Amateur and professional iPhotographers have a little-known tool in their mobile belt. The iPhone 4 offers “HDR” functionality that can help you get the most out of the phone’s built-in camera. Here we take an in-depth look at the feature and offer advice for when it’s best to use it and — just as importantly — when it’s not. Have a look through these tips and let us know in the comments how you put your photography talents to use. “High Dynamic Range” (HDR) Imaging is the practice of using “exposure bracketing” to create an image with a better representation of light and dark areas than the camera could capture on standard settings. Used correctly it will create an image that’s more akin to what your eye — which more efficiently processes extremes of light — would see, rather than what the camera’s sensor can photograph. Typically this is done by capturing three images — a standard exposure, a shot that is one exposure stop too light and a shot that’s one exposure stop too dark — and then combining all three. In its HDR mode, the iPhone 4 automatically recreates this process by taking three photos at different exposure levels, then layering the shots together to create one image with (theoretically) the best elements of each. You can turn on the HDR functionality of your iPhone when in the camera by tapping the HDR icon at the top of the screen. With HDR set to “on,” your iPhone will capture the original image and an HDR version, both of which you’ll find saved in your Camera Roll. You can change your iPhone’s settings to discard the original image but we find it useful for comparisons. If it’s not obvious to you which is the HDR image, look for the HDR icon at the top of the screen above the photo. Here are three scenarios for when hitting up that HDR button would be a good idea. In the non-HDR image above you can see very little detail in the shadow as the camera has not coped well with the bright light coming from the doorway. The HDR pic has much more even lighting overall and shows significantly more detail. This will also be the case if you’re photographing a light object against a dark background. Here you can see the HDR functionality has handled the contrasts of sunlight and shadow much better than the non-HDR image above. The foreground is severely bleached out in the original image and the areas of shadow much darker. The HDR setting has fixed these issues. You will also find that HDR adds detail to the sky where the standard camera would struggle with the contrast between the sky and the land. Strong sunlight is not great for portraits as it can create harsh shadows and unflattering glare. In this self-portrait you can see that the skin tone has been evened out, the glare on the cheeks improved and the shadow cast by the hat made softer. There are some situations in which HDR is actually a hindrance rather than a help. Here are three to be aware of. Because the iPhone snaps three pics consecutively, if anything in the frame moves (or if you’re not holding the iPhone steady enough) you’re likely to end up with a blur or ghosting in your image. In our example images you can see that even though the three HDR images are taken milliseconds apart, just a slight breeze moving the buttercups was enough to spoil the shot. HDR takes extremes of light and creates a middle ground. This can be great in many scenarios but not if you want to capture striking contrasts. Here we wanted to capture the vibrant green leaves against the lighter foliage in the background and the brightness of the sky. The non-HDR image (above) has achieved this much better than the HDR snap below, in which the light has been toned down and the background detail filled in for an overall muddier final shot. The iPhone’s camera generally deals well with color, giving nicely saturated results. Add in HDR however, and the colors you see in the final image aren’t likely to be true-to-life, or particularly vivid. In these images you can see the non-HDR photo above has bolder colors while the HDR shot below has darkened some tones and dulled the effect. The iPhone 4′s HDR functionality is a handy tool to have on board. It can be useful in certain situations but the key is to know when — and why — to activate it. We hope this article has helped, but with almost all photography the best way to get familar with the tech is to shoot as much as you can — so grab your iPhone, get out there and get snapping!
What is HDR?
HDR on the iPhone
DO Use HDR…
… When There’s Strong Backlight
…For Landscapes
… For Portraits in Strong Sunlight
DON’T Use HDR…
…If There’s a Risk Your Subject Will Move
…If You Want Strong Contrast
…If You Want Vivid or Accurate Colors
In Summary
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Sunday, July 17, 2011
How to Get the Most Out of the iPhone Camera’s HDR Functionality (Apple iPhone 4 Power User Tips and Tric), Auckland, iPhone Repair www.drmobiles.co.nz
Cool Tips for Apple iPhone 5 SLR Mount Brings Out the Best in Your iPhone’s Camera
Do you have a bunch of SLR-compatible lenses lying around, with no way to attach them to your iPhone? Grieve no more: Photojojo’s iPhone SLR Mount lets you (almost) turn your iPhone into a full-fledged DSLR. The device’s function is simple: it’s a special iPhone case (together with an UV filter and SLR adapter) to which you can attach a variety of photo lenses – telephoto, wide angle, macro or fixed-fifty – which should greatly increase the quality of photos taken with your phone. It comes with certain caveats: for example, your images will be upside down, due to the fact that SLR cameras have a mirror inside them which flips the image right-side up – something that iPhone obviously doesn’t have. We’re also sure that the entire thing will look like a gross overkill to many, but we can imagine a couple of uses for it: if nothing else, it’ll surely make you a star at the next photo convention.
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Apple iPhone 4 Power User Tips and Trick: How load iPhone Photos to Google+ (www.drmobiles.co.nz)
Already using Google+? Follow Mashable News for the latest about the platform’s new features, tips and tricks as well as our top social media and technology updates.
