1,492
edits
Difference between revisions of "Taking Pictures with Different Cameras"
Taking Pictures with Different Cameras (view source)
Revision as of 15:14, 15 September 2023
, 15:14, 15 September 2023→Smartphone cameras
Andrei.boiu (talk | contribs) m (→ISO Modes) |
Andrei.boiu (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 67: | Line 67: | ||
== Smartphone cameras == | == Smartphone cameras == | ||
Smartphones are easily the most versatile devices. It seems that everything is obvious yet there are a lot of untapped possibilities. True photo abilities are rarely known in detail. Most of the time we rely on having everything set on AUTO and just taking a snapshot, but all phones offer much more than that. | Smartphones are easily the most versatile devices. It seems that everything is obvious yet there are a lot of untapped possibilities. True photo abilities are rarely known in detail. Most of the time we rely on having everything set on AUTO and just taking a snapshot, but all phones offer much more than that. | ||
=== The right image format === | |||
It may seem that operating a smartphone is straightforward in this respect, just select the highest resolution in MP or megapixels. However, the best choice is far from that. As manufacturers got into a stiff competition, they tried to differentiate through less than respectable means. One such trick was to showcase a much exaggerated claim of sensor resolution. A normal approach would be, for instance, to show the real sensor resolution instead of the interpolated one. You simply cannot have a 64MP sensor in a midrange phone, when a professional camera, even at the high-end, has around 40MP. | |||
What will you achieve by using the default option of a very high resolution? As it seems, there are some minor issues. The highest resolution image does not show necessarily more detail, on close inspection, and may exhibit whitish fringes near the edges of objects. This is due to heavy contrast enhancing processing that leaves such artifacts, reaching an image that is not better from a lower resolution one while it occupies more storage space and makes editing slower. | |||
The best approach is to evaluate, separately, each resolution and format, on the same scene and subject, to determine which one works best. A common approach is to notice the format and maximum resolution, let's say 3:4 aspect ratio and 64MP (9268x6936), and go for the one immediately below, 3:4 aspect ratio and 16MP (4624x3468 resolution). The so-called full resolution, has a 4:2 format and is 4624x2084 and the 16:9 one is 4624x2604. In this vast array of possibilities I would suggest the 4:2 format, since it has the lowest resolution while it is still higher than a 16:9 1920x1080. The reason is that with slightly lower resolutions the camera has a reduced risk of post-processing, and more useful information is received by adjacent parts of the sensor, reducing artifacts. | |||
Although it is counterintuitive, I generally suggest not pursuing wide image formats such as 16:9 unless you really want to showcase landscapes. In most cases you need useful pixels on a slightly narrower framing, particularly with persons, so the best choice would be a 4:2 or a 3:4, with the 3:4 having the best prospects. | |||
<code>''Understand what formats and resolution capability your smartphone camera exposes. In most pictures you benefit having more useful pixels in a slightly narrow picture frame, so a 4:3 aspect ratio works well. Always avoid the super-sampled or maximum resolution of the camera in your app as it is severely processed.''</code> | |||
=== Camera applications === | === Camera applications === | ||