Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

juanmaasecas

macrumors regular
Oct 26, 2014
101
66
Although I do agree that the Pixel 6/6Pro and the new Sony phone are excellent, the iPhone 13 lineup still competes very nicely with them.

For stills, the Pixel 6 Pro wins for me hands down but I need an overall camera so I stick to my iPhone 13 Pro.
Idk about the new ones, but I have a pixel 2 XL (I use it to upload pictures to google photos for free) and the look is super hdr looking and oversharpened, and for the comparisons I topically see online, I still prefer the iPhone…
 

aenflex

macrumors regular
Jun 17, 2013
209
236
FL, USA
D5F02A16-5953-4E61-9A0F-E33EDA40653A.jpeg
B641B00C-F2C9-47FB-90F6-A232BF3A8F73.jpeg
One was taken with 11P and the other with 13P. I spent some time today comparing and I just can’t get on board with the processing. Such a shame. I really, really hope Apple fixes this with an update allowing users to toggle off this crazy.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: jhoff8600 and JM

ToddH

macrumors 68030
Jul 5, 2010
2,889
5,843
Central Tx
Question about that, Todd -

Should the JPEGs from Halide be a better quality than the JPEGs from the stock IOS Camera app? Should they lack the extreme processing that Apple applies? Or is Halide best when only utilizing the RAW photos capture mode?

Is Moment better than Halide for JPEG formats?

Thanks!
Halide is a great app, but the Moment app seems to have more user friendly controls. I have found that jpeg or HEIF to be nearly identical with halide vs moment. Neither of these utilize the smart HDR that the default camera uses. I don’t shoot with heif or jpeg very often, but I definitely have compared HEIF shots from the Moment app vs Apples default camera. The Apple shot had too much saturation and the Moment shot displayed as my eyes saw it. I have both apps, I prefer the moment over halide. I don’t have the samples I took anymore, but I can get new ones for you tomorrow…
 

MacLappy

macrumors 6502a
Jul 28, 2011
530
394
Singapore
View attachment 2013995 View attachment 2013994 One was taken with 11P and the other with 13P. I spent some time today comparing and I just can’t get on board with the processing. Such a shame. I really, really hope Apple fixes this with an update allowing users to toggle off this crazy.

The second picture is definitely more detailed, which phone was this?
 

ToddH

macrumors 68030
Jul 5, 2010
2,889
5,843
Central Tx
It may be designed to help people who don't know what they're doing, but it isn't doing a very good job if it's resulting in user error as you say. My problem is that even when using proraw the noise reduction can't be undone. That is not good, as it results in the watercolor effect. If they just gave us an option to turn that off then the would solve a lot of issues. I do use LR and Procamera but I shouldn't have to for passable photos.
I’ll admit that user error isn’t an issue with everyone, but it is there.
Well are you using Lightroom mobile for the ProRaw files? Apples default ending app is lousy for ProRaw. I don’t have a noise control issue when using Lightroom. In fact I’ve made many presets for my images. That saves so much time. Raw files definitely look better or worse depending on the editing app. For me, Lightroom is best. Snapseed doesn’t do well, too much color noise, I haven’t tried photoshop yet, the darkroom app is lousy at controlling highlights, Polarr is a good app, i haven’t tested ProRaw with it yet though. I exclusively use Lightroom mobile, it has great highlight control, it with adjust for the barrel distortion when you turn on optics, etc… So as mentioned, different apps produce different results for ProRaw. I never get any water color effects when using Lightroom. When my ProRaw images are opened in Lightroom, I don’t see any excessive noise unless ISO 6400 or so is used at night. Here are some samples From Lightroom…

