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Rodion Danilov
Owners of the latest smartphone models have probably seen that they have a photo application with HDR (High Dynamic Range) support ). More experienced users know what HDR is, but not everyone understands how and in what cases this function is best used. In the “Instructions” section we will try to clear up some of the confusion and show how to make the most of HDR when shooting with a mobile phone.
As you know, the human eye can see much more “high dynamic range” of a scene than any camera, let alone a cell phone camera. We can distinguish equally well small parts a dark building against a bright sky and, for example, a plane flying high above it. But we all know what happens if you take a picture of a building with your phone: it turns out to be too dark with very hard to see details.
Photo with sky exposure
Of course, we could try to fix this problem by setting the exposure on the building itself, highlighting the area with it on the screen. With this approach, the decor of the building is visible well, but the sky in the photo has turned into an overexposed, blurry white spot.
Photo with exposition of the building
Our goal is to unite best characteristics two photos, creating one image in which both the building and the clouds would look great. This is exactly what HDR technology offers. Photos taken with HDR are essentially several shots combined at different exposures.
Default iPhone app for taking photos it has built-in HDR functionality. You can enable HDR by clicking on the option button in the “camera”. When HDR mode is turned on, iPhone will automatically take HDR photos. Please note that this takes longer than normal shooting.
However, the built-in iPhone application gives rather “weak” results, and you can take much better pictures using special programs.
Photo taken with Pro HDR on iPhone 5
Photo taken using the default application on iPhone 5
One of the most popular and convenient photo applications with HDR function is Pro HDR(for iOS - 66 rubles; for Android - 61.75 rubles). However, there are also free versions with limited functionality.
The Pro HDR app offers two modes: automatic and manual. If you choose Auto, the app will analyze the scene, taking a shot with a dark exposure (with detailed highlights, but less detail in the shadows) and a light exposure (with detailed sections in the shadows, but with little detail in the bright areas) and combines the two images.
Some photos may not look natural enough. To add realism to your photo, use five sliders in a simple and intuitive settings panel. They allow you to adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, warmth and tint. Automatic mode is quite suitable for most situations; Manual mode is only necessary when shooting the most contrasting scenes.
Settings panel interface in Pro HDR
Please note that HDR photos do not always look better than those taken in standard mode. Try to save both HDR and “normal” shots so you can choose the best ones later.
It is inappropriate to use HDR mode when shooting in motion. Due to the fact that HDR combines multiple exposures of the same scene; and if these very scenes change, you will end up with the most unpredictable results. Try to shoot while leaning on something stable or using a tripod.
HDR photo taken in motion
HDR (high dynamic range) images in the new iPhone 8 are balanced and realistic. Sometimes you may not even realize that the camera took an HDR photo. It's so natural that you don't notice any particular effect, but the detail in the highlights and shadows is very good, which is a sign of excellent image quality. With the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, Apple is so confident in the results that HDR is set to Auto by default. This means that depending on the scene, the camera itself will decide whether to use HDR or not. In any case, you will receive high quality photos.
Apple's implementation of HDR shows that the term "HDR" doesn't have to be associated with high micro-contrast and saturated colors.
HDR Auto by default
On iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus and earlier models, even with iOS 11, HDR mode can be manually turned on, off, or set to Auto in the camera interface. On these devices, Auto means the camera decides whether to use HDR to enhance photos when shooting low-light or big amount tonal contrast (for example, a bright sky and a dark foreground). A small yellow "HDR" icon will appear at the top of the screen when it is active.
The smartphone may offer to save two versions of the file. One photo will be taken from one exposure and saved separately, and the second file will be compiled from three different exposures and will create an HDR photo with high dynamic range. You can choose to keep the original file by going to Settings > Camera > HDR (High Dynamic Range) and selecting Keep Normal Photo.
For iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus (and the upcoming iPhone X), automatic HDR is enabled by default. And it's not the same HDR effect that previous devices use. The new 8 and 8 Plus feature larger pixel sensors and an improved A11 processor. Together, they can perform more complex and precise processing, resulting in a realistic image, just like what we see with our own eyes.
HDR in the real world
Taking your iPhone 8 Plus outside on a sunny day can produce amazing results. These smartphones are changing the way we take pictures. Bright areas, such as clouds in the sky, become overexposed. To compensate for this in normal shooting, you need to reduce the brightness, but in HDR mode this is not necessary. You will still see overexposed areas on the screen, but the resulting photo will have good detail.
Preview 
If you're shooting with the Live Photo feature enabled, which records a few seconds of video as the image is taken, when viewing images there will be a small flicking animation that shows the second before the photo was taken.
Comparison of iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone 7 Plus
By photographing the same scene on the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone 7 Plus, you can see the improvement in the new model. Although both cameras did Good work By creating HDR, iPhone 8 Plus offers wider dynamic range and a more realistic look.
New mode HDR is good for taking portraits. HDR doesn't always work well when photographing people, as it often increases contrast and detail in the face, but with the iPhone 8 there's no need to worry about that.
Sometimes Auto HDR doesn't turn on when you think it should, but the results are always good. When shooting in low light, the first thing iPhone 8 Plus does is raise the ISO and apply software methods image processing to extract details.
