iPhone 12 iphone 12 camera vs iphone 8 plus camera

[tedley]

Hi everyone,

I may be in need of a new phone. I currently have an 8plus which is developing problems. I use the camera quite a bit and I use the telephoto on the 8 plus constantly. I'm confused by the description of the iphone cameras on the apple compare page. It says that that the 12 does not have telephoto but has optical zoom to 2x. How is that different that the 8plus which has the telephoto and optical zoom to 2x. I do know the difference between optical and digital zoom. I'm willing to go to the 12 pro to get the telephoto, but if the 12 has the same functionality as the 8plus with respect to telephoto/zoom, that could work for me too.

 

[Cosmosent]

First, the iPhone 12 has 2x Zoom "Out" !

That's how Apple describes going from Wide to Ultra Wide.

It doesn't have a Telephoto Back Camera, & as such, NO Zoom "In".

Second, highly-recommend you wait till the next-Gen iPhones are announced in Sept, whether that's the 12s OR the 13 is TBD, & NOT because of ANY camera improvements.

Very specifically, Apple's 1st-Gen 5G implementation is a Power Hog !

Their 2nd-cut 5G implementation should be much better (& incorporate a better Qualcomm chip) !

Also, the 5G wireless infrastructure wasn't ready, & still isn't, for Prime Time.

It should be in a year OR two.

The 12s / 13 iPhones will include a next-Gen 5G chip from Qualcomm, which is probably the most-important upgrade vs the 12; that & Apple's 5G AFE companion chip.

5G was rushed to market; the Carriers promoted the hell out of it, w/o ever once describing the current state of 5G in detail (for that you'll need to hit a much more technical website than MR).

The iPhone 12s/13 "Pro" is probably the one you want !

And while it will include the typical annual camera upgrades, it's the 5G improvements that will make it the best iPhone upgrade since Apple offered the 7+, Apple's 1st true Flagship-caliber iPhone (it was the first with 3 GB of DRAM).

 

[tedley]

First, the iPhone 12 has 2x Zoom "Out" !

That's how Apple describes going from Wide to Ultra Wide.

It doesn't have a Telephoto Back Camera, & as such, NO Zoom "In".

Second, highly-recommend you wait till the next-Gen iPhones are announced in Sept, whether that's the 12s OR the 13 is TBD, & NOT because of ANY camera improvements.

Very specifically, Apple's 1st-Gen 5G implementation is a Power Hog !

Their 2nd-cut 5G implementation should be much better (& incorporate a better Qualcomm chip) !

Also, the 5G wireless infrastructure wasn't ready, & still isn't, for Prime Time.

It should be in a year OR two.

The 12s / 13 iPhones will include a next-Gen 5G chip from Qualcomm, which is probably the most-important upgrade vs the 12; that & Apple's 5G AFE companion chip.

5G was rushed to market; the Carriers promoted the hell out of it, w/o ever once describing the current state of 5G in detail (for that you'll need to hit a much more technical website than MR).

The iPhone 12s/13 "Pro" is probably the one you want !

And while it will include the typical annual camera upgrades, it's the 5G improvements that will make it the best iPhone upgrade since Apple offered the 7+, Apple's 1st true Flagship-caliber iPhone (it was the first with 3 GB of DRAM).

Thanks for the info about the camera. That clears it up. Not too worried about 5G. I have pretty good 4G/LTE where I am and am on wiFi most the time anyway.

 

[ericwn]

I find the telephoto lens on the pro max a big improvement over my 8+ telephoto btw.

 

[MyPhone99]

other features you may not see huge difference for a day to day activities but it will be huge upgrade going from 8 plus to any of the 12 series phone with respect to camera.

 

[snipr125]

I've got both the 8+ and a 12 mini. Cosmosent has already explained about the zoom out on the regular iphone 12, but in terms of overall image quality the images on my 12 mini are just so much better than my 8+, its almost night and day different, especially in terms of exposure and dynamic range. The colour reproduction is also so much more better.

 

[tedley]

Thanks for everyone's comments. All very informative. I now have a much clear picture of some of the differences. Pardon the pun - couldn't resist.