iPhone 14 Pro 14 Pro camera looses to android phones.

[5105973]

I called about a replacement, but it was going to take weeks and I wasn't going without a phone. They logged it as a "cosmetic imperfection" and only offered to repair it.

Supposedly, once I get some time, I can walk into an Apple Store and they'll replace it. As for the camera, there's some discussion on the Apple support boards that Apple is aware of the autofocusing issues and is working on a software fix.

My daughter has a 14 Pro and she says so many of her photos appear to initially be focused and fine but then the processing does its thing (the image goes very blurred for a moment) and then the end result is a blurry useless photo. It's gotten so bad she's now taking screenshots of the clear focuses preview image to save before processing messes it up. Have you seen any discussion about this specific issue?

I have a 14 Pro max and occasionally have this happen to me, but not to the extent my daughter is seeing it. I've seen it happen on my 13 Pro, too. I think it's a software issue but I'm not sure. This is not my area of expertise.

 

[pbonitati]

Any explanation for these results ?

One thing to mention is the Pixel 6a uses the sensor Google spent all of its time and money on, I'm pretty sure this sensor was in all the phones back until the Pixel 2. This did not get the new sensor that the regular 6 and 6 pro have. All the software tweaks developed over many years were related directly to that sensor used in the 6a. I bet if they put a pixel 4 in there it would get very similar results.

 

[Choco Taco]

Of course, when your favorite phone doesn't win the reviewers must be amateurs and/or biased.😆

It isn't my favorite phone, nor did I mention anything about being amateurs. The iPhone is the phone I use based on my needs and I hate being tied to the Apple ecosystem, but that's the current state of things. That and all my family use iMessage and refuse to use anything else, so I'm kind of stuck here. I appreciate you attempting to discredit my comment, though. Great stuff. Both Marques and Mrwhosetheboss have a very definite sway in Samsung's direction, regardless of what any other phones are bringing to the table. I've been watching both of them for years. I appreciate their channels, but their biases make them hard to watch sometimes.

 

[Kobs]

Another point of view

 

[Berries-A-Million]

My S21 Ultra takes better photo's for sure, iphone wins on video though.

Doubt that unless your s21 some how does better than the s22 ultra that I owned. The 14 pro max does better than it did in my experience.

 

[ToddH]

Well so far I haven’t seen a single sample from the S22 in full resolution anywhere on the web that I can download and look at. They say it has a 108mp sensor. I’m not sure if the 108mp sensor in the S22 is physically larger than the 14 pro / pro max imaging sensor. So until I see an edited raw file from the S22, I’ll continue to give praise to my 48mp ProRAW files from the 14 pro max. The pixel 7 has a 50mp sensor, but it only produces 12mp files even in raw. It will not give you a photo at 50mp resolution. That’s why I think the S22 only produces a 27mp file. That’s 108/4=27. Pixel binning quad pixels in groups of four. If you know of a link, let me see!

 

[Berries-A-Million]

Well so far I haven’t seen a single sample from the S22 in full resolution anywhere on the web that I can download and look at. They say it has a 108mp sensor. I’m not sure if the 108mp sensor in the S22 is physically larger than the 14 pro / pro max imaging sensor. So until I see an edited raw file from the S22, I’ll continue to give praise to my 48mp ProRAW files from the 14 pro max. The pixel 7 has a 50mp sensor, but it only produces 12mp files even in raw. It will not give you a photo at 50mp resolution. That’s why I think the S22 only produces a 27mp file. That’s 108/4=27. Pixel binning quad pixels in groups of four. If you know of a link, let me see!

Wish I had mine still or I would. Maybe ask the s22 post here in the forum for someone to give you one.

 

[AlixSPQR]

If you want your phone to take great photos out of the box, you don't have much money, and you don't need or care about digital eco systems, then buy a Pixel 6A. That is what the test says. But I'm into the Apple eco system, and I prefer small phones, so I'm perfectly happy with my 13 mini, thank you.

 

[AeroSatan]

It isn't my favorite phone, nor did I mention anything about being amateurs. The iPhone is the phone I use based on my needs and I hate being tied to the Apple ecosystem, but that's the current state of things. That and all my family use iMessage and refuse to use anything else, so I'm kind of stuck here. I appreciate you attempting to discredit my comment, though. Great stuff. Both Marques and Mrwhosetheboss have a very definite sway in Samsung's direction, regardless of what any other phones are bringing to the table. I've been watching both of them for years. I appreciate their channels, but their biases make them hard to watch sometimes.

