Apple iPhone 3G S

Low Light Sensitivity (8.38)

We often see good low light sensitivity scores on ultra-compact budget models because the camcorders automatically employ slow shutter speeds in dim light. The iPhone 3G S appears to be no different. The phone needed only 8 lux of light to reach 50 IRE on our waveform monitor, but it did so by using a slow shutter speed of roughly 1/30 of a second. Slow shutters will produce choppy, blurred motion, so we always turn them off for our low light testing when possible. With the iPhone, along with most budget-cams, these slow shutters cannot be disengaged. (More on how we test low light sensitivity.)

Required Illumination *

* the lower the lux required, the better the performance

The Samsung Omnia and Flip UltraHD needed approximately the same amount of light as the iPhone to hit 50 IRE on our waveform monitor. They too made use of slow shutter speeds in low light, however. The Sony MHS-PM1 did horribly in this test and didn't show much improvement when we engaged its slow shutter, low light scene mode.

Low Light Colour (9.24)

The iPhone continued its strong colour performance in our low light testing. The phone managed a colour error of 3.38 in low light, which is actually a slightly better score than it earned in our bright light testing. The phone measured a saturation level of 110% in this test, which is nearly identical to its bright light performance. (More on how we test low light colour.)

Auto Low Light Colour Performance
Colour Test Chart (above), Colour Error Map (right)
The iPhone 3G S produced a colour error of 3.38 and a saturation level of 110% in our low light colour testing. (The map on the right is a diagram of the colour error. The length and direction of each line indicates how the camcorder processed each particular colour.)

The iPhone 3G S was the best low light colour performer in this set. It captured vivid, saturated colours, just like it did in bright light. This time, however, colours were even more accurate. The phone still had the most trouble with red colours and it continued to capture blues and purples with a high level of accuracy (see Colour Error Map above).

Low Light Comparison
iPhone 3G S	Samsung Omnia
Flip UltraHD	Sony MHS-PM1

The Sony MHS-PM1 had the closest colour accuracy to the iPhone 3G S, but it was still nearly a full point behind. It also lacked the saturation that the iPhone's colours had. The Flip UltraHD had pretty good saturation (also 110%), but its image had a slight green/yellow hue in our low light testing.

Low Light Colour Score Comparison

Low Light Noise (11.14)

In our low light testing the noise levels were low on the iPhone 3G S, but they weren't any better than the Flip UltraHD or Samsung Omnia. The Omnia actually scored the best in this test, while the Sony MHS-PM1 was the worst. None of these camcorders or devices had a major problem with noise, however, which is somewhat surprising. (More on how we test low light noise.)

Noise at 60 lux Auto
iPhone 3G S 100% Crop	Samsung Omnia 100% Crop	Flip UltraHD 100% Crop	Sony MHS-PM1 100% Crop

The iPhone 3G S maintained a good deal of sharpness in low light and its image didn't have the discolouration or artefacting that was prominent on the Flip UltraHD (see above). Also notice how much crisper the vertical trumpet on the iPhone is compared to the Samsung Omnia which is completely distorted.

Low Light Noise Score Comparisons