iPhone 14 Pro 14 Pro(Max) Camera Downgrade

[Menneisyys2]

As for landscapes and stills oversharpening is just crazy in some cases

do.not.use.non-ProRAW.formats

 

[Menneisyys2]

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?

Definitely. No editing skills needed - just open the images in Preview, mass-select them and select File > Export. That's all. And it'll deliver FAR better images even at 12 Mpixel "only" than the default HEIC / JPG output of the iPhone because of the lack of oversharpening.

 

[jm31828]

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.

Is it noticeable if say, you transfer the picture over to a computer screen- but do not zoom in to pixel peep? I am trying to determine if 12 mp ProRaw from a 13 Pro would really look that much worse than the 48 mp ProRaw images from a 14 Pro, again if only viewing on a computer screen in that 25%- 40% size, without blowing up to 100%. (I never do that even with images from my DSLR)

 

[Alfieg]

The thing I can’t get past is that it switches focal length constantly at anywhere between 30 and 90 cm from the subject. It seems random and ruins half my photos.

Is it just me? I’ll try and capture a screen recording to demonstrate.

Was not an issue on my 13 Pro

 

[gtg465x]

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?

For both of your posts, the bottom photo looks the best. Least compression artifacts, noise, and aliasing, most detail. Which is which, and what format were they taken in?

 

[YaBoiD]

Has anyone noticed any additional battery drain while shooting on their 14 Pro Max’s camera compared to the 13 Pro Max?

 

[nemofish]

For both of your posts, the bottom photo looks the best. Least compression artifacts, noise, and aliasing, most detail. Which is which, and what format were they taken in?

Bottom is in fact iPhone 11 Pro Max...

Just goes to show..

 

[nemofish]

Is it noticeable if say, you transfer the picture over to a computer screen- but do not zoom in to pixel peep? I am trying to determine if 12 mp ProRaw from a 13 Pro would really look that much worse than the 48 mp ProRaw images from a 14 Pro, again if only viewing on a computer screen in that 25%- 40% size, without blowing up to 100%. (I never do that even with images from my DSLR)

No.

Best camera for that is iPhone 11 series as it doesn't suffer from Apple's aggressive processing.

 

[nemofish]

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.

Well yeah 13p had a macro lens so macro is noticeably better because there was no macro mode on 11 series; likes with night photo

But still sensor and main camera unchanged.

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..

To be fair, the grey is more lifelike and less processed - that is actually better on the 14 - not worse.

 

[gtg465x]

Bottom is in fact iPhone 11 Pro Max...

Just goes to show..

Oh, well of course, the 14 Pro Max was not shot at 48 MP. My 14 Pro Max at 48 MP provides a LOT more detail than my 12 Pro Max at 12 MP, but sure, if you shoot both at 12 MP, there isn't much difference.

 

[Fat_Guy]

If you don’t want huge files pay for Halide and shoot full 48mp but end up with a superior 17mb or so file.


The new flash is in another universe than any iPhone before - but hardly anyone talks about it.



Front selfie is another improvement.



Just toying with the thing now.

 

[macfan2023]

While Apple has touted the better iPhone 14 pro cameras, I noticed that the maximum aperture for the main camera has actually been downgraded compared to the 13 pro. It has gone from a max aperture of f1.5 to f1.78. Even the 12 and 13 non-pros have a larger max aperture at f1.6. I appreciate that there are probably physical limitations to a larger aperture given there is now a larger 48 megapixel sensor (and the lenses are already rather… substantial…)

This could have an impact on a) low light shots and b) isolating the foreground when going for the background blur look. Its a similar story with the ultra-wide lens, though not with the telephoto. Probably not an issue for most users and low impact in day-to-day use - but maybe something for the ‘pro’ users to be aware of.

Get yourself a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Best phone ever made, especially for camera. There's this director's mode where you can use front and back cameras essnetially recording picture in picture. It records in 8k pretty well. The 105MP camera ... man. The front facing camera is 45MP... that's the MP of the iPhone 14 Pro Max Back camera.

 

[Fat_Guy]

Get yourself a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Best phone ever made, especially for camera. There's this director's mode where you can use front and back cameras essnetially recording picture in picture. It records in 8k pretty well. The 105MP camera ... man. The front facing camera is 45MP... that's the MP of the iPhone 14 Pro Max Back camera.

