Other iPhone 12 or Mini People: how are your macro shots?

[johnnylarue]

Hey folks,

Some of us 12 Pro and (especially) 12 Pro Max users are unpleasantly surprised by the downgrade in close-focusing ability of the Wide lens in our new phones: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-12-pro-camera-cannot-focus-up-close.2263511/

I’m hoping to settle a question people have regarding the minimum focus distance of the 12 and Mini. Could anyone with one of these phones and any older gen iPhone from the past 6-7 years compare how close you can get to a subject before the camera loses its ability to focus?

For reference, my previous iPhones (5S, 6S, 7+) are all able to focus on a subject about 2 inches away, whereas my 12 Pro needs to be at least 3 inches from a subject to lock in. 12 Pro Max users have found their new cams need about 4.5 inches of distance in order to focus.

So the point of this thread is to determine, once and for all, whether the non-Pro phones might be better suited to Macro shots than the Pro phones this year. Thanks in advance for humouring this trifling concern. 🙏🤓🙏

 

[DumbPhone]

mini 3 inch zoom 5x...ratio zoom close think good mini...iff want more close take pic & more zoom...kaa

 

[johnnylarue]

mini 3 inch zoom 5x... iff want more close take pic & more zoom...kaa

Given that it’s allegedly the same Wide lens as the 12 Pro, that checks out. Thx for your input. 👍

 

[motorazr]

I’ve been struggling with the 12 pm distance. Already tried to use it to view a macro detail and gave up without knowing it’s a new limitation.

 

[johnnylarue]

I’ve been struggling with the 12 pm distance. Already tried to use it to view a macro detail and gave up without knowing it’s a new limitation.

Yeah, 4.5” is really not ideal for macro photography. Seems like Apple are intending for us to use digital zoom to get in close now, unfortunately. For some reason this bit of data failed to make it into the keynote... 🤔

 

[lordhamster]

Yeah, 4.5” is really not ideal for macro photography. Seems like Apple are intending for us to use digital zoom to get in close now, unfortunately. For some reason this bit of data failed to make it into the keynote... 🤔

Well in fairness the keynote was already long and packed with way more techie details than anyone needed. Had they gone into the physics of lenses, focal lengths and sensors... I'd have fallen asleep.

 

[firoze]

Yeah, 4.5” is really not ideal for macro photography. Seems like Apple are intending for us to use digital zoom to get in close now, unfortunately. For some reason this bit of data failed to make it into the keynote... 🤔

This is a serious limitation in the 12PM, so Apple should have listed the minimum focusing distances for all 12 series cameras in order to avoid confusion and uncertainty among users. I am sure there are some 12PM owners who would not have bought the phone had they known about this limitation.