9A9F40BB-4C50-493A-BEF0-6FC97FD2DF1A.jpeg


370C1CA4-D0A8-48C0-96E1-0C4CCD18A2D8.jpeg


8BC68FE1-6451-4C2E-B7E1-0E1BE8357236.jpeg


A54EBF35-8CE1-4C7B-A3FE-A50EA2003186.jpeg


B0485483-41A4-4583-B429-4DFD386BC986.jpeg


5461CD00-7105-4580-9340-D0449E85C8AA.jpeg


4EB7BC67-A1BB-448F-9B3C-8A639E32C13C.jpeg
 

Attachments

  • 5461CD00-7105-4580-9340-D0449E85C8AA.jpeg
    5461CD00-7105-4580-9340-D0449E85C8AA.jpeg
    393.9 KB · Views: 96

ToddH

macrumors 68030
Jul 5, 2010
2,889
5,843
Central Tx
I have been taking pictures since I was 14 and I’m 34 already. If I want to really do some serious photography I have my canon R5 with plenty of lenses.
I switched to Apple ecosystem from pc/android for their Colors (screen calibration/quality in phones and laptops) and camera. iPhone pictures used to be true to life with natural yet beautiful skin tones. Now, this iphone 13 looks like a Samsung sometimes, with those overly bright and saturated skin tones…
There are a lot of people here that think like me. We just want the true to life classic iphone look.
Ok I get that. But when you tell me that there are overly bright skin tones on the image taken, how was that photo composed? Did you just raise the camera / iPhone and snap the shot, or take time to adjust focus and control the highlights first before taking the shot? I have seen my iPhone use the 1x camera when I had the 3x camera selected at random times. Probably because I was too close for the 3x to work, the 3x has a minimum focus distance of 24 inches. If you are closer than that, the iPhone will switch to the 1x. This is why I usually open the Moment app so I can hard select the camera I want to use. I’ve been a photographer since 1988, I’m 52 years old and shoot with Sony. I started with film, most have no idea what that’s like LOL. the moment app will give you that classic iPhone look.
 

aenflex

macrumors regular
Jun 17, 2013
209
236
FL, USA
Halide is a great app, but the Moment app seems to have more user friendly controls. I have found that jpeg or HEIF to be nearly identical with halide vs moment. Neither of these utilize the smart HDR that the default camera uses. I don’t shoot with heif or jpeg very often, but I definitely have compared HEIF shots from the Moment app vs Apples default camera. The Apple shot had too much saturation and the Moment shot displayed as my eyes saw it. I have both apps, I prefer the moment over halide. I don’t have the samples I took anymore, but I can get new ones for you tomorrow…
Thanks! Maybe I’ll try Moment. Although, so far as I can tell, the Halide JPEG files seem about the same as the Apple camera app JPEG files. I’m not seeing the same level of detail and crispness that I see w/my 11P. I need to take more shots and do more comparisons.
 

ToddH

macrumors 68030
Jul 5, 2010
2,889
5,843
Central Tx
Thanks! Maybe I’ll try Moment. Although, so far as I can tell, the Halide JPEG files seem about the same as the Apple camera app JPEG files. I’m not seeing the same level of detail and crispness that I see w/my 11P. I need to take more shots and do more comparisons.
There is a great app called Twin viewer so you can view two identical photos at the same time. Here are samples

6F47E956-1E36-49D2-9694-C2B4D262D67C.png


1BA56AFE-5CF7-499C-BBA3-6995D1BD8DF9.png


Heavy zoom in TwinViewer. The Moment shot is cleaner


690DC914-3CBB-4D00-9988-96EEAB34E8F4.jpeg


341CB1ED-FD3B-45A5-B860-F31BA54CB188.jpeg


Wide top is from Moment, the bottom (less clouds) Apple default.
 
  • Like
Reactions: xTidus and aenflex

macbro08

macrumors newbie
Jun 1, 2020
24
5
Does this issue only occur for iPhone 13 Pro and Max, or does it also apply to the "normal" 13 and 13 Mini? Looking for a new phone (upgrading my iPhone 8), and can't decide between iPhone 12 and iPhone 13. I take many photos.
 

