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

iPhone 15 Pro Max 5x Lens Very Average?

D

Duradrum

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 14, 2017
45
32
I'm finding the 5 x lens very average for image quality, especially in video mode. Not that I'll use it a ton, but anyone getting nice images from the 5x lens?

I find the 5x video mode, in good daylight gets a ton of artefacts, in both normal and ProRes log.

Images are a little better, but I dont find it amazing.
 
Duradrum said:
I'm finding the 5 x lens very average for image quality, especially in video mode. Not that I'll use it a ton, but anyone getting nice images from the 5x lens?

I find the 5x video mode, in good daylight gets a ton of artefacts, in both normal and ProRes log.

Images are a little better, but I dont find it amazing.
Click to expand...
Artifacts in ProRes?? How’s that possible? Do you mean from the lens?
 
You understand it only kicks over to the 5x camera if it has enough light. Otherwise it will simply digitally zoom the main lens. Easiest way to tell is to click the 5x zoom, and then cover the camera with your finger tip. If it’s truly using the 5x zoom lens, your finger will cover it if you cover the lens closest to the middle of the phone. IE the right lens when looking at the back of the phone
 
yoheywut said:
You understand it only kicks over to the 5x camera if it has enough light. Otherwise it will simply digitally zoom the main lens. Easiest way to tell is to click the 5x zoom, and then cover the camera with your finger tip. If it’s truly using the 5x zoom lens, your finger will cover it if you cover the lens closest to the middle of the phone. IE the right lens when looking at the back of the phone
Click to expand...
Is this actually the case? Have you tried it? Am asking cos I took several test shots from the 15PM 5x zoom and found them to be noticeably soft. But I definitely do not think it was digitally zooming the 1x lens up to 120mm because the quality would have been awful. I took the test shots in a well lit Apple Store and Airdropped them to my 13PM and then examined the photosm on my iPad Pro 12.9” M2.

By the way, I also compared shots taken with my 13PM 3x zoom to the 15PM set to 3x and the 13PM images were far better than the 15PM. But that is to be expected.
 
firoze said:
Is this actually the case? Have you tried it? Am asking cos I took several test shots from the 15PM 5x zoom and found them to be noticeably soft. But I definitely do not think it was digitally zooming the 1x lens up to 120mm because the quality would have been awful. I took the test shots in a well lit Apple Store and Airdropped them to my 13PM and then examined the photosm on my iPad Pro 12.9” M2.

By the way, I also compared shots taken with my 13PM 3x zoom to the 15PM set to 3x and the 13PM images were far better than the 15PM. But that is to be expected.
Click to expand...
This is 100% the case yes. Been like this for a few years. You can also check the file info in the photos app to see what lens it used. I did just notice that my 15 Pro tends to hang on and use the real telephoto lens more in lower light more than my 14 used to.
 
  • Like
Reactions: firoze
yoheywut said:
You understand it only kicks over to the 5x camera if it has enough light. Otherwise it will simply digitally zoom the main lens. Easiest way to tell is to click the 5x zoom, and then cover the camera with your finger tip. If it’s truly using the 5x zoom lens, your finger will cover it if you cover the lens closest to the middle of the phone. IE the right lens when looking at the back of the phone
Click to expand...
Ding ding this is the correct answer. You can also look at the info for the file and see which lens was used there. In fact, tele lenses require even more light than the ultra wide lenses.
 
These are ProRes unedited files straight from the iPhone, if anyone is interested in what I am seeing...

Warning: big files

IMG_9664.mov

drive.google.com drive.google.com

Google Drive: Sign-in

Access Google Drive with a Google account (for personal use) or Google Workspace account (for business use).
drive.google.com
 
Last edited:
firoze said:
Is this actually the case? Have you tried it? Am asking cos I took several test shots from the 15PM 5x zoom and found them to be noticeably soft. But I definitely do not think it was digitally zooming the 1x lens up to 120mm because the quality would have been awful. I took the test shots in a well lit Apple Store and Airdropped them to my 13PM and then examined the photosm on my iPad Pro 12.9” M2.

By the way, I also compared shots taken with my 13PM 3x zoom to the 15PM set to 3x and the 13PM images were far better than the 15PM. But that is to be expected.
Click to expand...
After reading through the camera threads that popped up the last few days, I tested out my 5x and most of the time (indoors at nighttime, so not amazing lighting), it defaulted to the main camera. I checked the info on every pic and they were all cropped, with the camera lens and aperture of the main camera, not the telephoto.

Attaching the first true 120mm f2.8 that I took with the phone last night, for comparison. I focused on the candle and went through all of the lenses from 0.5 to 5 and it actually took it properly. Gonna experiment outdoors this weekend.

