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What bugs me most about Pro vs non-Pro models is that they don't enable you to take macro shots on the non-Pro models. Even my old Samsung s8 could do those - y

by jcfrei 4y ago

What bugs me most about Pro vs non-Pro models is that they don't enable you to take macro shots on the non-Pro models. Even my old Samsung s8 could do those - yet on lots of newer phones (iphone and android) macro shots are for some reason not possible on the cheaper versions. I'm pretty sure that's not because it requires expensive camera features but because it serves as a way to segregate the market.

tomduncalf 4y ago
The iPhone macro uses the ultra wide angle lens which has huge depth of field and can focus really close, so can get very close to objects. Without the ultra wide angle lens you can’t take what most would define as macro photos. You can still take photos as close as the camera can focus otherwise on other models, I suspect your S8 is doing this but the macro mode locks it to minimum focal length. Macro mode (or anything focal) isn’t something explicitly exposed in the iOS camera app so it would actually be weird to have it there - you take macro photos with the Pro by just moving the phone really close to something, there’s no way to force it. You may like to check out the app Halide, which can force macro focus and will even do its best on non-Pro iPhones (but the results won’t compare without a lens that can focus really close)
- jcfrei 4y ago
  If I remember correctly the iPhone Pro models allow you to enable macro mode in the settings while the non-pro don't. Using different camera apps doesn't help. I've done a hands-on comparison between a Pro and non-Pro model, the difference in close-up shots is staggering.
  - tomduncalf 4y ago
    Yeah, this is because the Pro has the UWA lens which can focus super close whereas the non-Pro does not so all it can do is take a normal photo. It’s a physical restriction of the lens
- Shirt3907 4y ago
  I am curious how the iPhone 14 will perform here. Starting with the iPhone 13 series (actually already the iPhone 12 Pro Max) Apple somewhat crippled the standard camera regarding close-range photos. Closest focus is now around 14cm. All previous models, and most main cameras from all other brands, typically have a closest focus at around 7-10cm. Means the best resolution with the main cam is now about half what it was before... If you regularly need close-range photos with decent resolution, the iPhoneSE 22 will give you far better results than the iPhone 13. Halide will not help you, it seems that it is a hardware limitation. Probably a marketing decision by Apple to promote the UW macro mode of the Pro model.

by jcfrei 4y ago

tomduncalf 4y ago

The iPhone macro uses the ultra wide angle lens which has huge depth of field and can focus really close, so can get very close to objects. Without the ultra wide angle lens you can’t take what most would define as macro photos. You can still take photos as close as the camera can focus otherwise on other models, I suspect your S8 is doing this but the macro mode locks it to minimum focal length. Macro mode (or anything focal) isn’t something explicitly exposed in the iOS camera app so it would actually be weird to have it there - you take macro photos with the Pro by just moving the phone really close to something, there’s no way to force it. You may like to check out the app Halide, which can force macro focus and will even do its best on non-Pro iPhones (but the results won’t compare without a lens that can focus really close)

jcfrei 4y ago
If I remember correctly the iPhone Pro models allow you to enable macro mode in the settings while the non-pro don't. Using different camera apps doesn't help. I've done a hands-on comparison between a Pro and non-Pro model, the difference in close-up shots is staggering.
- tomduncalf 4y ago
  Yeah, this is because the Pro has the UWA lens which can focus super close whereas the non-Pro does not so all it can do is take a normal photo. It’s a physical restriction of the lens
Shirt3907 4y ago
I am curious how the iPhone 14 will perform here. Starting with the iPhone 13 series (actually already the iPhone 12 Pro Max) Apple somewhat crippled the standard camera regarding close-range photos. Closest focus is now around 14cm. All previous models, and most main cameras from all other brands, typically have a closest focus at around 7-10cm. Means the best resolution with the main cam is now about half what it was before... If you regularly need close-range photos with decent resolution, the iPhoneSE 22 will give you far better results than the iPhone 13. Halide will not help you, it seems that it is a hardware limitation. Probably a marketing decision by Apple to promote the UW macro mode of the Pro model.