am writing you because I am worried about the amount of noise reduction applied to the photos taken on the new iPhones, I have seen photos on several Apple-related forums where heavy amounts of NR got applied to the photos taken in already sufficiently lit scenes, however, I don't own an iPhone 6 yet and I can't confirm if any of this is true. It seems to me that your top priority this time around was to get the photos as low-noise as possible. As a hobby photographer I know that noise reduction creates smearing artifacts which don't look any good. NR can always be applied later, if needed. In fact, I ask you to reconsider the image processing steps taken on the new iPhones because in my mind the amount of NR applied is so much it severely affects the quality of the images."
I know this doesn't help you any but.. The details have a "water color" effect to me, which looks really similar to what Fuji mirrorsless camera owners are experiencing when they process their images in Adobe Lightroom
^^^THIS.
I had the 6+ for 2 weeks and noticed this just a bit. Now that I've had the 6 for a few days, it's definitely noticeable - even in middle of the day, sunny conditions -- they should be super sharp, but they're not. My 5 never had this issue. There's a whole water-color thing going on. And I don't like it one bit...
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Slow mo in any camera needs more light than usual, so the iso gets raised, which introduces more noise. I'd say its normal. If it wasn't grainy it would be under exposed (too dark).
I notice this too. Slo Mo 120 or 240 is very grainy compared to the normal video. It's not 1080P vs 720P grainy, it's cheap-o camera grainy.
What gives?
Yup I'm also disappointed with the 6 plus camera so far. I was really surprised at some of the photos that I had taken.
I have the 6 and the 6plus and even though that tent tiny bit of noise issue is present on both (software I'd say) I still think the plus takes better pics. It's not super notable to maybe be average person. But if your buying this phone to take the best pics and video possible. I'm hard pressed to say the 6plus is just better.
Looks like a focus problem to me, or maybe a bad lens. I'd take it in to an Apple Store.
It's not a focus problem. I had the same problems with my 6. I went to the Apple Store and tested out several 6's and some pluses as well. They all had the same problem with smudging details on the photos. The trees look so horrible in that picture.
But, in great lighting, you have to look for the smudging/blotchy effect. It's still there, but less apparent to the naked eye.
I ended up returning my 6 for a 5s because it is a downright shame that Apple went backwards with the camera.
You probably shot something indoors. Slow motion requires a high framerate, meaning a high shutter speed which means less light gets to the sensor. So to compensate, in normal indoor lighting the phone will boost the ISO (sensor sensitivity) to compensate, causing grain.
240 FPS slow-mo requires a lot of light to look good.
But I have noticed the blotchiness of photos taken with my 6. Personally I'd rather have the noise and detail over color blotches trying to cover up sensor noise.
I think it's the digital stabilization crop. In order to stabilize it, it has to have more room to adjust each frame than 720p, so it actually zooms in more to I dunno, 480p or something to stabilize. Probably not as low as 480p, but that's my guess.
This is a well known issue.
Lots of posts about it under different headings from the first release of the 6 models.
People were calling it the Monet effect because images looked like paintings when zoomed.
Take a shot in medium to low light (it's not as bad in good sun). Then zoom the subject, whether it's a face or object.
You'll see how bad the detail looks. Faces look pasty and painted. Trees look unnatural, details of objects are not crisp.
If Apple sees this (and I've seen it even on display phone camera rolls in their stores) which they must, they will not mention it.
Too damning and possibly not fixable with soft or firmware. Someone credible thought it might be a problem stemming from the A8 chip. So it's baked in.
They may fix it but they won't say a word about it.
Lots of posts about it under different headings from the first release of the 6 models.
People were calling it the Monet effect because images looked like paintings when zoomed.
Take a shot in medium to low light (it's not as bad in good sun). Then zoom the subject, whether it's a face or object.
You'll see how bad the detail looks. Faces look pasty and painted. Trees look unnatural, details of objects are not crisp.
If Apple sees this (and I've seen it even on display phone camera rolls in their stores) which they must, they will not mention it.
Too damning and possibly not fixable with soft or firmware. Someone credible thought it might be a problem stemming from the A8 chip. So it's baked in.
They may fix it but they won't say a word about it.