iPhone 16 Pro Max: One Week Camera Review

[Radeon85]

Sod vertical videos, horrible format that should have been discouraged from being used a long time ago. For the next model move the camera closer to the edge so it's more usable in the correct orientation for shooting things with.

As for others uses that was suggested, using it as an app switcher by gently double tapping it outside the camera app to bring up the apps and quickly scroll through them would be very nice. It could still be used as a camera button by pressing it fully when not in the app switcher but it would give it some more useful functionality.

 

[darksoul78644]

The camera app is the buggiest and slowest I have ever seen it. Makes the new camera button useless if the app isn't functioning correctly. I've had sluggish response to controls, a black screen, and crashes.

The software slows down when snapping pics too, makes it feel like the button is slow even though its not.

Yes that’s exactly what I’m talking about. Apple needs to fix lol

 

[lewchenko]

Yes that’s exactly what I’m talking about. Apple needs to fix lol

Reading this thread solidifies my current position of sticking with iOS 17.6.1 on my 13 Pro for a while yet.

If it ain’t broke… never put an iOS X.0 release on your phone !

 

[ManuCH]

I have noticed that when I use landscape using camera control that it kinda lags and when click the picture u have just taken a black square shows up goes away. Is this happening with anyone else or is it just glitchy and needs an update. Ill see if I can take a screenshot

I am seeing the same thing.

Also, sometimes when I click to open the camera app while holding the iPhone in portrait mode and then quickly rotate it to horizontal, the screen will go dark and the phone will go to standby after having opened the camera, as if I had clicked the power button (which I definitely didn't).

 

[JohnC1959]

I am seeing the same thing.

Also, sometimes when I click to open the camera app while holding the iPhone in portrait mode and then quickly rotate it to horizontal, the screen will go dark and the phone will go to standby after having opened the camera, as if I had clicked the power button (which I definitely didn't).

When I do go from the camera to see the photo I took I too see the black block for a second. It slides up from the bottom of the phone to take up about a quarter of the screen then immediately disappears. Not seeing any of the other problems being mentioned.

 

[Baritone_Guy]

“Photographic Styles are a great addition for tweaking the look of an image, and the pad for adjustments is useful to get a unique mood with minimal effort. “

Does this reset itself to the default when the camera is relaunched? I messed with the standard one an want to confirm the default is no adjustment as some of the other styles do have different values as standard.

 

[ManuCH]

“Photographic Styles are a great addition for tweaking the look of an image, and the pad for adjustments is useful to get a unique mood with minimal effort. “

Does this reset itself to the default when the camera is relaunched? I messed with the standard one an want to confirm the default is no adjustment as some of the other styles do have different values as standard.

It depends on what you have set under Settings -> Camera -> Preserve settings. If "Photographic style" is enabled, it will remember what you last used, otherwise it resets.

 

[Downhilltenago]

The camera control button seems perfectly placed for photographers which is who this is aimed at. It isn’t all that much aimed at the basic camera users who likely will just use the camera app the same way they always have.

I would consider myself a basic user. I watched so many YouTube videos talking down on the button and how it isn’t useful. After messing around with it for 5 minutes I was sold. I find it very intuitive and easy to use.

 

[darksoul78644]

Eghhh it’ll be alright

 

[darksoul78644]

When I do go from the camera to see the photo I took I too see the black block for a second. It slides up from the bottom of the phone to take up about a quarter of the screen then immediately disappears. Not seeing any of the other problems being mentioned.

Getting the same thing

 

[whitby]

Camera button location is a compromise and is not perfect for either portrait or landscape mode, however I use my camera in landscape mode for the most part, with the occasional portrait mode for, guess what, portraits. And all videos are in landscape mode, since I have no TVs or computers with portrait mode screens. I delete all videos in portrait mode as unwatchable if I am sent one. The button is functional for me as a shutter button, albeit too far from the corner to be truly easy to use, but the half press and adjust function is way too tricky to use and I end up taking far too many unintentional pictures while trying to access the function change options. I end up using the screen, setting them and then using the shutter button. It will suffice and is better than stabbing at the screen or pressing one of the buttons on the lower edge of the phone. I also set it to use the cameras natively and make sure the digital zoom is disabled. Quality is appalling as the phone crops in for digital zooms.

 

[ikramerica]

One week and I can't use the damn thing. The touchscreen is so glitchy it's basically impossible to comfortably type! This has been by far the worst iPhone experience I have ever had and I've been 'em since 2007!

You got a defective phone. Exchange it.

 

[ikramerica]

Reading this thread solidifies my current position of sticking with iOS 17.6.1 on my 13 Pro for a while yet.

If it ain’t broke… never put an iOS X.0 release on your phone !

Yep. I always try the on iPad first. Not mission critical for me. Granted no longer the same OS, but… It’s the same.

 

[Boeingfan]

Thanks for posting this brief review.

I take a lot of photo's, and agree the button is not in the best location for neither landscape nor portrait photo's, but I'm confident with time I'll get used to it, as with anything new.