What biases? Have you thought for a second that maybe the S22U is a top notch "Big Phone"? There isn't many things it doesn't do really well. Then there's the stylus that enables you to do even more. 10X Optimal zoom, best display, one of the best camera systems. Perhaps you're the biased one expecting the iPhone to take all the awards? I have both the 14 Pro max and the S22U. The only thing the iPhone does better is integrate with the Apple ecosystem and take better videos. Just the fact that the iPhone can shoot huge pro res files but uses the woefuly outdated Lightning usb 2.1 connection is enough to drop it a few pegs. Lightning in 2023, especially for Pro's is an utter joke.

 

[AeroSatan]

I don’t get too hung up on things like this as phones all do something better than another. It’s not about one aspect though. The camera on my 13PM is plenty good enough for me at the moment and no doubt the 14P is better and certain Android phones too. I’m not using those phones though so don’t care.

YNWA

 

[Choco Taco]

What biases? Have you thought for a second that maybe the S22U is a top notch "Big Phone"? There isn't many things it doesn't do really well. Then there's the stylus that enables you to do even more. 10X Optimal zoom, best display, one of the best camera systems. Perhaps you're the biased one expecting the iPhone to take all the awards? I have both the 14 Pro max and the S22U. The only thing the iPhone does better is integrate with the Apple ecosystem and take better videos. Just the fact that the iPhone can shoot huge pro res files but uses the woefuly outdated Lightning usb 2.1 connection is enough to drop it a few pegs. Lightning in 2023, especially for Pro's is an utter joke.

Again ... you keep saying I'm expecting the iPhone to win everything. I never said that once. You did. I don't think the iPhone is the best phone. How can you expect to have a conversation when you keep saying people said things they didn't actually say? It's frustrating. All I said was these two have a clear bias ... which they do. And they've had that bias for years. Marques has mellowed out quite a bit, but Mrwhosetheboss is starting to approach cringe levels of shill. Samsung has made some of my favorite phones of all time. I'm not anti-Samsung and pro-iPhone. The only reason I'm stuck with iPhone for now is my entirely family is constantly sending things via iMessage and won't use anything else. If I could get them all on Telegram or something that would be fantastic, but they won't do it. As great as Samsung phones are, however, they still continue to lag behind video (though this isn't exclusively a Samsung problem, Apple dominates in this department) and the shutter lag when taking photos is still prevalent even on their latest devices. I think this may be more of an issue with Android as a whole than it is with Samsung as I've experienced shutter lag on other Android phones as well. Snapping photos is just quicker on the iPhone, even if they don't look as great on the iPhone. Another point for Samsung is ... even with Apple's latest display and fast refresh ... the displays on the Samsung make the iPhone feel slow. Samsung clearly reserves the best tech for their own phones. Apple having ancient transfer speeds with their lightning cable is also infuriating.

I'm just annoyed that I'm destined to stay on the iPhone simply because of stubborn friends and family using iMessage.

 

[mebehere]

The explanation is that out of those photos, some android phones took better photos in those specific conditions. There’s nothing else to it.

No flagship smartphone camera is going to take a better phone than a competitor every single time. Sometimes an iPhone will take better photos, and sometimes an Android take better photos. What matters way more than the camera is the skill and knowledge of the person using the camera.

iPhone camera, and I have to assume other smartphone cameras, are impossible to use. I’ve been out of the game for awhile, but my Canon 1D Mark III was a real camera with all the different variables at your immediate disposal.

Aperture, shutter speed, ISO, metering, focus point configuration, etc. Easy. Smartphones are just point and shoot crap. They will never compete with real cameras.

 

[MegaBlue]

iPhone camera, and I have to assume other smartphone cameras, are impossible to use. I’ve been out of the game for awhile, but my Canon 1D Mark III was a real camera with all the different variables at your immediate disposal.

Aperture, shutter speed, ISO, metering, focus point configuration, etc. Easy. Smartphones are just point and shoot crap. They will never compete with real cameras.

I heavily disagree.

For starters, essentially every control you can get out of a DSLR or MLC is available through third party apps - I used to use Halide but now I use ProCam. While I wouldn’t call myself a professional, I would call myself above a casual, and every setting I would use on my personal camera (T6i) I have on my phone via ProCam.

However, ignoring that aspect, I mean, yeah, unless we start putting APS-C or full-sized sensors in smartphones, a full sized camera is always going to take better photos on paper.

