Retina Flash vs Snapchat Flash

[Bbqthis]

Most people know that Snapchat has had front facing display flash for a while, but it utilized only white light. Now it uses dual tone flash (not sure if this is only on 6s's, but here I am only talking about the new phones). I tried the other night to compare the two, the Apple Retina Flash vs Snapchat flash. I was very confused to find that the Snapchat flash actually fires brighter than the Retina Flash (which isn't actually that great for taking nighttime photos). Wasn't the whole idea of the Retina Flash being a 6s exclusive that it had a special display chip allowing the flash to fire brighter than normal?



TLDR: Snapchat display flash is brighter than Retina Flash despite RF being billed as a special hardware related 6s exclusive.

 

[dugbug]

retina flash two-tones it in addition to being brighter via hardware drivers. perhaps snapchat appears brighter because it is using white exclusively?

To quote appleinsider, RF:
"analyzes the ambient lighting situation — utilizing a preflash, in this case - before choosing a customized flash tone"
So it will never really be 'white' at its brightest

Update: more on apple's patent in this area:

"First filed in 2010, the patent — with the imaginative title "Image Capture Using Display Device As Light Source" — describes several methods of analyzing the scene, configuring the flash, and finally capturing an image.

Apple contemplates using both a hardware light sensor and analysis of the pixel intensity from the camera feed to determine lightning conditions, then dynamically adjusting the duration, brightness, and color of the display to simulate multiple types of flash. It could be used as a photo flash to compensate for darkness, for instance, or as a fill flash to simply lighten shadows. "


So the brightness level is also considered by the software.

 

[Bbqthis]

retina flash two-tones it in addition to being brighter via hardware drivers. perhaps snapchat appears brighter because it is using white exclusively?

To quote appleinsider, RF:
"analyzes the ambient lighting situation — utilizing a preflash, in this case - before choosing a customized flash tone"
So it will never really be 'white' at its brightest

In my original post, I mentioned that Snapchat now uses dual tone front facing flash. In use, it behaves exactly like Retina Flash, or at least appears to.

 

[willmtaylor]

The question isn't which is brighter, but rather, which resulting photo looks superior.

 

[Bbqthis]

The question isn't which is brighter, but rather, which resulting photo looks superior.

I suppose I just need to compare the snapchat front flash on a 5s or 6 to the front flash in the stock camera app. If the Snapchat flash is still brighter on the older phones, than I have an issue with Apple's claim.

 

[DynamicSausage]

This is interesting because I've actually found the retina flash to be VERY bright. It's initially just a bright screen but the actual moment of capture is almost blinding. Something I'm going to test out now.

EDIT: Just used both (on 6S Plus) and they both seem to be a similar brightness, perhaps Snapchat is taking advantage of the retina flash hardware? I noticed it was updated for 6S the other day. I must say though that the one I took in the camera app seemed to be better lit.

 

[dugbug]

This is interesting because I've actually found the retina flash to be VERY bright. It's initially just a bright screen but the actual moment of capture is almost blinding. Something I'm going to test out now.

yeah thats the preflash. its working with the camera to then determine correct tone and brightness level for the final flash (as I understand it).