Other iPhone 12 mini cameras: what would you like to have?

[Ukiyo Evenings]

I'd noticed quite a few comments expressing a preference for a telephoto lens over the ultra wide, yet it seems manufacturers are focusing more on wide angle lenses in their offerings. For instance, dual camera combinations usually have wide + ultra wide, and even when a third lens in the form of a telephoto is provided, it sometimes has a smaller sized sensor. Thought a poll would be nice to discern some views of the forum about this vis a vis the iPhone 12 mini.

 

[bobmans]

Why would anyone prefer a 2x telephoto over an ultrawide?
The 2x telephoto doesn’t even get used if the lightning conditions aren’t ideally.

 

[The Game 161]

Telephoto is only needed when you have a periscope lens where you can get 5x to 10x optical.

 

[jm31828]

Why would anyone prefer a 2x telephoto over an ultrawide?
The 2x telephoto doesn’t even get used if the lightning conditions aren’t ideally.

I would actually argue that the 2x telephoto would be far more useful than the ultrawide I have as the 2nd lens on my iphone 11. I rarely use it- I mostly do landscape photography and the regular lens is too wide angle already, everything looks so far away- ultrawide is not helpful. And in cases where I do use it, it is such a poor quality lens, images taken with it harken back to the crappy cameras that were in phones 6 or 7 years ago (noise, distortion, etc.), compared to the nice,crisp images that come from the standard lens.

 

[ericwn]

Why would anyone prefer a 2x telephoto over an ultrawide?
The 2x telephoto doesn’t even get used if the lightning conditions aren’t ideally.

Because it’s a different field of view. Depending on the shooting style a photographer would pick the lens accordingly.

 

[ericwn]

Telephoto is only needed when you have a periscope lens where you can get 5x to 10x optical.

No. Telephoto lenses have lots of applications like the portrait photo modes right now. A better angle of view will make for a better image.

 

[ericwn]

I would actually argue that the 2x telephoto would be far more useful than the ultrawide I have as the 2nd lens on my iphone 11. I rarely use it- I mostly do landscape photography and the regular lens is too wide angle already, everything looks so far away- ultrawide is not helpful. And in cases where I do use it, it is such a poor quality lens, images taken with it harken back to the crappy cameras that were in phones 6 or 7 years ago (noise, distortion, etc.), compared to the nice,crisp images that come from the standard lens.

Agreed. You see way more telephoto lenses out in the field on dedicated cameras too, for that reason. Ultrawide doesn’t get used that often.

 

[The Game 161]

No. Telephoto lenses have lots of applications like the portrait photo modes right now. A better angle of view will make for a better image.

To a point sure but whole point of a telephoto is to get same quality from further away. Which 5x provides great quality and beyond and a periscope lens is needed for that

 

[ericwn]

To a point sure but whole point of a telephoto is to get same quality from further away. Which 5x provides great quality and beyond and a periscope lens is needed for that

More is certainly always welcome. Do I want to trade the current telephoto from my 8+ against the ultra wide? No way. YMMV

 

[Wando64]

Why would anyone prefer a 2x telephoto over an ultrawide?

We are all different, but personally I often wish I could be closer to the subject. Much more often than the cases when I need a wider field.
Additionally, it would make for a better portrait lens.

 

[MiniApple]

Asking those who know these type of things:

what are the pros and cons about the different cameras and their primary use case(s)?