What is HDR in the phone camera? High Dynamic Range - expansion of the dynamic range of a digital image

The desire of smartphone manufacturers to make their products more attractive to customers has led to the fact that it is now quite difficult to find a device that does not have a built-in digital camera. Dozens of megapixels, sophisticated image processing algorithms, automatic range adjustment ... It would seem that it is enough to select the desired frame and press the button, and everything else will be done by the automation. Unfortunately, this is only partly true. For example, an attempt to shoot a building against a background of a bright blue sky will result in a general overshadowing, since the most bright element for which the other parameters are set is selected as the reference point in this case. If you intervene in the work of algorithms and manually specify the exposure, then as a result you can get a building with acceptable brightness in the picture, but a white spot instead of the sky. To overcome this, there is a special mode of HDR, implemented in almost every modern digital camera, including models in smartphones. Having learned how to work with it, you can be sure that the quality of the images will be ideal. This abbreviation stands for expansion of the dynamic range. Thus, the question: " What is HDR in the camera phone?" Can be answered like this: "This is a special frame processing function, designed to improve the images by combining one final of several intermediate". In general, quite an interesting opportunity, with which every owner of a modern smartphone is simply required to familiarize himself.

What is HDR in the phone camera

In fact, the principle of this mode is quite simple. HDR-shooting assumes that the camera per unit of time does not one, but several frames at once, while in the background, focusing on objects with different levels of illumination. Then the central processor selects pictures with averaged values and combines them into one, which is offered to the user. Thanks to this simple method, you can forget about too bright and not enough light objects on one frame - everything is in balance. Since this solution is completely software, for its use it is enough just to install an application that has a similar shooting mode. Note that not all cameras preinstalled in the base firmware of smartphones have this capability.

Nuances of use

At the same time, it is important to understand that the HDR mode is not a panacea after all. Even using it, the owner does not become a professional photographer. The main problem is this: since the final image is formed from several intermediate, the device itself and the objects in the frame must be stationary. Otherwise, an unpleasant HDR effect may occur, in which everything looks blurry, doubles, etc. on the picture. Using a tripod is recommended when working with this mode.

The next feature to consider is that in some cases it is inappropriate to obtain a picture with averaged brightness. For example, silhouettes in the semi-darkness, according to the photographer's plan, should remain the same indefinite shadows, and not people in gray cloaks. HDR photography does not allow this.

And, finally, the brightness and contrast of pictures taken in this mode, in general, are slightly lower than in photos taken in the usual way. Sometimes it turns out to be very critical.

HDR Pro

Within the framework of the article, it is useless to try to describe all existing programs for smartphones in which the extended-range shooting mode is implemented, since their number is estimated in dozens. We mention only a few. One of the most famous programs of this group is the HDR Pro Camera. Despite the fact that the release of new versions is terminated (the latter is 2.35), reviews about this app are most flattering. An additional advantage is the guaranteed performance even on the obsolete "Android 2.2", which for some may prove to be a decisive factor. After starting, the user has the option to select automatic or manual mode. In the second case, you can use the sliders on the screen to adjust the brightness, contrast, color temperature with which the pictures will be taken. The program is distributed on a fee basis, but the cost is very democratic - less than 60 rubles.

SNAP Camera

Perhaps, anyone who asked the task to choose a good program for photography, faced with a solution from the developer Marginz Software. Snap Cam in many enjoys well-deserved popularity, which is due to several factors. Among them, support and timely release of new versions; Some functions are unique; The program has absorbed almost everything that can interest both professional and novice photographer. In particular, when working with it, it's easiest to understand what HDR is in the phone's camera. To activate the mode after installation and start-up, it is necessary to select HDR by rotating the graphical adjustment wheel (version 7.x.x). It remains to take a picture. By default, three frames with different exposures will be saved, among which you can choose the best one. The function of saving intermediate pictures, if it is not needed, is deactivated in the settings - the HDR section. In this case, the whole process of shooting is completely automatic, except, of course, pressing the button. Lovers of "play around" with the settings may be interested in focusing between intermediate frames, as well as milliseconds of delay. The program allows you to adjust the clarity, brightness, image resolution, cropping, etc. It assumes the purchase of a license.

Basic Functionality

The demand for HDR mode led to the fact that more and more smartphone manufacturers began to include in their operating systems an application for working with a camera, which initially provides for the possibility of taking pictures with an extended dynamic range. However, when using stock (base) solutions, there is no need to talk about the abundance of any additional settings. For example, in the popular CyanogenMod assembly, clicking on the three points of the menu call opens a window where you can enable or disable HDR mode. Parallel operation of this function and flash is not possible. It is worth noting that very often an inexpensive phone with a good camera, shooting in the normal mode, allows you to get better photos than the more expensive, but with a low-quality matrix.

"Open camera"

That's right - Open Camera - called an application, which deserves the most attention from the fans of photos. The settings in it are not less than in the above Snap. However, to activate the HDR mode, the beginner has to study all the items in the settings. Actually, access to the "magic button" can be obtained by clicking on the point icon in the upper on-screen menu. Among the items on the Scene list are HDR. The quality of the final image is excellent, but the processing speed is one of the slowest among similar solutions. Perhaps, in models of smartphones with productive processors this delay is leveled. To understand what HDR is in the camera of a phone, it is recommended to choose different shooting modes in practice and compare the result.