iPhone Air Does the iPhone Air have auto photo depth capture?

[catgo]

I’ve read in apple’s literature the iPhone Air can automatically obtain photo depth information which allows you to modify a pictures f/stop after capture, however I can’t get this to work on my phone for some reason.

Can anyone confirm this is a feature of the phone as it is on the Pro models?

From Apple:

A new image pipeline built for iPhone Air enables next-generation portraits with Focus Control at the same level as multicamera systems, automatically capturing depth information so users can turn photos into portraits later in the Photos app.

 

[aperfectcircle]

Can confirm it works with portrait mode photos on the Air.

Edit: it’s literally the first adjustable setting that comes up when I click the edit button on a portrait photo.

 

[aperfectcircle]

 

[catgo]

Yes, if you set portrait mode then it’s not an issue. However with my 16 Pro, I could adjust the depth of field after taking a picture without using portrait mode.

According to Apple, this should be possible on the Air as well, however I can’t get it to work.

 

[smeg36]

It works for me on my Air. When I go to the edit menu, I see Portrait as one of the options when taking regular, non-portrait mode photos.

 

[catgo]

For some reason, I don’t. I wonder if there are any options I’m not selecting or some type of setting I’m missing to get this to work.

 

[smeg36]

There is a setting in Settings/Camera for Portraits in Photo Mode. Is yours toggled on? Mine is.

 

[aperfectcircle]

Yes, if you set portrait mode then it’s not an issue. However with my 16 Pro, I could adjust the depth of field after taking a picture without using portrait mode.

According to Apple, this should be possible on the Air as well, however I can’t get it to work.

Ah I didn’t realise that was a feature. I’ve just checked a couple of standard live non-portrait photos of my toddler and they have the depth of field adjustment when going into edit. Could it be that the photos in question don’t have a clear subject for it to work?

 

[catgo]

There is a setting in Settings/Camera for Portraits in Photo Mode. Is yours toggled on? Mine is.

It is…

 

[catgo]

Ah I didn’t realise that was a feature. I’ve just checked a couple of standard live non-portrait photos of my toddler and they have the depth of field adjustment when going into edit. Could it be that the photos in question don’t have a clear subject for it to work?

I just noticed I had the live feature turned off, I toggled that back to on and I am now able to adjust the depth of field. However, I am almost sure I never used the live feature on my 16 Pro and I could still adjust the depth of field.

Perhaps Live needs to be turned on for the feature to work on the Air.

 

[catgo]

I just figured out why live mode turns off by itself. Apparently, when you choose HEIF 48mp, live mode automatically turns off. It only works at 24mp.

So, apparently to get the option to adjust depth of field after taking a regular photo, you must use 24mp (not 48), AND have live view turned on.

I wonder if these requirements apply to the 17 Pro as well.

 

[aperfectcircle]

I just figured out why live mode turns off by itself. Apparently, when you choose HEIF 48mp, live mode automatically turns off. It only works at 24mp.

So, apparently to get the option to adjust depth of field after taking a regular photo, you must use 24mp (not 48), AND have live view turned on.

I wonder if these requirements apply to the 17 Pro as well.

I think it’s even more picky than that! I just tried taking various shots of my Nikon camera sitting on a breakfast bar, both live on and live off and all in 24MP. Some shots it gives me the depth of field adjustment and some it doesn’t, but I can’t figure out the difference. The shots it gives the option are all Live Photo’s but not all Live Photo’s have the option hmm. The mystery deepens. I’ll keep playing around.

 

[deuxani]

I think it’s even more picky than that! I just tried taking various shots of my Nikon camera sitting on a breakfast bar, both live on and live off and all in 24MP. Some shots it gives me the depth of field adjustment and some it doesn’t, but I can’t figure out the difference. The shots it gives the option are all Live Photo’s but not all Live Photo’s have the option hmm. The mystery deepens. I’ll keep playing around.

The logic it uses on my 16 Pro is that the object also can’t be too close to the camera. You need to keep a distance, the same as when taking normal Portrait mode photos where it refuses to focus unless you are at the right distance.

Second is that you need to click on the object you are photographing. When it knows it needs to focus on a certain object it will check the distance and then collects the depth data if the distance is right.

So yeah, many hurdles if you specifically want it to work. But when it does it’s really great to have a Live Photo that also has Portrait mode as an option. Best of both worlds. How many times I’ve had in the past when taking a Portrait photo and my wife not being happy she can’t choose the right frame in the Live Photo…. Those days are gone 😂