What makes a smartphone camera so valuable is two things: First, it makes getting into photography much more accessible. Instead of investing several hundred/thousand into a single use device, you can have one device that can take overall good quality photos that also does so much more else. Computational photography and multiple lenses allow casuals and amateurs to more easily take photos that are acceptable.

At the same time, there are times where a big, traditional camera is NOT going to be the best option. Shots from weird angles, small spaces, or other awkward positions may prove to be the better option to get the kind of shot you want. Or, maybe the style of shot from a smaller camera is integral to the story you’re trying to tell.

A smartphone can replace a camera for casuals and amateurs, and it’s a very valuable complement for more advanced photographers.

 

[OneBar]

I heavily disagree.

For starters, essentially every control you can get out of a DSLR or MLC is available through third party apps - I used to use Halide but now I use ProCam. While I wouldn’t call myself a professional, I would call myself above a casual, and every setting I would use on my personal camera (T6i) I have on my phone via ProCam.

However, ignoring that aspect, I mean, yeah, unless we start putting APS-C or full-sized sensors in smartphones, a full sized camera is always going to take better photos on paper.

What makes a smartphone camera so valuable is two things: First, it makes getting into photography much more accessible. Instead of investing several hundred/thousand into a single use device, you can have one device that can take overall good quality photos that also does so much more else. Computational photography and multiple lenses allow casuals and amateurs to more easily take photos that are acceptable.

At the same time, there are times where a big, traditional camera is NOT going to be the best option. Shots from weird angles, small spaces, or other awkward positions may prove to be the better option to get the kind of shot you want. Or, maybe the style of shot from a smaller camera is integral to the story you’re trying to tell.

A smartphone can replace a camera for casuals and amateurs, and it’s a very valuable complement for more advanced photographers.

Yep. I had a Pentax ist*DS and loved it but it quit shuttering with a lens attached about the time we got our 8+s. Started shooting with that more and applying more theory and skill to shooting with it and it sufficed until we got our current 11PMs. The only reason I got my new K70 is for the lens versatility and bigger sensor. Well, that and it was cheaper than purchasing a new phone. Weird, that. With the lenses I'm at about $800 in on the cam and getting a 14PM would have run us about $900 each after rebates and trades for the config we want.

 

[mjschabow]

I still don't think the camera feels loose at all.

 

[kiranmk2]

More thoughts from Marques on what is happening with iPhone cameras

 

[HDFan]

Smartphones are just point and shoot crap. They will never compete with real cameras.

Zoomed photo on left $1K kit camera, Galaxy S22 on right. Comparison results can change based upon the photo environment. Phone cameras can be as good, or even better, than regular cameras in many situations.

 

[OneBar]

Zoomed photo on left $1K kit camera, Galaxy S22 on right. Comparison results can change based upon the photo environment. Phone cameras can be as good, or even better, than regular cameras in many situations.

View attachment 2137817

If you think that oversharpened mess looks better then you need to re-evaluate. The only thing wrong with the DSLR shot is that it didn't focus properly.

 

[Choco Taco]

Zoomed photo on left $1K kit camera, Galaxy S22 on right. Comparison results can change based upon the photo environment. Phone cameras can be as good, or even better, than regular cameras in many situations.

View attachment 2137817

A video from someone that doesn't have any idea how lenses or focus work.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Zoomed photo on left $1K kit camera, Galaxy S22 on right. Comparison results can change based upon the photo environment. Phone cameras can be as good, or even better, than regular cameras in many situations.

View attachment 2137817

As much as smartphone cameras have improved in recent years, they are not as good or better than a dedicated DSLR cameras with good glass. That’s not even a debate really.

 

[ToddH]

As much as smartphone cameras have improved in recent years, they are not as good or better than a dedicated DSLR cameras with good glass. That’s not even a debate really.

This is true because the lenses do not have aperture blades to control depth of field & I can’t attach a 300mm f/2.8 to an iPhone. However with the 48mp resolution and ProRAW on the 14 pro series, it can hold its own with a DSLR if the DSLR has a 24mm lens attached to have a fair comparison Since most photographers that use a DSLR, they tend to shoot wide open all the time now for the Bokeh. Digital photography has plateaued for the most part. Nothing new with image capture or editing. It’s not like film, (yeah that will test your photography skills because you can’t see what you captured until the film is developed) as you can with digital. Photography still takes a lot of skill, practice, and the most important part, Technique! Technique will separate the amateurs from the pros.

