Pro Max Camera App doesn't always use 5x lens when selecting 5x or greater.

[Peepo]

I was experimenting with Camera on new iPhone 15 Pro Max that I just got yesterday. I upgraded from an iPhone 11 Pro Max. I am not a professional, just noticing some unexpected behaviour from this.

Using the Camera App, pictures I take pressing 5x zoom often are using the Main Camera. Seems that if I Press 5x on an object that is close it uses Main Camera but crops at the 5x zoom level resulting in not as clear of image, but if I take a picture of something further away it is using the Telephoto Camera. Maybe the iPhone is detecting the closer distance and decides not to use the 5x lens, could be because of focusing limitations?

Here is a crop of a picture taken with Camera App, I cannot get to use the Telephoto Camera after several tries, and it actually uses the Main Camera and performs digital 5x zoom. Confirm this is the case in Photos app - Main Camera 24mm f 1.78

Distance is approx 3.5 feet.

Crop of picture taken using ProCamera App set to use TelePhoto Camera 5x Zoom. Confirm using Photos App that is using Telephoto Camera 120mm f 2.8

I am sure this is something that not too many would do anyways, just something I noticed; I am sure that if I go outside and take long zoom pictures using Camera App (as intended) it will (hopefully) always use the 120mm camera, which is probably meant to zoom in on far away things, not make closer things bigger like I was trying to do.

 

[maerz001]

Yes its focus distance or when its too dark

 

[klspahr]

I think another camera app will use the camera you select regardless what some software thinks. I use ProCam.

Now with the Action Button it makes having another camera app easy. I use a shortcut that when I hold the iPhone horizontally with the Action Button up ProCam will launch. If the Action Button is down the stock camera will launch. The short cut will also do other things base on the iPhone orientation.

 

[Lex404]

Now with the Action Button it makes having another camera app easy. I use a shortcut that when I hold the iPhone horizontally with the Action Button up ProCam will launch. If the Action Button is down the stock camera will launch.

How did you do that 🤓

 

[klspahr]

I found the Shortcut script on this forum and then changed it for my use. There is a free app called Actions that you can get on the App Store.

Here is the link to the post:
Post in thread 'Best action button shortcuts'
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/best-action-button-shortcuts.2404126/post-32552203

 

[klspahr]

Here is a link to my modified one:

Action Button 1

You can open it in Shortcuts app to modify it. It’s actually pretty simple

 

[MacDevil7334]

Yeah the 5x telephoto cannot focus on an object located closer than 1350mm (~4.43 ft) away. If you try to focus on something closer than 1350mm, the camera app will use the 1x lens and digitally crop.