Apple introduced High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography along with the iPhone 4 and iOS 4. HDR will automatically produce improved camera shots by combining three camera shots into one image. The HDR setting in the Camera app remains in iOS 5 and the new iPhone 4S.
That isn’t necessarily a good thing if you are prone to using the camera in your iPhone and HDR a lot, because HDR produces two images which are stored on your camera roll: the original and the HDR enhanced one. If your device has limited storage space this could start to be a problem.
If you have an iPhone 4S the images produced by the 8 Megapixel camera are larger than the ones produced on the iPhone 4 or iPhone 3Gs. Luckily there is a way for you to force the Camera app to only save the HDR image.
- Launch the Settings Apps
- Tap on Photos
- Locate Keep Normal Photo and set it to Off
Now when you take photos using HDR only the enhanced HDR image will stay on your camera roll. The normal photo is discarded.
You’ll be saving a lot of storage space and reducing clutter on your iPhone with this tip.
David W. Martin has more than 20 years of experience in the industry as a programmer, systems and business analyst, author, and consultant. David has written for CNET’s iPhoneatlas.com, MacLife.com, CultofMac.com, BYTE.com and recently for aNewDoman.net. He comes to Cult of Mac’s website with deep knowledge and passion for the all things Apple. Follow David on Twitter @david_w_martin or see what he’s up to now at davidwmartin.com.
15 responses to “Use HDR And Save Space On Your Camera Roll At The Same Time [iOS Tips]”
Which would be a good thing if it were possible to use HDR to shoot moving objects without massive ghosting issues.
But depending on the situation, HDR doesn’t always improve the image, and the original may be better.
Really? Slow news day?
What a terrible suggestion. You should be ashamed of yourself for suggesting to automatically discard normal photos. The heck is wrong with you?
Next on COM, a step by step guide of how to turn your iPhone on!
It would be great to know if this is still a problem for 4S? Because of this ghosting I stopped using HDR on my iPhone 4 altogether.
Seriously, a terrible idea. Every time I use HDR mode, I compare the original to the HDR version. I’d say the HDR version is better no more than 10% of the time. Often overlapped pixels, other defects, and general over-exposure. It’s good in very limited circumstances only, such as back-lit profiles.