iPhone 14 Pro 14 Pro(Max) Camera Downgrade

[MrAperture]

Here is another one complaining.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1573114142277476352

Technically aside, the people in this thread who claim not to have noticed any degradation are either lucky or want notice. I now have enough proof that it‘s not just my phone. Thanks for that!

Isn’t night mode not turning on because most of the person’s subject matter includes so much bright white (plate)?

 

[JayB0219]

Isn’t night mode not turning on because most of the person’s subject matter includes so much bright white (plate)?

That and the fact that the sensor is larger meaning night mode will not activate as often as the on the 13. It can gather enough light without using night mode compared to the 13.

 

[nemofish]

That and the fact that the sensor is larger meaning night mode will not activate as often as the on the 13. It can gather enough light without using night mode compared to the 13.

Yeah but that clearly isn't enough light. Night mode on iPhones very wonky.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1573347686257987586

 

[virginblue4]

1, non-ProRAW output has always been ****** on all (less than about 8-9-year-old) iPhones - oversharpened mess. ALWAYS use ProRAW even if you only shoot 12Mpixels.
2, the 48 Mpixel mode, assuming constrasty subject and not extreme corners, indeed delivers VASTLY higher-res images even when just exported to HEIC or JPEG, even in batch mode, with MacOS' built-in, free Preview app.
3, low-light video performance is TONS better than previous iterations. I myself compared it to that of the iP11 (see my thread) and there's simply no contest.

Do you recommend shooting in ProRAW (even 12 MP) if you have no experience editing? I just want fairly decent shots straight from my iPhone that I can share with family members.

I’m not against learning, but right now just want good shots straight from the camera. So switch to ProRAW?

 

[The Game 161]

Yeah but that clearly isn't enough light. Night mode on iPhones very wonky.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1573347686257987586

issue is in night mode the shadows are still crushed even on the 14 pro series. it does night mode well but when it does this thats where it hurts the image

 

[Alfieg]

Pretty sure I’ve narrowed my issues down to just not liking the new image processing.

An image looks great through the camera, then you take it, still looks great and then the processing kicks in - yuck! Hugely over processed to the point of looking unreal - horrible over sharpening and a grey-contrast that makes photos look cold and metallic, even with a warm style set.

What were Apple thinking?

 

[nemofish]

Do you recommend shooting in ProRAW (even 12 MP) if you have no experience editing? I just want fairly decent shots straight from my iPhone that I can share with family members.

I’m not against learning, but right now just want good shots straight from the camera. So switch to ProRAW?

If all you're doing on the iPhone is viewing images on-screen or posting on Instagram, the photos are generally fine.

However if you care about photography, in terms of printing or capturing fine details you're better off with a phone that has a good camera & processing, such as a Pixel or shooting in 48mp and taking the time to edit, but these differences aren't noticeable at screen-size.

 

[naturalguy]

The camera is a big upgrade coming from the 12PM

 

[nemofish]

The camera is a big upgrade coming from the 12PM

It's no different, even to the 11pro.

 

[MrAperture]

It's no different, even to the 11pro.

It’s clear that you prefer Google’s image processing over Apple’s.

 

[golfnut1982]

No camera is perfect for everyone. Fine results from iPhone 14 Pro here. Fair camera test comparison between the 13 Pro and 14 Pro.

 

[nemofish]

It’s clear that you prefer Google’s image processing over Apple’s.

Google's camera / processing is superior, but that's not what's being discussed, is it?

You said the 14p camera is a "big upgrade" from the 12p - I said it wasn't.

Here are some samples, shot in low light; in what way is this a big upgrade exactly?

 

[naturalguy]

It's no different, even to the 11pro.

It’s a lot different, I am guessing you don’t have the 14

 

[nemofish]

It’s a lot different, I am guessing you don’t have the 14

Have 11p, 12 and 14p. 14p is being returned.

Instead of blindly saying it's better why not demonstrate the differences - or maybe tell us which of the 3 images I posted was taken with a 12 and which is the 13? If it's that big a difference, it should be easy, no?

 

[The Game 161]

Comparing photos based off one example is never a good idea. Where iphone has improved from two years old iphones is more in overall detail and sharpness of objects that are close up. photos of people are a massive difference and so is overall colours being sharper. to say there's no difference from 11 pro is flat out wrong.

Where iphones has stayed the same or worse is in crushed shadows, HDR and overall blowing out skies which 11 pro and older never did. so i would say the overall apple image processing has gone backwards in that regard.

 

[nemofish]

Comparing photos based off one example is never a good idea. Where iphone has improved from two years old iphones is more in overall detail and sharpness of objects that are close up. photos of people are a massive difference and so is overall colours being sharper. to say there's no difference from 11 pro is flat out wrong.

