Today at a semi nearby Apple Store, I had my camera module replaced on this desert titanium 16 Pro Max. So far it has made a nice difference in image quality.
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iPhone 16 Pro Max Issues with ProRAW 48 and stock camera app
- Thread starter jajo.j
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Just like that? They weren't even telling you the module works as expected? It's a scheme I've been getting a lot from talking to Apple Support and their corresponding engineers which made me give up and stop.
They ran diagnostics & said all is normal, but I had samples (from two iPhones) & told them the phone had to be factory restored after each iOS update & sometimes in between updates, which it does & screws up camera image quality using ProRaw & heif. I tried getting a full iPhone replacement, but was told no, not just for a camera issue. I mentioned that if this doesn’t help, then what? The store personnel said they would replace other internal parts like the logic board etc. The only way I’d get a replacement is to “accidentally” break the phone beyond physical repair. Then I can use my $99 accidental replacement that comes with AppleCare. I’m only at 83 cycles on the battery, so the iPhone is still in great condition. I tested the camera on the night sky & the stars look fantastic. Sky conditions sucked though. I’m waiting on a really clear night to test further.
The camera replacement is awesome!! Incredibly sharp, reveals exquisite details.
The only reason I would consider upgrading to the 17 Pro Max is for the Tele photo which is supposed to have a 48 megapixel sensor this time around and probably 3.5 X magnification. otherwise I’m keeping this phone for a while because the camera now is awesome. When you have a camera that’s working properly it inspires creativity. I’m just wondering if the fusion camera and the ultra wide are going be the same on the 17 Pro Max. Who among you has any information regarding new optics and a new sensor? Rumors are vague now anyway.
Here’s a sample shot I took today of niece in the pool, photographic styles stark B&W.
Close crop.
The only reason I would consider upgrading to the 17 Pro Max is for the Tele photo which is supposed to have a 48 megapixel sensor this time around and probably 3.5 X magnification. otherwise I’m keeping this phone for a while because the camera now is awesome. When you have a camera that’s working properly it inspires creativity. I’m just wondering if the fusion camera and the ultra wide are going be the same on the 17 Pro Max. Who among you has any information regarding new optics and a new sensor? Rumors are vague now anyway.
Here’s a sample shot I took today of niece in the pool, photographic styles stark B&W.
Close crop.
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While these shots are great, it’s not what’s being discussed here.
I have no issues with close up shots of people and objects in both HEIF/HEIF Max and ProRAW.
Well I did have issues mid and far. My previous camera wasn’t sharp like this one, even up close. Plus I had to completely restore my iPhone every time I upgraded with a new version of iOS. So this should make you happy, a distant shot from ProRAW with crop. Sharp leaves. No edits here, just a screenshot of the raw and of the zoomed crop. These were taken just after leaving the Apple Store. The first few shots taken with the new camera.
Here is another example, non edited ProRAW shots.
ZOOMED IN 600%, way too far but still there is detail.
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I tried, but ProRAW couldn’t be uploaded. JPEG or HEIF only. I ca provide edited shots from raw.. minor editing
2 Photos
Now these are SHARP. Reminds me of 14 Pro quality. You didn't add sharpness in Lightroom\Photos during the edit, right?I tried, but ProRAW couldn’t be uploaded. JPEG or HEIF only. I ca provide edited shots from raw.. minor editing
2 Photos
share.icloud.com
When I opened the photos in Lightroom, the sharpness was defaulted at 50. Too high so I lowered it to 25 to give it a normal look. Zooming in to 100% and checking the before and after, it was really hard to tell. I kept it as normal as possible all the while checking before and after quality.
Im having superb results with ProRaw with ios 18.5 too. Still i prefer results from the ProCam app...
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My phone updated to 18.5 over these past days and I inadvertently took a photo in HEIF (as I usually shoot ProRaw or with the No Fusion app), and the resulting shot was much cleaner than I recall. I've had so many problems with stock camera HEIF shots coming out splotchy or painted over. Going to do some research on both HEIF and ProRaw via stock app in 18.5 and see what it yields.
Stupid iPhone firmware or something…. I was using my phone today and I switched over to the macro mode to take a picture of a wasp up close and then went back to the normal camera and the ProRAW image quality went back to crap again along with Heif!! Lame!!! Third party apps aren’t any better. Replacing the camera did nothing!! Need a replacement now. I don’t have time to keep traveling back-and-forth from and to Houston for them to troubleshoot and replace this or that to see if it fixes the issue. I can’t believe this crap, WOW!
UPDATE:
After going into settings and switching the photo formats and doing a hard reset it looks like the camera quality has returned to somewhat normal. I compared it with the camera on my good working iPhone 16 Pro Max, the one that’s never had any issues and the camera image quality pretty much looks the same as the one I’ve been having trouble with. I guess I will keep y’all updated if you wish
UPDATE:
After going into settings and switching the photo formats and doing a hard reset it looks like the camera quality has returned to somewhat normal. I compared it with the camera on my good working iPhone 16 Pro Max, the one that’s never had any issues and the camera image quality pretty much looks the same as the one I’ve been having trouble with. I guess I will keep y’all updated if you wish
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I’ve done that once before, but I haven’t done it recently. The next time I do a restore, I’ll do that.
That cropped in shot of the stop light is rough. To clarify, the Houston area Apple store replaced/fixed something related to the hardware, but you walked out of the store with your original (supposedly repaired) phone and not a replacement, correct? It would seem a return to this performance would finally warrant a replacement if that's the case.
In what format do you shoot on ProCam, and what are the main differences you see vs. stock?
ProCam - ProRaw 48mp. Simple as that. I noticed 10% more or less, better clarity and definition when compared to my stock ProRaw Max results.... But im happy with ios 18.5 so far. Much better than earlier versions .
Yes, all they replaced was my camera module, which was all three cameras as one. The first Apple Store that I’ve had my original appointment did not have the camera in stock and they told me I could come back in five days or later to have it installed or head over to the Sugar land Apple Store since they have it and they can repair your phone. I asked the representative at the first Apple Store at Highland Village, since you guys don’t have the parts in stock, why not just give me a new iPhone replacement. She told me no, not for just a camera. So I could not get a replacement. The only time I think I can get a replacement is to call them on the phone and ask for express replacement via shipment since I’m two hours away from an Apple Store. I asked if this camera quality issue continues. What do we do? They told me we’ll try and replace something else internal like the processor or the logic board, etc.. They pretty much go out of their way to not replace the phone if it is repairable. One of the Apple Store representatives told me the only way that they can replace the unit with your AppleCare and accidental replacement is to fully water board the phone, bend it, break it to where it’s beyond repair. Since I’m far away from the Apple Store, I will call them on the phone. The next time it happens I’ll just request a replacement unit and hopefully I’ll get a new unit instead of something refurbished. I guess it doesn’t matter too much because in four months the 17 Pro Max comes out so I’ll be upgrading anyway unless this one phone gets fixed well enough to where photography & multiple factory restores aren’t a problem. None of the Tech Support agents at the Apple Store gave me a good explanation as to why I have to do a restore every time an iOS update gets downloaded.
Got it! Do you have it set to “highly detailed” or “natural” mode in the photo settings? I’m not sure if that affects Raw/ProRaw at all or just their HEIF/JPEGs.
I find “highly detailed” slightly better. I use that 
. But minor differences comparing to normal mode.
. But minor differences comparing to normal mode.
There will be no improvement. Apple already missed too many deadlines.