By Jon Fingas, Engadget
The iPhone XR
can take some quality portrait mode photos with its single camera, but
there's a catch: for now, its reliance on software-based object
detection limits it to photos of people. You might have more flexibility
before long. The developers of the camera app Halide have found
enough available depth data to snap portrait shots of non-human
objects, starting with pets. The depth map is crude and could lead to
more "temperamental" photography than with the iPhone XS'
dual cameras, particularly in situations where there's not enough
difference between the foreground and background. However, it's at least
"usable."
It's not certain when you'll have the option of
capturing these portraits with Halide, but this should open the door to
taking portraits with other apps as well. It's also a reminder that
Apple's own approach isn't necessarily set in stone and could change
through software, even if it's unlikely to have the XS' sheer
flexibility any time soon.
COMMENTS