iPhone Front vs Rear Camera

[Ambrosia7177]

(Back into the "Shark Tank" for more abuse...)

First off, I am asking questions here, because this seems like a question better suited for photographers...

In general, what is the end visual-difference between using an iPhone's FRONT camera (glass-side) vs. REAR camera (aluminum-side) when shooting PHOTOS or VIDEO??

It seems that most 'experts" encourage you to use the REAR camera because it is a better quality camera?

What is important to me is making things look "normal". (I hate the fisheye look that most selfies and vloggers end up with!!!)

In my case, I am doing close-up talking head videos (in my car) or possibly vlogging-type videos (hand-held) while outside, and I want to get the most natural look that I can get with an iPhone - unless someone wants to buy me a nice new mirrorless camera!! =)

I have both an iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max, and use either the iOS Camera app, or the Cinema P3 Pro camera app.

Thanks!

 

[r.harris1]

The selfie (front) camera is more limited in capabilities in both video and photography and it is a wide set focal length of a bit less than 25mm so “normal” (about 50mm) isn’t in the cards for that one, and there isn’t an optical zoom like the back camera. With the wider field-of-view, you will see some elongation, though try it for yourself to see if it matters for what you are trying to do. While more limited in video functionality, it would probably have you covered in reportage capabilities.

 

[arkitect]

(Back into the "Shark Tank" for more abuse...)

Now be fair. No one is abusing you.
We would all just love to see you get on and get going! 🙂

First off, I am asking questions here, because this seems like a question better suited for photographers...

In general, what is the end visual-difference between using an iPhone's FRONT camera (glass-side) vs. REAR camera (aluminum-side) when shooting PHOTOS or VIDEO??

It seems that most 'experts" encourage you to use the REAR camera because it is a better quality camera?

What is important to me is making things look "normal". (I hate the fisheye look that most selfies and vloggers end up with!!!)

In my case, I am doing close-up talking head videos (in my car) or possibly vlogging-type videos (hand-held) while outside, and I want to get the most natural look that I can get with an iPhone - unless someone wants to buy me a nice new mirrorless camera!! =)

I have both an iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max, and use either the iOS Camera app, or the Cinema P3 Pro camera app.

Thanks!

I have nothing to add to @r.harris1 's excellent post — except to say, well, since most people these days use and abuse the front camera in all kinds of videos no one will notice. 🙂

What will be noticed is the quality of your reporting content.

I am often impressed by how some people I enjoy on YouTube have come on over the years. The first ones can be rough and the improvement gradual until they are superbly skilled.

No one hops fully formed like Athena from Zeus' forehead. 🙂

Just be confident in your messaging.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Now be fair. No one is abusing you.

Well, we had quite the kerfuffle in my other thread about workflow...

We would all just love to see you get on and get going! 🙂

Quality results take time. Measure twice, cut once...

I have nothing to add to @r.harris1 's excellent post — except to say, well, since most people these days use and abuse the front camera in all kinds of videos no one will notice. 🙂

I wonder if people realize that most pictures/videos that they see online don't represent reality?

My take is that if you use the front camera on your iPhone, then it will give a distorted representation of how you actually look...

One reason I started this thread is that we all have a BIAS in how we see ourselves - even me after finally getting comfortable on seeing myself on camera.

So it is hard for me to be totally unbiased and make determinations on things like front-camera vs back-camera.

But it seems to me that smartphones give a "fisheye effect" and make your nose stick out and make it look like your face is silly-putty and someone os pulling the center of your face outwards - not a good look!!

What will be noticed is the quality of your reporting content.

I want to look professional and be taken seriously. And ironically, I do NOT want to be the center of attention - I want my reporting to be what people focus on. (So paradoxically, I want things to look really good so that I do not stand out and distract people from the message!)

I watched some videos last night comparing front vs rear cameras - presumably on an iPhone - and I never realized that there is a noticeable difference in just the resolution alone. (Dynamic range too.)

I am often impressed by how some people I enjoy on YouTube have come on over the years. The first ones can be rough and the improvement gradual until they are superbly skilled.

Sean Cannell of Think Media would be an excellent example of this!

Personally, I want to be Walter Cronkite when I grow up!!!

No one hops fully formed like Athena from Zeus' forehead. 🙂

Just be confident in your messaging.

I am trying. I just want to make a (positive) difference...

 

[r.harris1]

Well, we had quite the kerfuffle in my other thread about workflow...

If you aren't blocking me, no one was trying to have a kerfuffle. We were telling you our workflow, per your question, and there was an apparent discrepancy in what you felt you were asking and what a number of us felt the question was. Easy enough mistake in Web World, right?

 

[Ambrosia7177]

If you aren't blocking me, no one was trying to have a kerfuffle. We were telling you our workflow, per your question, and there was an apparent discrepancy in what you felt you were asking and what a number of us felt the question was. Easy enough mistake in Web World, right?

It triggered me spending 20 minutes writing a well thought-out thread only to have 3 people in-a-row gang-tackle me.

