Troubleshooting the iSight (#4): Improving brightness

After receiving a number of complaints for the brightness and clarity of the iSight's capture stream (which we have found to be more than acceptable in-house), we now have some tips for improving the image.

One MacFixIt reader in the photography industry writes:

"If the iSight user is staring into a dark corner, and isn't properly lit, no matter how wide the lens opens to, the main subject matter (the person) can be too dark.

"Automatic apertures average all the light coming into a lens, and from that info, guess the best exposure. There is no way for the device (camera, video camera, iSight) to 'know' that the person is what is supposed to be lit properly."

The key solution seems to be providing more light on the subject. This can be provided with another light as simple as a desk lamp closer to the subject.

Tom Hughes writes "Most digital image sensors in still or video cameras can provide brighter images by increasing the gain but the downside to that is a much grainer, less pleasing picture. Anyone who has visited a television studio will quickly notice how intense the light level is even when they are using the very best cameras."

Also, try to never have a window or a lit lamp in the field of view.

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