The iPhone 14 pro max that I have takes truly amazing photos because I know what I’m doing. I know how the camera is going to react to a scene so I make my adjustments prior to the shot. I’ve been a photographer for a long time and I can out shoot most people with my iPhone against a DSLR. The only thing I Can’t do is adjust the aperture on the iPhone camera. The iPhone is just a mini mirrorless camera. You adjust it like a DSLR, shoot raw like a DSLR, and edit the same way. Once I get my hands on the new 1.7x telephoto from BeastGrip, (soon to be released), I’ll up my portrait game tremendously. I prefer to shoot with my iPhone because it’s fun, I can edit on the spot, and send photos as needed. A DSLR file has to be loaded on a desktop, edited, the airdropped back to the iPhone or iPad for sharing. Lots of extra steps. So I’ll continue to use my iPhones until I need to use my Sony A7R III.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

This is true because the lenses do not have aperture blades to control depth of field & I can’t attach a 300mm f/2.8 to an iPhone. However with the 48mp resolution and ProRAW on the 14 pro series, it can hold its own with a DSLR if the DSLR has a 24mm lens attached to have a fair comparison Since most photographers that use a DSLR, they tend to shoot wide open all the time now for the Bokeh. Digital photography has plateaued for the most part. Nothing new with image capture or editing. It’s not like film, (yeah that will test your photography skills because you can’t see what you captured until the film is developed) as you can with digital. Photography still takes a lot of skill, practice, and the most important part, Technique! Technique will separate the amateurs from the pros.

The iPhone 14 pro max that I have takes truly amazing photos because I know what I’m doing. I know how the camera is going to react to a scene so I make my adjustments prior to the shot. I’ve been a photographer for a long time and I can out shoot most people with my iPhone against a DSLR. The only thing I Can’t do is adjust the aperture on the iPhone camera. The iPhone is just a mini mirrorless camera. You adjust it like a DSLR, shoot raw like a DSLR, and edit the same way. Once I get my hands on the new 1.7x telephoto from BeastGrip, (soon to be released), I’ll up my portrait game tremendously. I prefer to shoot with my iPhone because it’s fun, I can edit on the spot, and send photos as needed. A DSLR file has to be loaded on a desktop, edited, the airdropped back to the iPhone or iPad for sharing. Lots of extra steps. So I’ll continue to use my iPhones until I need to use my Sony A7R III.

I wouldn’t buy an iPhone 14 Pro because it has a good camera though. It’s a £1200+ mobile phone and I’d sooner improve my camera kit that will last many years longer than an iPhone. I’m happy with my 13 Pro Max which has an excellent smartphone camera and my DSLR for when I am dedicating myself to photography. iPhones have gotten far too expensive for what they are and i’ll be downgrading after my current phone is done, not continuing to support a Pro series that seems to be getting more and more expensive.

 

[ToddH]

I wouldn’t buy an iPhone 14 Pro because it has a good camera though. It’s a £1200+ mobile phone and I’d sooner improve my camera kit that will last many years longer than an iPhone. I’m happy with my 13 Pro Max which has an excellent smartphone camera and my DSLR for when I am dedicating myself to photography. iPhones have gotten far too expensive for what they are and i’ll be downgrading after my current phone is done, not continuing to support a Pro series that seems to be getting more and more expensive.

I understand.. the pro models aren’t for everyone. Who knows, with the economy going like it is, I’m not sure what the future holds…for anyone. however I’ll be getting the pro models for the camera upgrades, because that’s just what I love.

 

[ToddH]

How about a basketball portrait taken with my iPhone 14 Pro max. I used two Neewer light wands in clamshell form (one over the head, one under) for the lighting. I used the 3x camera and edited in Lightroom. I almost impatiently waiting for BeastGrip to release the new 1.7x telephoto lens so I can get closer with the 48mp camera. The second shot was lit from the side using one light wand with barn doors attached.

 

[PeteS1963]

Sounds like stacking but I've never heard of any phone that does stacking natively. It might be an app he's using.

Night Mode on iPhone does stacking natively.

“The way Night Mode works is to take multiple exposures and stack them.”

Night Mode isn't miraculous, but it's really impressive - 9to5Mac

In my iPhone 11 Pro Diary pieces to date, there's been one consistent theme: it's all about the cameras. Night Mode was one of the two headline features ...

9to5mac.com