No, it's the modern way people deal with each other online and offline - shoot first, ask questions later.

Happened again today, but if I say more then it will be me who gets in trouble.

I try to break up larger problems into smaller pieces so that people don't get lost, and so it benefits the community.

Problem is, those smaller components often overlap. (Classic Venn diagram.)

It's breaking things down into more specific topics - or in the case a few weeks ago - branching off into new territories because @cSalmon brought up yet another brilliant point.

 

[r.harris1]

It triggered me spending 20 minutes writing a well thought-out thread only to have 3 people in-a-row gang-tackle me.

No, it's the modern way people deal with each other online and offline - shoot first, ask questions later.

Happened again today, but if I say more then it will be me who gets in trouble.

I try to break up larger problems into smaller pieces so that people don't get lost, and so it benefits the community.

Problem is, those smaller components often overlap. (Classic Venn diagram.)

It's breaking things down into more specific topics - or in the case a few weeks ago - branching off into new territories because @cSalmon brought up yet another brilliant point.

I don't think we intend to be negative. I don't. It's just a conversation. It's a bunch of us with different perspectives and experiences coming together, hoping to share what we bring to the table. It's all good. There's definitely something to be said about measuring twice and cutting once, but there's also a notion of trying something out and letting experience be your guide. There's probably a balance there, and few responses are "without work and consideration." When a question is asked, we think, consider, sometimes research and do work, and answer, and hope that it doesn't just disappear. We'd love to see a direction and outcome to all of the great feedback you've gotten in your various threads. Even if it takes a while.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

I don't think we intend to be negative. I don't. It's just a conversation. It's a bunch of us with different perspectives and experiences coming together, hoping to share what we bring to the table. It's all good. There's definitely something to be said about measuring twice and cutting once, but there's also a notion of trying something out and letting experience be your guide. There's probably a balance there, and few responses are "without work and consideration." When a question is asked, we think, consider, sometimes research and do work, and answer, and hope that it doesn't just disappear. We'd love to see a direction and outcome to all of the great feedback you've gotten in your various threads. Even if it takes a while.

My day starts at 7:00 a.m. and ends around 1:00 a.m. - 7 days a week.

It is physically impossible for me to work any harder than I am - on my startup, or on simply trying to stay alive.

Everything I do is thought out, and for a reason - even if it doesn't make sense to others.

And my end-goal is to make the world a slightly better place - though I often fall short.

Similar to an iceberg, often there is so much more beneath the surface than what people see.

Time is the one thing that we can never get back, so I try my best not to waste my time, or the time of others.

And everything I do is an "investment" in something larger.

Anyone who gives me their time (or knowledge) is NOT wasting anything.

People just have to have "faith" in what they are investing...

 

[arkitect]

It triggered me spending 20 minutes writing a well thought-out thread only to have 3 people in-a-row gang-tackle me.

No, it's the modern way people deal with each other online and offline - shoot first, ask questions later.

Happened again today, but if I say more then it will be me who gets in trouble.

I try to break up larger problems into smaller pieces so that people don't get lost, and so it benefits the community.

Problem is, those smaller components often overlap. (Classic Venn diagram.)

It's breaking things down into more specific topics - or in the case a few weeks ago - branching off into new territories because @cSalmon brought up yet another brilliant point.

Well I truly hope you are not referring to my reply to your opening post… because that was not my intention at all and I would be mortified if you read any "gang-tackling" or the like in my reply.

I will say though that you may be reading aggressive intent where it is not meant.

Anyway.

I wish you good luck with your future endeavours and I hope it all works out for you.

I don't think we intend to be negative. I don't. It's just a conversation. It's a bunch of us with different perspectives and experiences coming together, hoping to share what we bring to the table. It's all good. There's definitely something to be said about measuring twice and cutting once, but there's also a notion of trying something out and letting experience be your guide. There's probably a balance there, and few responses are "without work and consideration." When a question is asked, we think, consider, sometimes research and do work, and answer, and hope that it doesn't just disappear. We'd love to see a direction and outcome to all of the great feedback you've gotten in your various threads. Even if it takes a while.

I do agree.
I am really sorry if @Ambrosia7177 feel they are being victimised, but I genuinely cannot see where that happened.

Exasperation perhaps as we really want to see them get going and become a success.

There is only so much talking around a point one can do.

 

[Jumpthesnark]

The front-facing ("selfie") camera has more of a wide-angle lens than the rear camera on both of those phones. A wide-angle lens is used because it's made for photographing one person (or maybe two or three people with their heads next to each other) with the phone held at arm's length. So a wider lens is needed for that. If you get too close to a wide angle lens, though, you can get that distortion you mentioned.

The rear camera (especially if you zoom to 2X) gives more of a "normal" perspective than a wide angle. The problem, of course, is that you can't see yourself while using the rear-facing camera. So it's best used if you have someone else filming you, or you use a tripod.

But as @arkitect said, the most important thing is your content, your storytelling. People are willing to forgive less-than-Hollywood production values as long as the story you're telling is interesting and engaging.