Let’s call a spade a spade: the iPad 2 camera seemed like an afterthought with image quality that barely rivaled the iPhone 3GS — it was hardly usable. But the new iPad camera isn’t a small upgrade. It’s going to start a revolution.
First, here’s what’s new:
Image stabilization is now going to help you keep your images sharp, and will assist you in taking better low-light photos (and videos).
The new infrared filter is the same one Apple uses on the iPhone 4S. This means your colors are going to be more vivid, less washed out, and your iPad will take better videos and photos in daylight. A big upgrade, especially for video.
The new camera module appears to be larger too, and includes a 5 Megapixel sensor. A larger sensor possibly means better low-light performance and less image noise. And with 5 megapixels, your images should now look sharper, crisper, and you could even print a decent 8×10 or a great looking 4×6. iPad is now able to take 1080p video too!
I’m thrilled to see that Apple went with another backside illuminated sensor too, just like in the iPhone 4S. Backside illumination is a technique that improves the sensor’s ability to gather photons, meaning higher image quality overall, and that’s especially so in low-light conditions.
And finally, we now have auto-focus with face-detection.
Okay, great. So the iPad gets a better camera. Is it really a big deal?
Yes.
You now have an amazing camera on the iPad paired with a plethora of powerful editing software available on the app store. You can now record, edit, and upload 1080p videos from one fast, portable, easy-to-use device. The iPad finally allows you to capture powerful images and video, instead of just editing them.
I see parents everywhere using iPads at their kids’ birthday parties. Film makers making movies in HD with an inexpensive new 1080p camera. Grandparents recording and sharing memories of their grandkids. The iPad is one of the most accessible computers in the world, and now it’s able to provide people who aren’t photographers the ability to create beautiful images. People who’ve never recorded a video now have a way to do so, in full HD. And all on a beautiful device that makes sharing your life with others a snap.
I never thought I’d be able to text message with my mom, and then she got an iPad 1. I can only imagine what she’s going to be able to do with this.
