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I’ve seen the example of this in MKBHD’s video.

From the description above I’m not clear on how this will work/help, because if you turn off the auto-switching wouldn’t that stop you from shooting macro shots?

I wonder why Apple didn’t add a ‘Macro’ option to the horizontal modes menu.

And won't Apple also need to do something to get out of the ultra wide and back to 1x (as noted in the MKBHD video) if auto-switching is disabled?
No because you just need to select the ultra-wide lens do macro from there. With that lens you can get really close in. You don't need the wide lens at all apple just thought was a good idea to use that lens close up and switch poorly implemented.
 
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This sounds like the right move, Apple. Thanks. Makes me a bit more excited about my 13 Pro upgrade.
Of any aspect of the user experience, content creation (anything creative: design, photos, music, etc.) deserves the most flexibility with regard to user-control.
 
It's cool that it can do it automatically. They just need an opt-out setting, or just make it a dedicated camera mode (like, why does cinematic mode get one but not this? I'll use macro way more than cinematic video, personally).
 
Why not just make a macro mode on the slider wheel, like they have for pano and time lapse? Am I missing something?

Maybe, but do we even need a mode? Why not just have it where you use the zoom to select whatever lens you want, you put the camera wherever you want to put it, and you tap to focus on whatever you want to focus?
 
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It's cool that it can do it automatically. They just need an opt-out setting, or just make it a dedicated camera mode (like, why does cinematic mode get one but not this? I'll use macro way more than cinematic video, personally).

Cinematic needs a special mode because it doesn’t work with all the resolutions and frame rates of the normal videos. In the future when it does then cinematic mode would just mean storing extra data so could become just a toggle.
 
Crazy right?! It's like we all entered the twillight zone. I don't think Apple has EVER THIS quickly responded to public feedback in a positive way.

Next up ... continue the mini series beyond 2021-2022 year!

What's more interesting to me, is how did that not come up with Apple's internal testing. Are they all yes-men/women?

I mean come on, youtubers aren't exactly rocket scientists, for there to be a universal consensus that this feature is glitchy and needs a toggle, it's a pretty big miss for Apple out of the gate.
 
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I was surprised when Apple announced support for macro photography.
I’m pleasantly surprised but it didn’t come out of nowhere. A lot of people were pretty disappointed by the 12 Pro/Max’s close-up focusing performance and made a stink about it.
 
What's more interesting to me, is how did that not come up with Apple's internal testing. Are they all yes-men/women?

I mean come on, youtubers aren't exactly rocket scientists, for there to be a universal consensus that this feature is glitchy and needs a toggle, it's a pretty big miss for Apple out of the gate.
Or it could be that they thought it was useful/sufficient for the typical user? That said, this is their Pro line and I think Apple needs to start thinking a little differently about how a more demanding user might like to have as much control as they can on the Pro line-up. Even if Pro in Apple parlance seems to mostly mean "the nicer one", I think a little more consideration on issues like this needs to be thought through. They should probably also take a reconsidering of that Lightning port on the Pro line too.
 
Why is this a problem? It’s switching to the better camera for that shot right…
Because it's a 'pro' phone, and being a professional tool means giving users control over how they want to use the tool. That's why there's manual modes on professional cameras, because professionals and creatives pick what works best for them, not what their camera thinks. So, either the phone should give users control because it's a pro phone, or the phone isn't actually pro and its users are just normal people willing to spend $1000+ on a smartphone. I know which of the two the non-USB-C-carrying iPhone 'Pro' is...
 
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Why not just make a macro mode on the slider wheel, like they have for pano and time lapse? Am I missing something?

Reviewers are complaining that there are too many modes already, and they’re probably right about that. The default camera app is supposed to be a simple entry-level camera.
 
Why is this a problem? It’s switching to the better camera for that shot right…
As a photographer, I would say a that's a resounding no. It depends on the shot. I'd rather control it myself. For instance, if I was taking a macro photo of a frog (or other small critter, bug, bee on a flower, butterfly, etc), which I have done quite well using 2X and more recently 2.5X optical zoom on my iPhone 12 Pro Max, and it switched to the ultra wide, I'd have to get very close to the frog. And while I might be able to capture an even closer photo, I don't need to, and the frog would jump away because the camera would be less than an inch from it, vs. half a foot away, which you can do if you move slowly and carefully.

This macro mode a nice new tool to have, and will be great for more extreme macro but I don't want it taking over for all my macro shots. I will definitely use it though. As a photographer I want to make the choice. And before people say that I'm not a real photographer if I use an iPhone, the best camera is the one you have on you, and besides, my camera gear is probably better than yours anyway, haha.

Personally my favorite macro lens isn't even traditionally considered a macro lens, but it works well for the smaller work that I do. I use the Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM, sometimes with the 0.4x adapter, because it has a relatively closer minimum focal distance which allows me to capture small wildlife from much further away than something like the Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G, which is a great lens otherwise. It's also good for flowers. I also believe it gives me a little bit more depth of field without losing beautiful background bokeh, but I haven't done extensive tests to confirm. I just like how it feels, and as a bonus, it's also a great lens for larger wildlife, birding, and sports.

So hopefully you can see how individual styles, subjects and environmental factors can affect which lens selections are made. Everything from depth of field, background blur (bokeh), available light coming into the lens for a given situation (which can result in more or less noise since the ISO has to boost), size of the subject, whether the subject is alive or otherwise prone to being disturbed, and more can affect lens selection and a photographer should always have control over that, especially in a phone labeled "Pro". And even though it is a phone, when it's all I have on me, I do take these things into consideration and try to make the best of my gear and maximize the limitations.
 
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Because it's a 'pro' phone, and being a professional tool means giving users control over how they want to use the tool. That's why there's manual modes on professional cameras, because professionals and creatives pick what works best for them, not what their camera thinks.

The default camera app has never been a professional tool. For that, you go to the App Store.
 
This'll make MKBHD happy.



I guarantee you this wasn't an oversight. It was a deferred piece of functionality.
Additionally, there was probably a time crunch and Apple was keen to demonstrate it as a day-one feature for the new phones.

These “less-than-polished” iOS .0 releases have become the norm. 🤷‍♂️
 
How do I disable the app library and only use folders? Don’t tell me I can’t disable it, because that’s also the issue with the widget page.

Also, why is it so terrible at organizing apps? Google voice isn’t a financial app, and why isn’t steam link listed in the games folder? Might it be because it's using the marketing directives of the developer rather than actual app functions?

If it was any good at auto organizing it would allow apps to be in two different folders. The Athletic is a sports app, news app, and entertainment app. Browzine is a subscription journal reading app so why is it stored in the same folder as t-mobile Tuesday and the hue app, but not in the productivity or shopping folders? Why is echo360, a video streaming educational platform in the same folder as my electric car app and the app for my bathroom scale? Is it because the App Library fails at it's only job?
Surpried you haven’t gotten any feedback defending apple or tell you
Don’t use google voice
 
Macro is such an awesome capability. I will likely leave setting on as you are always likely to get the better shot with the ultra wide
 
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