Conclusion
Create HDR automatically in new iPhones 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X are a smart move on Apple's part. Smart HDR was one of the features that made the Google Pixel's camera the best on the market, so it made sense for Apple to follow Google's lead. Although Auto HDR can be turned off in the camera settings, you'll rarely need to do so as it works very well and has minimal impact on color and contrast, only pulling out detail from highlights and shadows.
What to do if the race for megapixels in smartphones has reached a dead end; a thin body does not allow you to increase the matrix, but you want to get best quality photo? It is possible to improve the optics using high quality glass lenses, but this is expensive and difficult. It is possible to optimize the camera’s hardware and software to perfection, but this requires the developers to have virtuoso engineers and programmers on staff. Or you can take advantage of the power of modern hardware (fortunately, there is enough of it now) and simply add new frame processing algorithms. One such option found almost everywhere in smartphones is HDR.
Our article will help you understand what HDR mode is in a smartphone. We will also try to find out in which situations this option will be useful, and in which it will only ruin the frame.
HDR mode (from the English High Dynamic Range - high dynamic range) is a special method of taking photos in which the smartphone camera sequentially takes several frames with different shutter speeds and exposures, for their subsequent merging into one image. The module's autofocus alternately concentrates on areas with different brightness, contrast, and distance from the lens.
Immediately after capturing, the frames are subject to software processing. They are superimposed on each other, and the system analyzes their quality, choosing the clearest fragments as a basis. Similar parts of other frames are used only to increase clarity, saturation, and noise reduction.
The specific HDR algorithm depends on the features and level of its implementation. The simplest (and least effective) example of its organization is when frames are simply superimposed on each other and “blurred” a little. In the most advanced versions, fragments of each image are sequentially analyzed to identify the most successful ones.
What does HDR mode do in your camera?
The main purpose of HDR in a smartphone camera is to increase image detail and clarity. For example, if during normal shooting objects fall into the frame different color, to varying degrees distant from the photographer and having different levels of light (dark houses and blue skies are a very common situation) - only some of them will be in focus. Other objects will appear fuzzy, blurry and have no contrast at all.
HDR mode allows you to focus on each of these areas one by one to get the most possible quality. Merging frames, one of which has the foreground in focus, the other the background, and the third the small details of the surrounding environment, allows you to combine all the successful details in one photo.
Thus, when shooting stationary objects on a tripod (or simply holding your smartphone tightly), HDR allows you to make your shots clearer and more detailed. But this mode also has disadvantages.
Cons of HDR
- Moving objects cannot be photographed. Even though the camera takes a series of pictures at millisecond intervals, the subject may move during this time. As a result, instead of a blurry photo of a car, you will get a fuzzy stripe, and a running person will become a blurry shadow.
- It won't work to get a bright shot. When shooting a series of frames with different shutter speeds and focus, the camera software in HDR mode “averages” the brightness values. If in single mode you can get a photo in which the main object will be saturated (even for the sake of the background), then in HDR the background will be better, but the center will be worse.
- Slow motion. Even the fastest camera that takes a shot in a split second will slow down when shooting in HDR. A second delay can play a significant role, and sometimes it is better to quickly take a series of 5-10 frames (this mode is also available almost everywhere) than to wait for one photo to be processed.
You've probably heard that modern smartphones support HDR shooting mode. This article will let you understand what its essence is.
HDR technology wasn't invented yesterday. However, its appearance could not have happened in the era of film cameras. And the HDR mode could not be present in the first digital cameras and smartphones - they simply would not have had enough power to process pictures with the required speed. Nowadays, such devices allow you to take a couple of frames in a matter of seconds. So, let's understand what HDR is in a smartphone camera.
Any digital camera, including one built into a phone, has a limited dynamic range. This means that if there are very bright areas in the frame, problems with dark objects begin. For example, let's say you take a photo of a building while in its shadow. Most likely, this will lead to one of two options for the resulting image:
- The clouds in the sky will be clearly visible, but the details of the building itself will be almost indistinguishable;
- The house will appear detailed, but at the same time the sky will turn into a white mush - in some cases it hides the roof of the building in its colors.
It is in such cases that the HDR function comes to the rescue. This mode allows, roughly speaking, to take two frames with different exposures, then combining them into one. As a result, the image will not have very dark areas, nor too bright ones. Detailing will increase significantly - absolutely all objects will be distinguishable. But you should not use this mode on an ongoing basis. The fact is that HDR photos often look somewhat unnatural. It is worth activating the mode if the device’s camera does not cope with its task. For example, you are shooting against the light of the sun or in the shadow of a building - then you can use HDR.
Pay attention to the area in the shadow: it is light and the details are clearly visible
It was noted that the owners budget smartphones use HDR mode much more often than owners of top-end devices. The fact is that expensive devices are equipped with a higher quality camera with a wide dynamic range.
How it works?
When activating HDR, be prepared for the camera to take several pictures at once - two or even three. Therefore, you should not photograph moving objects in this mode; they may split into two, turning into a kind of ghosts, or become blurred. Pictures will be created at different shutter speeds and exposures. Specific shutter speed values depend on the aperture of the optics, the size of the matrix and many other parameters. That is why full-fledged cameras cope with this task much faster.
