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StylinGirl

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 13, 2019
1
1
Anyone else notice a degraded quality to photos after updating to iOS 13? Lens struggles to focus and everything is less sharp.
 
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oVerboost

macrumors 68000
Sep 17, 2013
1,565
1,039
United Kingdom
Nope. My old SE on iOS 13 takes photos as well as it did brand new, same with my girlfriends 6S.

I’d wait for the next iOS update to see if the camera improves, or you can keep your phone on iOS 12.
 
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kirk.vino

macrumors 6502a
Oct 27, 2017
667
1,013
I noticed it last year when I updated my iPhone X to iOS 12 from iOS 11
More grain/noise indoors than before and I believe it's Apple forcing users to update.
Apple IS SCAMMING US
Exactly my thoughts last year as well!
They needed to show how much better the XS was. It was all software related, so I believe they held back and even downgraded the X.
 

elhungarian

macrumors 6502
Aug 13, 2009
302
50
Anyone else notice a degraded quality to photos after updating to iOS 13? Lens struggles to focus and everything is less sharp.
People can believe what they want but my images have degraded as well not sure if it was iOS 13 or the last few supplemental updates. I knew I should have just stayed with what worked. So annoying.
 

ericwn

macrumors G5
Apr 24, 2016
12,112
10,899
Can anybody produce a few samples to demonstrate the reduced image quality if there is any? I feel my 8+ is as good or bad as the day I got it from a camera perspective. No reduction in focus accuracy either.
 

cynics

macrumors G4
Jan 8, 2012
11,959
2,156
Smartphone cameras have a lot of post processing via the camera app. Performance, quality and image processing are typically at odds with each other. Finding the compromise between all the variables (compression type and quality, iso, exposure, f-stops, image processing amount and quality, better at low light or bright light, etc etc etc). Updating the app between iOS versions can effect the images quality fairly easily.

I dont have a problem with grain at all unless its really low light but this is common. iOS 13 provided tools for noise reduction in photos. That might help you out some.

This image will not come through for you guys (compression from the camera, export, screenshot and finally MacRumors upload). Its just the point of reference I used on my Mac directly from the originals between iOS 12 and iOS 13.

Screen Shot 2020-03-13 at 3.19.54 AM.png
(click)

The image is a specific forum I use at work since they are using similar distances, lighting, etc, this is as close as I can get to comparing similar images from 2 different OS's and 2 different phones. The iOS 12 version is using a bolder font (since its a year old things change) then both 13 versions. Also keep in mind this is at a macro level nitpicking here (300-400% zoom).

iOS 12 adds quite a bit of noise reduction. This is required with smartphones to an extent but too much and the image starts to look mosaic (painted effect) and overly soft, borderline blurry. The colons are supposed to be 2 squares but iOS makes them look a bit round.

I can't tell if its sharpened in anyway or not but I think it is since I can see a bit of gray in the middle of the black text if I look really close.

White has a slightly red hue. Naturally the paper in my work environment should be gray with a hint of yellow (gray drywall walls with an ugly depressing yellow cubical walls). All the colors are going to be slightly off if white is off.

I also think the white is also too bright causing the colors (not in the image) to look too dark.

iOS 13 isn't perfect by any means but I think the main difference is they just reduced the amount of image processing automatically applied by the camera app. In turn they gave us the editing tools for post processing because one size fits all with photo editing is basically one size fits none.

Again I want to mention this was at nitpicking levels. The reality is the images
 

google

macrumors 6502
Sep 13, 2007
256
70
I have seen the same since the upgrade to 13 on X

Wouldn't be surprised if they were degrading the quality, they do have a history of such tactics
 

ericwn

macrumors G5
Apr 24, 2016
12,112
10,899
I have seen the same since the upgrade to 13 on X

Wouldn't be surprised if they were degrading the quality, they do have a history of such tactics

Which other iOS update worsened the camera in your experience?
 
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