Apple iPhone 6s-plus photos using the iOS Cortex Camera app.

D

dalethorn

Guest
These 4 images were taken using the Cortex Camera App for iOS, which takes many (30?) images and merges them for very low noise, even in dark scenes. I used a tripod - full-size and tabletop, to capture these, and I turned off the handheld option in the Cortex app. The images take only about 4 seconds to capture and process, and the shutter can be activated using the Apple earbud control, so the camera/phone does not have to be touched after the image is framed.

The first is a good demo of the resolution, and the second is a shot minutes after sunset - it was fairly dark, well after dusk. The third was in fog this morning, and while I can't be sure that the Cortex app registered the images perfectly, the detail is very good for the iPhone in really flat lighting. The small amount of fringing was my fault. The fourth was the previous day (already posted), but I wanted it in this separate thread for the Cortex app photos. The bridge is usually lit up better, but the lights were turned down for the fog, so I think the next time I shoot the bridge, I'll get less noise.

iPhone 6s-plus, Cortex Camera App.
Home_Sweet_Home_01a_s.jpg


iPhone 6s-plus, Cortex Camera App.
Charleston_Harbor21_s.jpg


iPhone 6s-plus, Cortex Camera App.
View attachment 115424

iPhone 6s-plus, Cortex Camera App.
Charleston_Bridge34a_s.jpg
 
A view of a storm moving in over my favorite wetland.

iPhone 6s-plus (Cortex app), tripod, storm clouds.
Mtpleasant47_s.jpg
 
Nice shots, Dale. I grabbed it for my 5S, based on this. Getting rid of grain in low light is a good thing. Steady hands, though :) I see you use a tripod, I don't have an appropriate attachment for mine so I'll have to make do.

You might also be interested in a Level app, found on AppsGoneFree this morning
LVL CAM by Daniel LLC
LVL CAM on the App Store

Thanks. The only pic with a full tripod was the bridge with the green lights and wispy green fog blowing over top. The others, and most of what I'll be shooting, are with a $25 pocket Manfrotto, so in my very small shoulder bag (among other goodies) I'll have the pocket tripod, the iPhone grabber to attach to the tripod (about the size of a stick of gum), and the Apple earbuds with the control that acts as a remote release. It takes less than a minute to set up and put away, so it's convenient for use anywhere I can place it. I may switch to the small Gorillapod instead, since it doesn't need a more-or-less flat surface.
 
Hmm, I have a smallish Manfrotto, too. Very lightweight, I got it for my compacts... and never use it. could be useful for this. "iphone grabber"?? Que?

Here's the tripod adapter - with the 2 ends folded in, it grabs the phone and screws onto the tripod. And it folds flat.
Smartphone Video Tripod | GripTight GorillaPod Video | JOBY

But with the full-size, I was using a Benro that cost $400 and folded to 14 inches, but it was still bulky. Then I got a $60 Manfrotto from B&H that's just as stable for small cameras, and easier to use.
 
I like to do these "framed" shots, albeit the bottom quadrant of the frame is copied from the top piece. The frame is concrete supports around an open shelter facing Charleston Harbor. At first I was disappointed with the foliage, until I compared most of the image with previous attempts from the Panasonic GM1 (12-32) and the Leica X1 (fixed 22), and this one did better than the X1, but not quite as good as the GM1. Lighting makes a difference, and this one with the iPhone had the poorest (very flat) lighting.

iPhone 6s-plus, Cortex app, tripod.
Charleston_Harbor22_s.jpg
 
It just gets better - using this Cortex app in good light and little or no wind (for small-tripod stability), I'm seeing results that are comparable to my 4/3 cameras, such as the Pana GM1 or LX100. The similar images I've gotten with APS-C cameras such as the Nikon Coolpix A or Leica X Vario are slightly better, but not by a lot. The Leica 'T' is APS-C, but with the 24-75 (effective FL) lens, it didn't compare favorably to the other two mentioned here, and the phone-plus-app is effectively as good as the 'T', given the phone's limitations of a fixed FL and the need to be stabilized.

iPhone 6s-plus, tripod, Cortex app.
Mtpleasant_Park27_s.jpg
 
Like my other recent images, this was taken with the iPhone-Cortex app, but in this case the content is on-the-street rather than 1/2 mile away across a swamp. I think this image illustrates the potential of this camera app better than the others, especially since it didn't require a tripod.

iPhone 6s-plus, handheld braced, Cortex app.
Charleston_Downtown43_s.jpg
 
Like my other recent images, this was taken with the iPhone-Cortex app, but in this case the content is on-the-street rather than 1/2 mile away across a swamp. I think this image illustrates the potential of this camera app better than the others, especially since it didn't require a tripod.

iPhone 6s-plus, handheld braced, Cortex app.
Charleston_Downtown43_s.jpg

WOW! I want a new iPHone now.
 
Great images Dale and after seeing them I've bought the app for my 6+. Running tests in my sitting room against pro cam and procamera, two apps I fall back on and use regularly with the iPhone, the cortex cam is so noise free. Can't wait to use it in the daylight.
Look at the white table edge

Sooc
Procamera
image.jpeg


Cortex cam
image.jpeg


Ben
 
Great images Dale and after seeing them I've bought the app for my 6+. Running tests in my sitting room against pro cam and procamera, two apps I fall back on and use regularly with the iPhone, the cortex cam is so noise free. Can't wait to use it in the daylight.
Look at the white table edge

Sooc

Cortex cam
Ben

Yes - that's the part that amazed me, that I can do a little more or better sharpening of the Cortex's images, being so low in noise. One thing that always bugged me on night photos is where the overall image is preponderantly dark, the noise becomes very noticeable, and the app pulled out a fair amount of detail on my bridge pic with the wispy fog above. But I did another last night where the overall lighting was much better (but the bridge supports were lit the same), and the noise is not an issue at all. I'll post that later.

I've heard a few people now say that Apple should make a real camera that's not a phone, and if they could make a lens proportionately larger for, say, an APS-C sensor with quality-per-square-mm equal to their phone, it might sell pretty well.

EDIT: Actually, looking inside of the table edges, the difference is dramatic.
 
This was a tough shot - I had to skew just the figure on the right since the perspective was off there. My LED lamp light source is only 60w equivalent and was 4 ft distant, but the image was overexposed. I suppose the camera was fooled by the white LED light and missed the correct exposure, but I think it's the Apple software making that mistake, not Cortex. The figurines are sitting on a Macbook (aluminum case).

iPhone 6s-plus, Cortex camera app, tripod, LED lamp.
Catholic_Figures01_s.jpg
 
In this exposure, the flags are slightly blurred from blowing in the breeze. I made a perspective correction for distortion, but it seems to have survived that very well. There were no other edits for sharpness, color, etc.

iPhone 6s-plus, Cortex app, tripod.
Charleston_Downtown44_s.jpg
 
image.jpeg
Another beautiful detailed image Dale. Here's one from me today taking coffee. Hand held and Image cropped by 50% to remove vast table foreground to 16:9. Converted to b/w, and no other edits. Slight blur from women's hand.
Am I enjoying this app:)
 
Last edited:
View attachment 25341 Another beautiful detailed image Dale. Here's one from me today taking coffee. Hand held and Image cropped by 50% to remove vast table foreground to 16:9. Converted to b/w, and no other edits. Slight blur from women's hand. Am I enjoying this app:)

That's amazing - cropped that much and still looks like the real deal. I like the expressions on the couple in the foreground - I could easily write a caption for that one.
 
Back
Top