There is such a thing as the law of dimishing returns…



Obviously Apple is going to bring in 8K. Anyways as I look through the open door of my office I see a wall of DSLRs against grey backdrop (I even have brown and pink) they are mostly Nikon and none of them have 45/105 megapixels.



Anyway, I don’t want to open another debate. Samsung makes some great phones though. A pity they now have that problem of swollen batteries possibly exploding and starting fires - goodnight and pleasant dreams…

 

[naturalguy]

Get yourself a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Best phone ever made, especially for camera. There's this director's mode where you can use front and back cameras essnetially recording picture in picture. It records in 8k pretty well. The 105MP camera ... man. The front facing camera is 45MP... that's the MP of the iPhone 14 Pro Max Back camera.

I was hardcore Samsung before I made the switch to iPhone, I had many including the Notes and every single one got laggy and buggy after a few months, I ultimately made the switch to iPhone after being so frustrated with Samsung

 

[RRC]

Get yourself a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Best phone ever made, especially for camera. There's this director's mode where you can use front and back cameras essnetially recording picture in picture. It records in 8k pretty well. The 105MP camera ... man. The front facing camera is 45MP... that's the MP of the iPhone 14 Pro Max Back camera.

Megapixels on their own mean nothing… the size and quality of the sensor is what makes an image good quality, all things being equal.

A 12mp camera with a large sensor vs a smaller sensor with 100mp will result in the 12mp image being better. A 45mp front camera sensor is going to be tiny, and as a result is just marketing numbers to gain sales ultimately.

 

[macfan2023]

Megapixels on their own mean nothing… the size and quality of the sensor is what makes an image good quality, all things being equal.

A 12mp camera with a large sensor vs a smaller sensor with 100mp will result in the 12mp image being better. A 45mp front camera sensor is going to be tiny, and as a result is just marketing numbers to gain sales ultimately.

Sure in theory what you are saying is correct, if this was comparing to an DSLR which is a lot bigger lens. But smart phone lenses this theory doesn't really hold, so actually my friend, you are joked by the opposite "marketing." It's what Apple wants you to believe. Go get an Ultra S21 and you'll see. Especially the zoom. Oh by the way Samsung did a software update on their night pictures, it now looks way better than iPhone 14. The reason I'm buying an iPhone this year is the S22 and S23 Ultra looks ugly. I love Apple's macbooks, but the phones are in many many ways, as you probably already know, years behind android. But since it's so cheap just $1100, no biggie. If I don't like it I'll just give it to my mom or something.

 

[macfan2023]

I was hardcore Samsung before I made the switch to iPhone, I had many including the Notes and every single one got laggy and buggy after a few months, I ultimately made the switch to iPhone after being so frustrated with Samsung

Eh every phone has their pros and cons. But I am very happy with my S21 Ultra. Especially the camera. I ordered iphone 14 pro max i guess because i got bored after years of using samsung. I don't like the Note either, it's so ugly.

 

[Saturn1217]

This thread is making me very sad. I remember reading about issues with the processing of the iPhone 13 Pro Max photos and thinking: it can’t be that bad. This is an iPhone. Must just be nitpicking from photo snobs.

But it IS that bad. I’ve downloaded Halide to somewhat mitigate it but it doesn’t change the fact that getting nice photos of my daughter in our living room is WAY more difficult with my iPhone than my old pixel 3 XL.

I am a recent switcher. I’ve been able to adapt to literally everything else about going to iPhone. It’s been a great experience. But I don’t know if I want to stay here if Apple is never going to figure out photo processing (for real world indoor situations for non-pro users - ie I should never have to use ProRaw). I was really hoping the iPhone 14 Pro would be better.

 

[Jim McN]

Competition with the new Pixel 7/7 Pro will be really interesting in the photography department. While the camera isn't the only reason why I am buying a phone and I prefer to look at the whole package (system, built, support, apps, features, etc.)

 

[Fat_Guy]

This thread is making me very sad. I remember reading about issues with the processing of the iPhone 13 Pro Max photos and thinking: it can’t be that bad. This is an iPhone. Must just be nitpicking from photo snobs.

But it IS that bad. I’ve downloaded Halide to somewhat mitigate it but it doesn’t change the fact that getting nice photos of my daughter in our living room is WAY more difficult with my iPhone than my old pixel 3 XL.

