Since the iPhone 4, Apple has become THE reference for the photo smartphone, including among some pros. Between Teru Kuwayama who photographed the US military in Afghanistan in 2011 (iPhone 4) or Ben Lowy who signed in 2012 the first Time Magazine cover made with a smartphone (iPhone 4S), many signatures that have given their pedigree in Camera module of the Apple smartphone. Each new version is so scrupulously examined and awaited not only by the common people but also by pros for whom the best camera is the “that we always have self” .
50% and more definition
In addition to 4K video and other gewgaws, the real novelty of this camera module resides within the definition of the sensor which then passes the 8 megapixel to spend 12 Mpix – after 4 generations, about time! Sony designed a priori like all previous sensor from the iPhone 4, the new device offers the same dimensions as the previous generation because it is the format 1 / 3.0 inches – or 4.89 x 3.67 mm. Consequently the photosites are smaller, measuring more than 1.12 micron against 1.5 microns for generation 6
The sensor is always the ratio 4/3 when many competitors have switched to the 16 / 9th native, such as LG or G4 Series Galaxy S6 / Edge / Edge Plus. From that side it is a matter of taste, but we must emphasize that these competitors offer a definition 30% higher than that of the iPhone. If 4/3 is better suited to a square crop 1: 1 (Instagram, etc.) due to any loss of fabric on the sides, the sensors are performing 16/9 for landscapes
<. h3> The same optical
Optics 29mm, aperture f / 2.2 … this new batch is identical to that of the previous generation. Apple has not too pushed into the wide angle, which is not a bad thing, but regrets the lack of ambition in terms of brightness: competition offers models that open up to f / 1.8, a significant gain in low light compared to f / 2.2, especially for smaller smartphone sensors. If you can wipe the slate on the opening, however, we are questioning the quality of the lens, as the clichés are flat compared to the competition (see below).
The series “S “is a mid-size, it is certain that Apple garde techno under the elbow to justify the transition to version 7 next year. A track that seem obvious would be the integration of a brighter optical and / or a larger sensor. The two elements are compatible: the camera module (+ optical sensor) the Samsung Galaxy S6 benefits both of a larger sensor and a brighter lens (f / 1.9)
The trap. low lights
The iPhone 6S / 6S More offer 50% more pixels than the iPhone 6/6 Plus. If this gain setting provides more room to crop and favors larger prints there is ultimately no major difference in terms of image quality. At best, more material, but that’s it. In low light, the iPhone 6S More product images certainly bigger but more noisy than the iPhone 6 More than a year ago. The price to pay when one puts as many pixels and do not work enough optical sound.
Where it hurts is when compared to competition, such as Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge / Edge Plus and OnePlus Two.
Competition is better
This is a small thunderclap: the new iPhone 6S / 6S More are dominating the photo. Not only in terms of resolution, but also in terms of image accuracy and, to some extent, intelligence. On this photograph taken in auto mode (3 successive frames) at no time does the iPhone 6S detects the face of the doll, yet first major plan with its human head. Conversely, the One Plus Two has a face detection and an update as a leader on the face
Details side, the One Plus Two but also the Galaxy S6 LG G4 or inflict a correction to the new iPhone. The image sharpness of One Plus Two – the ability to highlight the details and make the relief of the scenes – is light years ahead of the iPhone 6S whose shots are too smooth, too flat. And when the One Plus Two barely suffers moiré, iPhone 6S present more colorful artifacts. We always appreciate the color rendering “Western” that is to say a little warm and soft when many Asian brands tend to make colder tones and sharp contours.
S ‘ it is far from being ridiculous and will probably the weapon of choice for many photographers, it must be admitted that technically the iPhone 6 did not put the package
Autofocus. nothing changes (really)
The focusing system of the series “6S” is the same as the previous generation, namely a hybrid autofocus coupling phase correlation and contrast detection. Apple announced that it added 50% more pixels for the phase correlation … which is logical, since the sensor is 50% denser in pixels. Always beware of announcement effects.
In fact, the AF speed of iPhone 6S & amp; 6S Plus seemed similar to the previous generation, still very responsive even debit blurry shots – a good point for us that makes prevail action. However, attention to waste rates! For “yes” iPhone 6 / 6S can miss the focus from a subject even in daylight on a stationary subject, including pseudo-macro mode. In the example below, the AF point of the iPhone 6S clear that the flower was clear that that was never the case on our three shots – the development zone is slightly behind topic we pointed.
Flash-optimized skins white
Like the previous generation, the main flash stamped “True Tone” is effective and reaches well enough to keep the tone of the carnation clear skins. On this first portrait, True Tone catches well the yellowish light of our lab and not too overexposed the eyebrows of our esteemed comrade Aymeric.
On Moustapha and darker skin, however, the result is less bright: Yet shot at the same distance and at the same height (eye level), flash poorly corrects yellow lighting and overexposed nose triangle + eyebrows. If it does not generalize, it seems fair skin are better supported in this case – and it was already the case in the days of film (read How Was optimized for photography white skin)
and the screen will flash made
Like many small improvements at Apple, the idea of using the screen as a flash in portrait mode is all stupid, but awfully malignant. In fact, this trick is logically less effective than a dedicated flash but it can raise the shadows, especially around the eyes which is clearly the aim
Video:. That the 4K not heated (too)
Renowned for ease of use of its products, Apple made a mistake with this beautiful iPhone 6S. Impossible indeed to change the type of video format – HD, Full HD or 4K – in the implementation of shooting. No, you must go to the Settings menu (the icon of gear), then scroll to the 6th group of applications and choose “Photos and Camera”, scroll to “Camera” and select “Video Recording.” We always find an Apple representative to justify us anything, we found it’s silly.
To catch up, the Californian giant has still treated the technical part since not only the encoding is pretty good, but slightly above the unit heater – unlike some competitors. In this definition the weight of the videos is more consistent than Full HD: 375 MB / s for the 4K at 24 i / s against 200 MB 1080p 60i / s. With 5.6 GB for fifteen minutes of shooting, it will be necessary to think about regularly empty their smartphone not it explodes (it is an image).
Note that if the optical stabilization has a fairly marginal effect in the iPhone photo – this is not the case with real cameras, where it is often essential – it is however very effective in video mode. If you intend to shoot with an iPhone and you do not look at all costs the appearance “shaken” amateur images, so the version 6S Plus is mandatory. Files are smoother, sharper, generate less nausea effect in the case of a very restless sequence.
More than the sum of its parts
> The iPhone has the 6S lucky millions of photographers have used the terminals at the apple. And as the level of sufficient quality has already been largely achieved, as many talented photographers are accustomed to the machine (it is the photographer who took the picture, not the camera), it goes without saying that this new generation smartphone will instigate million very good images. Color quality and speed of the AF are sufficient elements to make this iPhone a hit with photographers. And therefore any short success
This success, predictable, should not obscure the technical reality. Apple lost Leadership photo and new terminals are lower than several terminals high-end Android. But if the technical domination was enough to win, we’d know …
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