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The Top Ten (10) Unique Apple iPhone 4, 3GS Photography Accessories you might not know about!
The iPhone boasts a pretty decent camera, backed up by a ton of really cool apps, but there’s no doubt there are a few specialized areas of photography — shooting video and still life, for example — where the iPhone could use a helping hand. We’re not suggesting anyone buy the entire set of accessories we’ve listed below, but you may find one or two items could really improve the shooting capabilities of Apple’s mobile. So, take a look at the add-ons we’ve found, and let us know in the comments any iPhone accessories that have helped you with youriPhotography. This tripod holder is one of a few options available, but its real selling point is its low price, making it ideal for anyone who might have an occasional need to stick their iPhone on a tripod. For just under $10, you’ll get a simple but useful sturdy mount that features durable brass threads for a secure attachment. The Owle Bubo is a fairly major accessory for the iPhone. It transforms the mobile device into a camera with some comprehensive features. It adds a full-size lens, an external microphone, four tripod mount points and an integrated cold shoe for adding lights and the like. Finally, with an ergonomic design, the added weight the Bubo provides increases control for a more camera-like experience. This folding tabletop stand for your iPhone 4 or 3GS model can be used as a small tripod and doubles as a desktop stand for watching movies or making Facetime calls. In addition, the iPhone mount can be removed so you can use your phone on any tripod. The high-end Factron case for your iPhone will add some metallic and leather chic to your mobile, giving it a classic camera look and feel. The five interchangeable lenses (sold separately) will add more effects to your shooting repertoire. The case is available in 15 different colors and finishes and is made of “duralumin,” which certainly sounds rugged. The Zgrip iPhone Jr. is a handgrip system for shooting more stable video on the move with your iPhone, and it also offers a thread to mount the handgrip to a tripod for stationary shooting. There’s also another thread on the top for mounting other accessories such as a light. If you can’t afford to splurge on Factron’s case-and-lenses system above, then USBFever offers some affordable alternatives. Its range of detachable lenses for mobile devices include fish eye, wide angle, macro and telescopic. The success of the results will no doubt vary, but there’s certainly some fun experimentation to be had. Designed for iPhone 3G and 3GS, Griffin’s Clarifi case boasts a built-in lens that claims to give your iPhone a boost in camera resolution. Macro and close-up shots are instantly finer in detail, while you can still slide the lens aside for normal photography. Joby is now offering a product especially for the iPhone 4. The stand-alone bumper protects your phone, while the detachable, flexible tripod offers adaptable positioning. In addition to photography, the GorillaMobile can also be used as a desk stand, or even, suggests Joby, attached to a treadmill to watch your favorite show while working out. This clever dock connector accessory (and the free app) allows you to use SD memory cards with your iPhone. It lets you view, access and share all of your photos (and other files) from your SD cards on the go without the need to connect to your camera, Mac or PC. It’s slightly pricey, but a fab solution for anyone who favors the SD memory card format. The soon-to-be-released Glif (enabled by Kickstarter) offers two functions: letting you mount your iPhone to a standard tripod and using a kickstand to prop your phone up at an angle. It’s a simple and elegant solution that’s seen some positive backing. You can pre-order yours now.
1. iPhone Tripod Holder
2. Owle Bubo
3. Flip-Cage with iPhone 4 Mount
4. Factron Quattro Cases
5. Zacuto Zgrip iPhone Jr. Handgrip
6. USBFever’s Special Effects Lenses
7. Griffin Clarifi
8. Joby GorillaMobile for iPhone 4
9. ZoomIt SD Memory Card Connector
10. Glif
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Australia Vodafone network unlock: Nokia 6300, Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand.
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Vodafone White Apple iPhone 4 Broken Screen repair/replacement, North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand
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Motorola Quench XT5, XT 502 mobile phone unlock (google android phone), Auckland
Announced at Mobile World Congress 2010, the Motorola Quench is Moto's fifth Android offering in the US and T-Mobile's fifth overall. Some might be quick to dismiss the Quench as a slight revamp of the Motorola Dext, but we think that's a bit of a disservice to the device. After all, it offers a sleeker design with a capable onscreen keyboard courtesy of Swype, a more full-featured and connected media player, and thankfully better performance than the Motorola Backflip. That's not to say that the Quench doesn't have issues. The screen size is on the smaller side and it only runs Android 1.5, but we found much more to like than dislike about the device. It's a nice alternative for customers who want something sleeker than the Dext and can do without a physical keyboard, but this is all contingent on pricing.
As of this writing, T-Mobile has not released pricing or a specific availability date for the Quench, though we do know it will be sometime in March. The Moto Dext currently goes for US$149.99 with a two-year contract, so if the Quench is similarly priced or lower (US$99.99 would be the sweet spot), we think it'll be a good choice for social networking and music fans. We'll update this review as soon as we receive official details about price and availability.
This post is sponsored by:Dr Mobiles Limited
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Tel: (09) 551-5344 and Mob: (021) 264-0000
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