ToddH

macrumors 68030
Jul 5, 2010
2,889
5,843
Central Tx
Does this issue only occur for iPhone 13 Pro and Max, or does it also apply to the "normal" 13 and 13 Mini? Looking for a new phone (upgrading my iPhone 8), and can't decide between iPhone 12 and iPhone 13. I take many photos.
I have two 13 pro max iPhones and neither of them show any water color effects with the images it takes. I can’t even force my images to look bad. Most of what is described here in this thread is an issue of user error and or low information photography skills, yeah I know not everyone knows everything about photograph, it’s been my hobby and profession for many years. I think if people took the time to make the necessary adjustments to the camera before the photo is taken, there probably would be less complaints. I’d fail if this thread was about being a diesel mechanic, I don’t know anything about that. Sure there may be a glitch here or there, but those glitches are rare and random. If you use a dslr like Nikon, Sony, canon, etc, then you’ll know to apply the same technique and settings you use on the camera with the iPhone. If anyone just opens the camera on the iPhone and just aims and takes a shot without making any adjustments to the exposure, highlights or shadows etc, then yes, bad looking shots will be the result. You can’t expect the camera and software to do everything for you, the camera is just a tool. And in the hands of a skilled photographer, the photos are exceptionally great! As for the regular 13 and 13 mini, I don’t have any experience with the cameras on those models.

So get the 13 pro or pro max, the cameras are fantastic. I can provide plenty of samples if needed.
 
Last edited:

Paninnguaq

macrumors regular
Jul 27, 2018
134
105
I have two 13 pro max iPhones and neither of them show any water color effects with the images it takes. I can’t even force my images to look bad. Most of what is described here in this thread is an issue of user error and or low information photography skills, yeah I know not everyone knows everything about photograph, it’s been my hobby and profession for many years. I think if people took the time to make the necessary adjustments to the camera before the photo is taken, there probably would be less complaints. I’d fail if this thread was about being a diesel mechanic, I don’t know anything about that. Sure there may be a glitch here or there, but those glitches are rare and random. If you use a dslr like Nikon, Sony, canon, etc, then you’ll know to apply the same technique and settings you use on the camera with the iPhone. If anyone just opens the camera on the iPhone and just aims and takes a shot without making any adjustments to the exposure, highlights or shadows etc, then yes, bad looking shots will be the result. You can’t expect the camera and software to do everything for you, the camera is just a tool. And in the hands of a skilled photographer, the photos are exceptionally great! As for the regular 13 and 13 mini, I don’t have any experience with the cameras on those models.

So get the 13 pro or pro max, the cameras are fantastic. I can provide plenty of samples if needed.
There are people here who have demonstrated that they have used both the 13 as well as older models in a similar fashion - point and shoot without making any adjustments. And they have ended up with photos which look better on the older models and water-colour like on the 13.

Therefore clearly the fault does not lie in the point and shoot nature of the photography skills of the people here. If that was the reason as you claim, then the photographs from the older models would be water-colour like as well.
 

MisterTibbs

macrumors member
Mar 29, 2018
57
94
UK
It's too easy to blame people for being bad at taking photos. I've been using "proper" cameras since the early 90s, I've been taught composition, timing, exposure, lighting etc. I have some decent photography kit, which I use when I want to capture something special.

The simple fact of the matter is that many of the people here had a previous iPhone model which, for whatever reason, gave better results than the version of the 13 they find themselves with. Regardless of photographic ability.

I read this article last year, which made me think that there could be a variance between individual units. Maybe a tiny lens discrepancy could screw up the ai. Might be barking up the wrong tree though.
 
Last edited:

atari4

macrumors member
Sep 22, 2019
85
177
There are people here who have demonstrated that they have used both the 13 as well as older models in a similar fashion - point and shoot without making any adjustments. And they have ended up with photos which look better on the older models and water-colour like on the 13.

Therefore clearly the fault does not lie in the point and shoot nature of the photography skills of the people here. If that was the reason as you claim, then the photographs from the older models would be water-colour like as well.

+1
iPhone 13 #photogate
iPhone 14 amazing correct smart hdr loading...
 