Then the received frames are merged into one. The more powerful the processor installed in the camera or smartphone, the less time this process will take. Although we must not forget about the matrix resolution. Of course, 24-megapixel images are more difficult to process than frames with a resolution of 8 megapixels. In any case, even on budget devices you will see the result in a couple of seconds.
Another example of an HDR photo
When taking photographs, autofocus concentrates on areas with different brightness, contrast and distance from the camera. When overlaying frames on top of each other, the system analyzes their quality, selecting areas with the greatest clarity. Also, the final image will consist of areas with better saturation and less noise.
High Dynamic Range technology can be implemented in completely different ways in different smartphones. Somewhere the pictures are simply superimposed on each other and then slightly blurred. And on more powerful and new devices the above process occurs.
How to shoot in HDR mode?
Now almost all “Camera” applications equipped with modern smartphones are equipped with the corresponding function. This means that there is no need to install any additional ones. The HDR icon may be in the mode selection menu. And in many cases, it can be found right on the main Camera screen, next to the flash activation. Be that as it may, you are required to touch this icon.
It's simple
Then you take a photo with the usual touch of the shutter button. But if a regular photo is created in a split second, then in the case of the HDR mode you will have to wait for some time. Try to hold your smartphone motionless for one or two seconds. It is important! Otherwise, you won't succeed.
Some third-party apps provide HDR mode settings. That is, you can choose how much the exposure will change when taking several frames. Pre-installed Camera programs usually do not have this setting.
The difference between a regular photo and HDR is obvious.
That's it, the HDR photo is ready! Nothing complicated!
Disadvantages of HDR
Let's briefly summarize. The main advantage of the HDR mode should be clear to you: all areas of the frame taken in it will be equally detailed and bright. What disadvantages does such a regime have?
- Shooting multiple frames takes time- and the worse the camera built into the smartphone, the greater the chance of getting an output image with blurry objects.
- Unnatural lighting- the reality in the final photograph will be far from what you saw with your own eyes.
- You might miss the moment- processing images in HDR mode takes at least a couple of seconds. Continuous shooting is thus excluded.
Now you understand the benefits of HDR photography, as well as its main disadvantages. We hope that you learned something new for yourself. Be sure to share your opinion in the comments whether you use the HDR function and whether it is well implemented in your smartphone.
Greetings, dear blog readers! If you are interested in finding out what HDR is on an iPhone and why it is needed, then you have found the right article! After all, right now we will tell you in all interesting details what it is and why HDR is being introduced into the cameras of modern smartphones.
Well, we are ready to answer all your questions. Let's get started!
What does HDR mean?
The first question that comes to the mind of a person who has little knowledge of the topic under discussion is: “How to decipher HDR?” And rightly so!
The full name of the technology is “High Dynamic Range”. This means "high dynamic range".
This method allows you to improve the quality of photographs when shooting in bad conditions lighting or when there is a large difference in the contrast and brightness of objects (most often you can find a situation with a bright light sky and darkened buildings).
How does this technology work?
It's actually not that complicated. The whole point is that your camera takes not one picture, as it should, but three at once! And at the same time, these are not just photos in a row, but completely different shots in terms of exposure and shutter speed.
So, the first frame will be overexposed with highlighted bright details, the second will be normal, and the third will be dark with clearly visible shadows. In addition to this, in each photo the camera’s autofocus concentrates on areas distant from the smartphone at various distances.
Subsequently, the set of images will be combined into one using a special function that will analyze the state of individual fragments of all frames and select the clearest ones.
Thus, you get a picture in which the landscape practically corresponds to reality (we are talking about the reality that human eyes see). This is why HDR photos take a little longer to create and save than normal photos.
Where can you turn on such beauty?
HDR first appeared in the iPhone 4 and after Apple did not exclude the algorithm from its developments. So iPhone 5, 5s, 6, 6s, SE and 7 are also equipped with this function.
High Dynamic Range cannot be used with flash. So if something happens you have to choose. We would also like to note that previously on iPhones it was only possible to enable or disable the functionality discussed. There was no other option. As they say: “It’s hit or miss.”
To do this, you had to go into the Camera application and check on the top of the screen to enable or disable HDR.
However, with the release operating system iOS version 7.1 the described functionality has been modernized. You can now choose between three modes: HDR auto, on or off. Although the majority of users prefer the innovation and leave the High Dynamic Range automatic mode.
Let's draw the final line!
Today, almost all smartphones use HDR to produce better, more natural photos. Of course, each company implements modified versions of this algorithm in its devices. But what High Dynamic Range greatly improves appearance images cannot be disputed.
However, there is always back side medals.
In this shooting mode, you cannot shoot moving objects, because due to the same three frames you can get unexpected results: separation or duplication of the same object, blur, etc.
In addition to this, you will never get a bright photo, since the algorithm for processing a set of frames averages the brightness values.
Well, as we have already emphasized, the shooting itself will last a little longer. Therefore, to obtain a high-quality image, you will have to hold the iPhone in a stationary position a little longer than usual.
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