Get more latitude out of iPhone 3Gs photos

 

I took these photos on a recent pre-season get-away in Jamaica. Admittedly the scenery did all the heavy-lifting for me, but they were pretty good for making my friends jealous. But the kicker is that they were taken on an iPhone, and ready to e-mail like this right from the phone. My travel partner, also standing there with her smartphone, gaped a bit: "How the heck?"

The answer is simple; a couple apps that quickly, simply, and effectively increase the tonal range your phone camera can capture: Pro HDR (iTunes link) and TrueHDR (iTunes link). HDR stands for High Dynamic Range, a technique that has been so overused in photography in recent years to create garish images that many of you likely rolled your eyes just seeing the acronym. But HDR is just a tool to fix the inherent problem most digital cameras have of being able to capture a much smaller range of lights and darks than the human eye, and few cameras need fixing as badly as a tiny cell phone camera. With all of those pixels crammed in to a space so small, each pixel isn't receiving very much light, and that tends to mean noisy images with blown out highlights. The noise problem is hard to fix, but tonal range is relatively simple: Just take a picture exposed for the shadows, another for the highlights, and slap them together. And that, simply and easily, is what both of these applications do.

Note: because these apps rely on selective metering, which the iPhone 2G and 3G cameras can't do, it has to be a 3Gs (or future phones)

Since they're both paid apps, you probably don't want to download them both (but I did). So which is better? On paper, that would definitely go to Pro HDR. TrueHDR only exports downsized images, and you're stuck with whatever you get. Pro HDR exports full-sized images, and has simple but effective controls to help you get the best final product:

 

But there's just one problem: It's nowhere near as good as TrueHDR at actually merging the photos. As you can even see from their own product screenshots, above, it tends to merge with horrible halos, one of the things that gives HDR photography such a bad name. TrueHDR is relatively seamless. I've merged two photos below with both products, ProHDR on the left and TrueHDR on the right. It's not even a question which one looks better to me.

So if you're just exporting to the Web, which is what I tend to do with iPhone shots anyway, TrueHDR may be the better choice. But if you're a control freak and can live with halos, give Pro a try.

Comments

[Joe on April 01, 2010 at 03:48 PM]

Worth getting if I have a 3G and NOT a 3Gs? Looks awesome, but I just want to make sure.

[Ryan Brenizer on April 01, 2010 at 03:52 PM]

Unfortunately not. Because the 3G camera has no sort of selective metering, these apps will not work.

[brett maxwell on April 01, 2010 at 04:07 PM]

Thanks for the comparison, I have ProHDR and have only been moderately impressed, now you've got me convinced to get TrueHDR. Good thing it's only $2.

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[Tabs Qureshi on April 03, 2010 at 04:23 AM]

Er what the ehll does Nike Air and Louboutins have to do with HDR apps people? But anyhoo, dowloaded true HDR ... gonna give it a whirl now

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iPhone 3G with fast 3G wireless technology, GPS mapping, support for enterprise features like Microsoft Exchange, and the new App Store, iPhone 3G puts even more features at your fingertips.Here all the photos taken by the iphone 3G looks amazing and very clear.The screen is slightly warmer in color temperature, slightly brighter and the daylight viewing is better,but it's gorgeous.

[Dave on April 29, 2010 at 11:36 AM]

Those are some pretty impressive photos. Like you said, the scenery helps, but still!

[ildvr on May 27, 2010 at 06:31 AM]

I like photos in this post, but I never can make nice picture with my 3G

[lewisharry on May 29, 2010 at 12:48 AM]

iPhone 3G photos has the clear picture with good resolution. This is one of the best and good new tech gadgets.

[Richard on June 25, 2010 at 07:24 AM]

You're skillful!
As I know, the new iPhone 4 is more powerful to take photos.

Transfer and backup your iPhone photos to Mac.
http://www.iphonemactransfer.com

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