iPhone 5 Camera Parts Show No Attached Flash

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Apple.pro has posted photos comparing parts of the iPhone 5 camera components alongside the iPhone 4 camera components. (via 9to5mac) Notably, the iPhone 5 rear camera does not come with an integrated Flash attached to it. This would suggest that the case photo posted earlier today may be accurate, and that the next generation iPhone's camera flash will be located separately from the camera.

Apple.pro offers this photoshop mockup of the camera and flash in separate locations:

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Top Rated Comments

AidenShaw Avatar
193 months ago
People don't realize that if they put the flash off center like that, it will increase side shadow tremendously...

Ideally, you want something like



but it does make it harder to carry your phone.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
193 months ago
Steve my iPhone 4s loses signal when I hold it

"You're holding it wrong..again." -steve jobs
Never heard that joke before.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
193 months ago
Separated flash works better.

I don't know anything about photography, but if moving the flash provides a better picture, hooray for us all.

In dusty environments, it minimizes back-scatter increasing contrast and color saturation. Likewise, keeping the flash separated from the entrance pupil helps minimize red-eye.

It will increase cost since it will make a single module 2 modules and a single large hole 2 smaller holes. Might be why others don't do this and instead simply add MP. Adding MP is literally free and on these small sensors degrades IQ substantially; easily influenced spec miesters, however, don't really care.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AidenShaw Avatar
193 months ago
No way this is the design.. looks like your hand would cover the flash in landscape mode.

You'd quickly learn that you were holding it wrong.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
193 months ago
Steve jobs on the new flash - on stage - black turtleneck..

"so our friends in the industry have been placing the flash close to the lens creating washed out photos. Well we said we can do this better. Well we've been working out butts off on this new flash - looks great - no red eye - no washed out look - we call it - iflash - isn't that great guys?"


And before u say it my friends

Yes it has seams!
Try again
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
baryon Avatar
193 months ago
I don't know anything about photography, but if moving the flash provides a better picture, hooray for us all.
Actually it does, the further away the flash source is from the camera, the better. That's why professional flashes are quite tall and sit high above the camera, or some professionals even use cables to be able to place the flash further away. This allows for more natural shadows, as you rarely have the sun coming from right next to your eyes.

There's nothing wrong with shadows, as they make the subject look more real and less "flat". You get a "flat" effect from flashes due to the fact that the light source is too close to the lens, thus lighting the subject from the center and creating a very thin contour with a sharp shadow, which is very unnatural.

Though the placement of the flash is still very close to the camera, it won't change much. It would need to be 20-30 cm away to for a noticeably better effect, but the iPhone isn't big enough for that :D
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)