Where iphones has stayed the same or worse is in crushed shadows, HDR and overall blowing out skies which 11 pro and older never did. so i would say the overall apple image processing has gone backwards in that regard.

Comparing photos in a controlled studio environment under various lighting condition is actually THE way to compare sensor and lens performance.

How many examples do you want? Here's another and the same question applies - where are the significant diferences and upgrades here? This is indoor low light. If the differences are ' a lot; which is the 14 and why?

 

[Alfieg]

Oh god, this is so bad! I can’t take photos in low light at short distance any more AT ALL. It’s a disaster.

This camera is many, many times worse than the 13 Pro it replaces. I can’t enjoy taking photos anymore.

 

[Alfieg]

Why does it switch to horribleness at 40cm away when it didn’t on the 13 Pro?

 

[nemofish]

Why does it switch to horribleness at 40cm away when it didn’t on the 13 Pro?

Because Apple changed the minimum focus distance from 5.9” to 7.8” in their wisdom.

 

[nemofish]

It’s a lot different, I am guessing you don’t have the 14

Guessing you don't have anything to support this claim then.. LOL

 

[sasha_]

It seems that the camera on the 14 Pro got worse imo. Processing is not the same as it was on the 13 Pro. This review is not in English, but it's clear without comments, that something has changed in processing, especially in portraits. Skin is more contrasty and grey, with the darker shadows and brighter highlights now, in some cases colors look dirty, because of the grey tint. I hope they will fix it in updates..

 

[baking soda]

It seems that the camera on the 14 Pro got worse imo. Processing is not the same as it was on the 13 Pro. This review is not in English, but it's clear without comments, that something has changed in processing, especially in portraits. Skin is more contrasty and grey, with the darker shadows and brighter highlights now, in some cases colors look dirty, because of the grey tint. I hope they will fix it in updates..

Wow. After watching this, I'm definitely considering returning the 14 Pro to get a used 13 Pro. Will pretty much save €800 and I'll get the exact same phone lol. Shame on you Apple

 

[sasha_]

Yeah! I had hopes for 14 pro and just waited, didn't get 13 pro, been ready to get 14 pro even if the camera remain almost the same as in 13 pro, hoping for the same great processing with 48MP, but it's just got worse?? When I watch comparisons I low-key feel vibes of my old 6s, which tends to make high contrast photos with poor hdr and dark unnatural shadows.. It's not so noticeable in landscape or stills photography, but in portraits and selfies it's a pretty big change imo. (Here are some Samsung vs Iphone
examples, Samsung looks more soft while iphone 14 pro is contrasty.) As for landscapes and stills oversharpening is just crazy in some cases

 

[Fat_Guy]

There is no way that the 13 mini can out perform the 14 pro / pro max in image quality. The quad pixel binning and the much larger sensor of tge 14 pro is superior to the 13 mini. The mini doesn’t even perform as well as the 13 pro as it has an even smaller sensor, 47% smaller in fact than the 13 pro main camera. The mini may be using using some of the iPhone 12 Pro camera hardware. I’ve been a photographer for a long time and if you have questions about how to best set up the 14 Pro camera, I can help if you are interested…

If you are comparing night mode images, there are ways to expose longer:
Are your night mode shots adjusted to the maximum exposure time or just default at 3-5 seconds? On a tripod, the iPhone will take a 30” exposure if it’s dark enough, 10” handheld. I’m just wondering if you are maximizing the exposure.

I’ve only had mine (14 Pro Max) for a day and only using the stock app and not even Halide.


Images look similar to my 12 Pro Max but I’m just snapping photos to make sure the hardware isn’t buggered. Funny thing is that the camera for me is all about the video which Apple does best. The flaring seems a bit more muted but not sure yet. Why Apple just doesn’t go to Lecia and fix it forever is beyond me.


People bitch about photos looking like oil paintings last year so Apple gives us over-sharpened photos this year - you can’t win. All this could be fixed with third party apps but I’m too chicken to try it out with a phone that so far has no issues right now.

 

[naturalguy]

Have 11p, 12 and 14p. 14p is being returned.

Instead of blindly saying it's better why not demonstrate the differences - or maybe tell us which of the 3 images I posted was taken with a 12 and which is the 13? If it's that big a difference, it should be easy, no?

I would have to take the exact same picture with both phones, I don’t have my 12PM anymore as I had to trade it back in. I use my phone heavily to run a business and rely on pictures and a lot of video for our content and it’s much better than the 12 especially up close which my 12 couldn’t even focus and it’s better in low light.