  • Like
Reactions: xTidus

The Game 161

macrumors Nehalem
Dec 15, 2010
30,966
20,163
UK
Been using pro raw this weekend and if you have the time it’s great to use. I tend to take a normal photo and pro raw to see the differences
 
  • Like
Reactions: ToddH

RobertoDLV

macrumors member
Aug 7, 2021
41
63
Took a random photo with my 13 mini today and witnessed the automatic filters applying seconds after taking it and turning it into this horrendous-painting-like-over-processed-mess-of-an-image while the original seemed pretty ok... So irritating at this price.
 

ToddH

macrumors 68030
Jul 5, 2010
2,889
5,843
Central Tx
Took a random photo with my 13 mini today and witnessed the automatic filters applying seconds after taking it and turning it into this horrendous-painting-like-over-processed-mess-of-an-image while the original seemed pretty ok... So irritating at this price.
Sample?
Tip: don’t zoom into the photo beyond 100% or you’ll see the image break down.
 
  • Angry
Reactions: AlGardner

soprano__

Cancelled
Jun 11, 2022
8
19
Hey guys!

Bought a 13PM last weekend which I’m loving to death.

I have however noticed a bit of a aggressive post processing causing photos to look over sharpened and such.

Any work around? Any tips to avoid this and give them a more natural look?

Do you use any other camera app besides the default?
 
Hey guys!

Bought a 13PM last weekend which I’m loving to death.

I have however noticed a bit of a aggressive post processing causing photos to look over sharpened and such.

Any work around? Any tips to avoid this and give them a more natural look?

Do you use any other camera app besides the default?
Try the AE/AF Lock Focus. Just hold your finger on the screen and point at the picture you are taking a picture off. See if it makes a difference for you.
 

ToddH

macrumors 68030
Jul 5, 2010
2,889
5,843
Central Tx
Hey guys!

Bought a 13PM last weekend which I’m loving to death.

I have however noticed a bit of a aggressive post processing causing photos to look over sharpened and such.

Any work around? Any tips to avoid this and give them a more natural look?

Do you use any other camera app besides the default?
Yeah, I use the Moment app but I always shoot in ProRAW what’s a HEIF files from that moment app or very good. Halide is also great. Both apps do not apply that smart HDR. It does however incorporate the deep fusion which is helpful because it sharpens everything really nicely. I really like using the Moment app when I’m taking my time to focus on a flower or something up close or something sitting still, I really enjoy using the manual focus with the green colored focus peaking which identifies the areas that are in perfect focus and you get an awesomely sharp shot when using your phone with manual focus like that. Usually if your camera on your phone is recording objects in motion and there’s too slow of a shutter speed then you will have some motion blur which will cause some blotchy looking spots because I guess the sensor is probably just too small to properly record that movement. Both of these apps you do have to pay for and there are some in app purchases but it’s worth it. I use the default camera all the time but I always shoot in ProRAW which does not have that smart HDR or anything applied because it’s RAW and you edit the image how you want in Lightroom. However I understand that not everybody wants to use ProRAW because they probably don’t understand raw format yet. So using one of these other apps mentioned above is probably your best bet for now especially if you’re having issues with your camera. Which I never do on mine but I’m not sure exactly what everybody is seeing because this forum does not show the images in full resolution and the samples are usually bad due to compression and upload.
 
  • Like
Reactions: krvld

ToddH

macrumors 68030
Jul 5, 2010
2,889
5,843
Central Tx
Moment app focus peeking

Untouched HEIF images. I only adjusted the exposure compensation to compensate for the black dash / radio which the camera wanted to show it a light gray. Using focus peaking allows you to precisely focus in a certain area of the subject this way, it is precisely controlled.

5456F0CC-5EE1-4423-89F6-A7FF5AA8EACF.png


464B09B8-3EA2-4731-A437-B422DD9A3F96.jpeg


E53F2272-45A6-4258-981C-6D1F639B89F0.png


9AC2032E-76DB-479C-89F7-D83D5F9E282B.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.