AVCaptureSession settings of Low, Medium and High, what res do they each represent?

Question

My app records videos, and I use settings to set the quality to record at. I was wondering if anybody knows what resolution they each represent?

Low seems to be tiny and pretty worthless.

While high seems to be really high res and file sizes of these recordings are quite high.

if (appDelegate.vidRes == 1)
{
    NSLog(@"******   >>>>> SETTING VIDEO RES TO LOW <<<<<   *******");
    [session setSessionPreset: AVCaptureSessionPresetLow];
}
else if (appDelegate.vidRes == 2)
{
    NSLog(@"******   >>>>> SETTING VIDEO RES TO MED <<<<<   *******");
    [session setSessionPreset: AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium];
}
else
{
    NSLog(@"******   >>>>> SETTING VIDEO RES TO HIGH <<<<<   *******");
    [session setSessionPreset: AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh];
}

I would like to find some nice alternatives to Low, which is too low quality. And High which is too high quality.

score 27 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:16

Preset                          3G       3GS    4 back      4 front

AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh    400x304  640x480  1280x720    640x480
AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium  400x304  480x360  480x360     480x360
AVCaptureSessionPresetLow     400x306  192x144  192x144     192x144
AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480   NA     640x480  640x480     640x480
AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720  NA       NA     1280x720    NA
AVCaptureSessionPresetPhoto     NA       NA     NA          NA

Source: http://cmgresearch.blogspot.com/2010/10/augmented-reality-on-iphone-with-ios40.html

The following table includes newer devices, source is Method to find device's camera resolution iOS

+-----------------------+--------------+---------------------------------+---------------+
|        Device         |    Camera    |     AVCaptureSessionPreset      |  Resolution   |
+-----------------------+--------------+---------------------------------+---------------+
| iPhone 4S             | FRONT        |                                 |               |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetPhoto     | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh      | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium    | 480x360       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetLow       | 192x144       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480   | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720  | not supported |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1920x1080 | not supported |
|                       | BACK         |                                 |               |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetPhoto     | 3264x2448     |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh      | 1920x1080     |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium    | 480x360       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetLow       | 192x144       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480   | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720  | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1920x1080 | 1920x1080     |
+-----------------------+--------------+---------------------------------+---------------+
| iPhone 5/5C/5S/6/6+   |              |                                 |               |
|                       | FRONT        |                                 |               |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetPhoto     | 1280x960      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh      | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium    | 480x360       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetLow       | 192x144       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480   | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720  | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1920x1080 | not supported |
|                       | BACK         |                                 |               |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetPhoto     | 3264x2448     |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh      | 1920x1080     |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium    | 480x360       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetLow       | 192x144       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480   | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720  | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1920x1080 | 1920x1080     |
+-----------------------+--------------+---------------------------------+---------------+
| iPhone 6S/6S          |              |                                 |               |
|                       | FRONT camera |                                 |               |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetPhoto     | 1280x960      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh      | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium    | 480x360       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetLow       | 192x144       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480   | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720  | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1920x1080 | not supported |
|                       | BACK camera  |                                 |               |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetPhoto     | 4032x3024     |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh      | 1920x1080     |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium    | 480x360       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetLow       | 192x144       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480   | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720  | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1920x1080 | 1920x1080     |
+-----------------------+--------------+---------------------------------+---------------+
| iPad 2                |              |                                 |               |
|                       | FRONT        |                                 |               |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetPhoto     | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh      | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium    | 480x360       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetLow       | 192x144       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480   | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720  | not supported |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1920x1080 | not supported |
|                       | BACK         |                                 |               |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetPhoto     | 960x720       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh      | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium    | 480x360       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetLow       | 192x144       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480   | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720  | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1920x1080 | not supported |
+-----------------------+--------------+---------------------------------+---------------+
| iPad 3                |              |                                 |               |
|                       | FRONT        |                                 |               |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetPhoto     | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh      | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium    | 480x360       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetLow       | 192x144       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480   | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720  | not supported |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1920x1080 | not supported |
|                       | BACK         |                                 |               |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetPhoto     | 2592x1936     |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh      | 1920x1080     |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium    | 480x360       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetLow       | 192x144       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480   | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720  | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1920x1080 | 1920x1080     |
+-----------------------+--------------+---------------------------------+---------------+
| iPad 4/Air            |              |                                 |               |
| iPad Mini 1/2/3       |              |                                 |               |
| iPod 5G               |              |                                 |               |
|                       | FRONT        |                                 |               |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetPhoto     | 1280x960      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh      | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium    | 480x360       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetLow       | 192x144       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480   | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720  | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1920x1080 | not supported |
|                       | BACK         |                                 |               |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetPhoto     | 2592x1936     |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh      | 1920x1080     |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium    | 480x360       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetLow       | 192x144       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480   | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720  | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1920x1080 | 1920x1080     |
+-----------------------+--------------+---------------------------------+---------------+
| iPad Air 2            |              |                                 |               |
| iPad Mini 4           |              |                                 |               |
| iPad Pro              |              |                                 |               |
|                       | FRONT        |                                 |               |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetPhoto     | 1280x960      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh      | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium    | 480x360       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetLow       | 192x144       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480   | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720  | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1920x1080 | not supported |
|                       | BACK         |                                 |               |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetPhoto     | 3264x2448     |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh      | 1920x1080     |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium    | 480x360       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetLow       | 192x144       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480   | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720  | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1920x1080 | 1920x1080     |
+-----------------------+--------------+---------------------------------+---------------+
| iPod Touch 5          |              |                                 |               |
|                       | FRONT        |                                 |               |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetPhoto     | 1280x960      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh      | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium    | 480x360       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetLow       | 192x144       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480   | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720  | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1920x1080 | not supported |
|                       | BACK         |                                 |               |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetPhoto     | 2592x1936     |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh      | 1920x1080     |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium    | 480x360       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetLow       | 192x144       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480   | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720  | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1920x1080 | 1920x1080     |
+-----------------------+--------------+---------------------------------+---------------+
| iPod Touch 6          |              |                                 |               |
|                       | FRONT        |                                 |               |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetPhoto     | 1280x960      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh      | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium    | 480x360       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetLow       | 192x144       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480   | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720  | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1920x1080 | not supported |
|                       | BACK         |                                 |               |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetPhoto     | 3264x2448     |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh      | 1920x1080     |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetMedium    | 480x360       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPresetLow       | 192x144       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset640x480   | 640x480       |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720  | 1280x720      |
|                       |              | AVCaptureSessionPreset1920x1080 | 1920x1080     |
+-----------------------+--------------+---------------------------------+---------------+

To set your own resolution, you'll have to log the data in AVCaptureSessionPreset, check what kind of class is it and how to simulate such data, then type in the data yourself.

AVCaptureSession settings of Low, Medium and High, what res do they each represent?

1 Answers1