I am a recent switcher. I’ve been able to adapt to literally everything else about going to iPhone. It’s been a great experience. But I don’t know if I want to stay here if Apple is never going to figure out photo processing (for real world indoor situations for non-pro users - ie I should never have to use ProRaw). I was really hoping the iPhone 14 Pro would be better.

If you like the Apple ecosystem buy an 11 Pro/Max with the battery replaced. I noticed a few rather well known photographers refuse to upgrade from that phone.


Otherwise get a new Pixel as I can’t recommend Samsung until they get their act together their with their batteries.



There are a few dedicated still photograph photographers here but many like me are more video hacks who also do some still photography on the side.



Will the 14 Pro/Max give the best stills of any smartphone through the stock app: No! Can you at least equal most shots from other phones through other apps: Yes! The Pixel is a bit better at portraits and Samsung and the like are better with more optical zoom. I would not use any of them for real commercial work.


The iPhone is all about the video that comes first and the stills are second….

 

[Fat_Guy]

I’ll add one more thing…


Kudos to Apple for reading the tea leaves and putting video as the priority. As you see with TikTok and what’s happening at Instagram, things are headed toward video in the future and that’s what iPhones do best. I just wish Tim wouldn’t be so cheap and actually solve the flaring issue with lenses and coatings like others do (Lecia). Then the iPhone would be perfect for hacks like me…

 

[gtg465x]

Is it noticeable if say, you transfer the picture over to a computer screen- but do not zoom in to pixel peep? I am trying to determine if 12 mp ProRaw from a 13 Pro would really look that much worse than the 48 mp ProRaw images from a 14 Pro, again if only viewing on a computer screen in that 25%- 40% size, without blowing up to 100%. (I never do that even with images from my DSLR)

Viewing 12 MP vs 48 MP photos on my 5K 27 inch iMac without zooming in, there is a difference, but it's pretty small, and the average person probably wouldn't even notice. However, if you crop the photos for any reason (to reframe the shot, or to make them 16x9 to use as your desktop wallpaper), the difference becomes a lot more apparent. I've found that 12 MP iPhone photos basically can't be cropped at all if you want them to still look good on a computer screen, but the 48 MP photos have plenty of room for cropping.

 

[Gator5000e]

So I’m really confused reading this thread. Not a photographer but do like seeing decent looking pictures. The pictures I’ve taken with the 14P seem much more grainy and less sharp? than the 13P. Especially if you zoom in on a shot.

So what are the best or recommended settings in order to take decent looking pictures with the 14P?

Thanks.

 

[AmazingTechGeek]

Samples? I need to see samples to see what’s going on in order to help you. My photos don’t come out horrible at all and they are much improved over the 13 pro. So why is it that I get fantastic photos and everybody else doesn’t? It’s either a setting or a technique issue.

The hardware to keep the OIS balance can break on iPhones. My 11 Pro and 13 Pro Max suffered this and pics looked over sharper and washed out. OIS would not start working unless I focused on large objects outdoors.

My 12 Pro and 14 Pro Max appear to properly use OIS as I move the phone with small jitters. OIS is always active during autofocus and manual focus (even for subjects up close to 3ft). I get the picture quality as advertised without over sharpening.

(Not using social media apps to take pictures after hearing about the 14 Pro launch issues with Instagram/Snapchat)

 

[ToddH]

The hardware to keep the OIS balance can break on iPhones. My 11 Pro and 13 Pro Max suffered this and pics looked over sharper and washed out. OIS would not start working unless I focused on large objects outdoors.

My 12 Pro and 14 Pro Max appear to properly use OIS as I move the phone with small jitters. OIS is always active during autofocus and manual focus (even for subjects up close to 3ft). I get the picture quality as advertised without over sharpening.

(Not using social media apps to take pictures after hearing about the 14 Pro launch issues with Instagram/Snapchat)

That’s good to know. The OIS quit working on you. I wonder if that happens when the phone is dropped on hard surfaces too often. I see these people testing their phones out with certain cases and throwing them into the air etc. but they don’t realize it damage can occur to the camera system when the iPhone is dropped too many times. i’m not saying that’s what happened with yours. However, I think Apple can probably replace the camera system modules and have them working again properly. But if you don’t have the older phone anymore, it’s not really necessary, I suppose.