IMG_1625.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: firoze
xfusejc said:
After reading through the camera threads that popped up the last few days, I tested out my 5x and most of the time (indoors at nighttime, so not amazing lighting), it defaulted to the main camera. I checked the info on every pic and they were all cropped, with the camera lens and aperture of the main camera, not the telephoto.

Attaching the first true 120mm f2.8 that I took with the phone last night, for comparison. I focused on the candle and went through all of the lenses from 0.5 to 5 and it actually took it properly. Gonna experiment outdoors this weekend.

View attachment 2278330
Click to expand...

Thank you for posting this. Would appreciate you posting some outdoor pics with the 120mm lens in good light.
 
firoze said:
Thank you for posting this. Would appreciate you posting some outdoor pics with the 120mm lens in good light.
Click to expand...
Gonna go out and get some coffee now, will take some pics along the way and report back 🙏🏻
 
Did the full progression of the cameras from 0.5 to 5, from the same spot. Had to upload elsewhere because MR says the images are too big on here directly but you can get the full image at least.

All thanks to my parents outdoor storage 😆 Overcast, not direct sunlight.

0.5x (13mm, f2.2)
IMG-1629.jpg


1x (24mm, f1.78)
IMG-1630.jpg


1.2x (24mm, f1.78)
IMG-1631.jpg


1.5x (24mm, f1.78)
IMG-1632.jpg


2x (24mm, f1.78)
IMG-1633.jpg


5x (120mm, f2.8)
IMG-1634.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: firoze and SteveJobs2.0
xfusejc said:
Did the full progression of the cameras from 0.5 to 5, from the same spot. Had to upload elsewhere because MR says the images are too big on here directly but you can get the full image at least.

All thanks to my parents outdoor storage 😆 Overcast, not direct sunlight.

0.5x (13mm, f2.2)
IMG-1629.jpg


1x (24mm, f1.78)
IMG-1630.jpg


1.2x (24mm, f1.78)
IMG-1631.jpg


1.5x (24mm, f1.78)
IMG-1632.jpg


2x (24mm, f1.78)
IMG-1633.jpg


5x (120mm, f2.8)
IMG-1634.jpg
Click to expand...
Very interesting! Many thanks for posting these images. Are these full resolution images we are seeing here? What is your opinion of the 120mm image?
 
firoze said:
Very interesting! Many thanks for posting these images. Are these full resolution images we are seeing here? What is your opinion of the 120mm image?
Click to expand...
I uploaded them to imgbb but they’re supposed to stay at full resolution.

As far as my opinion, honestly, considering that the lens is not active exclusively just by selecting it from the camera and that it only kicks in under specific circumstances while giving you a cropped version of the main lens otherwise, I’m not loving it. The quality when you zoom in to actual size (and not beyond it) is also not where I would want it to be. Last year I said I was switching to the Pro this year and the new camera set up on the PM convinced me otherwise, but I think 3x would have been a better choice overall.

I’m not switching or returning, cause I’ve already bought cases and screen protectors and all that good stuff, but I think it suffers a bit from the 12mpx size. It’s not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but also not necessarily worth it for me, in the long run. Maybe when I get into more photo opportunities it’ll change my mind.

As it is, I’m hoping Halide will update things so that when you select the 5x it will exclusively use that lens and not switch back and forth on its own whim.

Hope that helps!
 
  • Like
Reactions: firoze
xfusejc said:
I uploaded them to imgbb but they’re supposed to stay at full resolution.

As far as my opinion, honestly, considering that the lens is not active exclusively just by selecting it from the camera and that it only kicks in under specific circumstances while giving you a cropped version of the main lens otherwise, I’m not loving it. The quality when you zoom in to actual size (and not beyond it) is also not where I would want it to be. Last year I said I was switching to the Pro this year and the new camera set up on the PM convinced me otherwise, but I think 3x would have been a better choice overall.

I’m not switching or returning, cause I’ve already bought cases and screen protectors and all that good stuff, but I think it suffers a bit from the 12mpx size. It’s not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but also not necessarily worth it for me, in the long run. Maybe when I get into more photo opportunities it’ll change my mind.

As it is, I’m hoping Halide will update things so that when you select the 5x it will exclusively use that lens and not switch back and forth on its own whim.

Hope that helps!
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply. I concur with your thoughts, in that if at 5x setting the main 1x lens comes into play quite often, then that’s not very good. Moreover I feel the 5x camera itself is not as crisp and sharp as it should be. And lastly, the “optical” gap between 1x 24mm and 5x 120mm is far too much, with every focal length in between being digital zoom is just not acceptable for me. For me, 77mm optical focal length is far more versatile than 120mm. Therefore I will retain my 13PM and not upgrade to 15PM.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back