Apple iPhone 3G S Digital Camera Digital Camera Review

Apple iPhone 3G S Digital Camera

Digital Camera Review

2.7 The Apple iPhone 3G S adds some significant under-the-hood improvements, including an updated three-megapixel image sensor with autofocus and video recording. The camera performed well in color accuracy and resolution, but we disliked the shortage of controls.
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Color  
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Color Accuracy (9.48)


For color accuracy, the iPhone 3G S performed decently, but struggled with reds and blues. To test how accurately the camera recorded color, we photographed the X-Rite ColorChecker chart under 3000 lux illumination, and used Imatest software to analyze how far the recorded image deviated from the known values. Click here for more on how we test color

The chart below shows the colors that the cameras recorded, which can be compared to the ideal.

  Camera Color Comparisons
  x x x x x
  Ideal Apple iPhone
3G S
Apple iPhone 3G Apple iPhone Sony T900
Dark Skin x x x x x
Light Skin x x x x x
Blue Sky x x x x x
  x x x x x
  Ideal Apple iPhone
3G S
Apple iPhone 3G Apple iPhone Sony T900
Foliage x x x x x
Blue Flower x x x x x
Bluish Green x x x x x
  x x x x x
  Ideal Apple iPhone
3G S
Apple iPhone 3G Apple iPhone Sony T900
Orange x x x x x
Purplish Blue x x x x x
Moderate Red x x x x x
  x x x x x
  Ideal Apple iPhone
3G S
Apple iPhone 3G Apple iPhone Sony T900
Purple x x x x x
Yellow Green x x x x x
Orange Yellow x x x x x
  x x x x x
  Ideal Apple iPhone
3G S
Apple iPhone 3G Apple iPhone Sony T900
Blue x x x x x
Green x x x x x
Red x x x x x
  x x x x x
  Ideal Apple iPhone
3G S
Apple iPhone 3G Apple iPhone Sony T900
Yellow x x x x x
Magenta x x x x x
Cyan x x x x x

NOTE: Because of the way computer monitors reproduce colors, the images above do not exactly match the originals found on the chart or in the captured images. The chart should be used to judge the relative color shift, not the absolute captured colors. 

Color Score Comparisons
x

Compared to the other generations of iPhone, the 3G S is slightly worse than the 3G for color accuracy, slightly better than the original, and they all pale in comparison to an actual camera.

Color Modes (3.00)


The iPhone 3G S doesn't offer any different color modes, so you're stuck in the default for everything. Luckily, it's relatively accurate. 

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