iPhone 4S camera: 8 MP, f/2.4, face detection, & more

Apple has announced that the new iPhone 4S, set to be released on October 14, is equipped with an 8-megapixel camera - well, that's what people keep referring to it as, anyway. In fact, this camera is so much more than a simple 8 MP camera; Apple sums it up great as:

The you-can’t-believe-it’s-on-a-phone camera.

The biggest thing that wowed me about the iPhone 4S camera is that it is equipped with an f/2.8 lens. This has many great benefits:

• The aperture will open wider, allowing more light to hit the sensors which means better, brighter photos.
• The shutter will be able to move faster, ensuring that those action shots are crisp and lacking of blur.
• Even in dark, low-lit environments, you will be able to capture photos without using a flash.

This lens, combined with the A5 processor chip and it's digital signal processor, will allow you to snap photos with virtually no shutter lag (Apple says 1.1 seconds for the first picture, less for subsequent pictures). With the additional added feature from iOS 5 that gives quick camera access to the lock screen, you can say goodbye to missed moments.

Another great feature of the iPhone 4S camera is face detection. This isn't new to point-and-shoot cameras, so it's definitely a welcomed addition to the iPhone. When taking a portrait or group shot, the camera will focus on the most prominent face and balance exposure across up to 10 faces.

Some other improvements to the camera include a hybrid infrared filter and advanced algorithms in iOS 5 for even more color accuracy, better white balance, and greater dynamic range.

In my opinion, the least exciting thing about this camera is the bump to 8-megapixels. However, it is nice to know that I'll be able to get decent 8"x10" prints from the iPhone 4S camera or crop them down without causing too much damage to the final image.

I hate to say it, but for the average user, the iPhone 4S's camera will, in many ways, be better than most DSLR cameras equipped with a kit lens.

Hit the link below to check out the sample photos on Apple's website. They're stunning.

Source: Apple