The touch and slide features of the button are intriguing, and when you think of what they're trying to achieve, it is pretty remarkable. Given camera's have multiple physical switches, wheels and controls, plus touch screens, getting a similar functionality with a single button and touch screen is quite impressive.

What do I think of the physical button? Well, it has crossed my mind that perhaps I'd have liked it more if it were raised similarly to the other buttons, rather than recessed, though this would bring other issues out such as pocket 'snapping'. God forbid someone should pocket dial and pocket snap! 😁 Moving on...

So, accepting the fact the new camera button is recessed for good reason, though albeit in a slightly awkward location, but being happy to learn and work with the double press and touch/slide capability, I think it's a welcome addition. Obviously there is nothing to stop the user from using the button for landscape shots, and the screen controls for portrait shots.

Perhaps if you find the iPhone moving or shaking when you press the camera button, you could continue with the screen controls, or go to the gym to strengthen that little wrist. Go get 'em.

 

[citysnaps]

I would consider myself a basic user. I watched so many YouTube videos talking down on the button and how it isn’t useful. After messing around with it for 5 minutes I was sold. I find it very intuitive and easy to use.

Same here. It's a great addition!

I think a lot of people who are dissing it, haven't even put in the 5 minutes.

 

[Downhilltenago]

Same here. It's a great addition!

I think a lot of people who are dissing it, haven't even put in the 5 minutes.

Yep. To be fair I think it’s totally fine for someone to use the screen options like they are used to. But the button is useful and when you get used to it, second nature.

 

[hagjohn]

I have a Pro and the button is fine, it just takes the small effort of changing your hand position. Once we get used to using it, people will wonder how we got along without it.

 

[LEStudios]

I rather wait for iPhone 17 Pro Max with 8K recording, three 48 megapixel cameras, 12GB of memory and 2TB of storage.

 

[JohnC1959]

I rather wait for iPhone 17 Pro Max with 8K recording, three 48 megapixel cameras, 12GB of memory and 2TB of storage.

Now that I have the 16 pro (coming from a 13 pro), I'll wait for the 19 pro and get something better than the 17 and even 18 pros.

 

[LEStudios]

Now that I have the 16 pro (coming from a 13 pro), I'll wait for the 19 pro and get something better than the 17 and even 18 pros.

Well I got the iPhone 15 Pro Max in July. I already knew that the iPhone 16 Pro lineup was nothing but a iPhone 15S Pro. 🤣

 

[Allen_Wentz]

I'm a photographer and the placement is really-really bad. Thenagain, there is no good place for both vertical and horizontal. And this is just bad for both.
Also pressing is unnecessarily hard. Changing settings is slow. I can do everything it can and more on the screen at a faster speed.

But the camera quality and photographic styles are amazing.

I too am a photographer, and although on brief analysis IMO the shutter release button probably should be a small bit higher, I consider the placement good, not really-really bad. Apple was probably trying to mimic the UI of compact cameras, and they were successful to a degree, but they mostly failed on button portrait orientation capture, which will often still need to be done the old way (but better thanks to the faster new processor).

Already it is clear to me that I will combine some of both, older-style screen touching and shutter button touching. But it will take weeks not days to develop a new photo workflow that amalgamates usage of the new button with usage of display touching. The new faster CPU does clearly show its value add during photography, and that too will impact my new photo workflow. I am already thrilled by the iP 16 PM's photo capture improvements.

Note that anyone who does not like the new button can simply not use it. Complaining about something new enough that no one has learned it yet that is fully optional to use makes no sense to me.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Well I got the iPhone 15 Pro Max in July. I already knew that the iPhone 16 Pro lineup was nothing but a iPhone 15S Pro. 🤣

I own both the 15 PM and the 16 PM. IMO you are wrong. For me at least the faster processor in the 16 PM is very apparent and (also for me at least) image capture is real-world significantly improved.

 

[Greenmeenie]

I wish the telephoto lens also got a 48 mp sensor, but I guess Apple is saving that for the iPhone 17 pros. 🤔 All in all, a nice little update. Slightly larger screen, slimmer bezels, better battery life & cooling features, 120fps in 4k along with the 48mp ultra wide. Plus A.I. features still to come. I don’t get all the negativity for the 16. Unless Apple comes out with a foldable iPhone, there’s not too much design wise that they can change. Most updates from now on will be more evolutionary than revolutionary. And that’s cool. Most people don’t buy a new iphone EVERY year.

 

[Suicidy]

The camera control button seems perfectly placed for photographers which is who this is aimed at. It isn’t all that much aimed at the basic camera users who likely will just use the camera app the same way they always have.

Now everyone can use the phrase “I’ll fix it in post”.

 

[johaen8]

When I do go from the camera to see the photo I took I too see the black block for a second. It slides up from the bottom of the phone to take up about a quarter of the screen then immediately disappears. Not seeing any of the other problems being mentioned.

I’ve had the same thing. It’s almost like the info screen needs to get out of the way.