Ok, so I'll admit I was wrong when I said no real camera upgrades over the 11. Apple Pro Raw and Dolby Vision HDR video are reason enough to upgrade. The ability to edit RAW natively on the iPhone while retaining computational elements like Deep Fusion and Smart HDR is very impressive. Plus a 47% larger sensor (Im guessing its a 1/1.9" sensor), f/1.6 main camera that allows 27% more light, improved 7 element lens, all new stabilization for all cameras with sensor shift, LiDAR that allows for 6x better low light performance and better DOF....very impressive. I will get one for sure to at least test out.
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Other iPhone 12 Pro camera, wow
- Thread starter DexBell
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Nearly all the software features are locked out from the 12 despite it having the same processor that would allow for it. That’s a bummer and an attempt to set the Pro models apart when they don’t have a lot in hardware to do it. The 12 Pro Max hardware camera enhancements are nice but its a bummer it doesn’t extend to the 12 Pro, the odd model out that is very hard to justify its $200 premium.
they both have improvements vs. the 11 Pros but the 12 pro Max has a much bigger sensor (better in low light) and a longer optical zoom (5 vs. 4x) vs. the 12 Pro. I assume because there is more physical room in the 12 Pro Max but it makes the 12 Pro the least bang for the buck out of ANY of the new iPhones.
No. The Max has a 65mm telephoto with 5x optical zoom vs 52mm with 4x zoom on the Pro. The Max also has a larger sensor and LiDAR sensor.
they both have the LiDAR sensor, otherwise correct.
From what I can tell, the pro max ultra wide and wide lenses are identical, but the pro max has more zoom from the telephoto at the expense of aperture size (which is typical of telephoto lenses). The Max's f/2.2 aperture lets less light in than the non-Max's f/2.0.
By the way the 12 Pro camera specs look just like the 11 pro except for the wide angle lens having a wider aperture and software features (RAW editing and advanced HDR stuff).
11 Pro Specs:
Ultra Wide: ƒ/2.4 aperture
Wide: ƒ/1.8 aperture
Telephoto: ƒ/2.0 aperture
2x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 4x optical zoom range
Dual optical image stabilization
12 Pro Specs:
Ultra Wide: ƒ/2.4 aperture
Wide: ƒ/1.6 aperture
Telephoto: ƒ/2.0 aperture
2x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 4x optical zoom range
Dual optical image stabilization
12 Pro Max Specs:
Ultra Wide: ƒ/2.4 aperture
Wide: ƒ/1.6 aperture
Telephoto: ƒ/2.2 aperture
2.5x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 5x optical zoom range
Sensor-shift optical image stabilization
I don't really want to carry around a large phone but I probably will if it means a better camera...
By the way the 12 Pro camera specs look just like the 11 pro except for the wide angle lens having a wider aperture and software features (RAW editing and advanced HDR stuff).
11 Pro Specs:
Ultra Wide: ƒ/2.4 aperture
Wide: ƒ/1.8 aperture
Telephoto: ƒ/2.0 aperture
2x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 4x optical zoom range
Dual optical image stabilization
12 Pro Specs:
Ultra Wide: ƒ/2.4 aperture
Wide: ƒ/1.6 aperture
Telephoto: ƒ/2.0 aperture
2x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 4x optical zoom range
Dual optical image stabilization
12 Pro Max Specs:
Ultra Wide: ƒ/2.4 aperture
Wide: ƒ/1.6 aperture
Telephoto: ƒ/2.2 aperture
2.5x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 5x optical zoom range
Sensor-shift optical image stabilization
iPhone - Compare Models
Compare features and technical specifications for iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone SE, and many more.
www.apple.com
I don't really want to carry around a large phone but I probably will if it means a better camera...
My bad. Also, the Max features sensor shift stabilization (also known as IBIS in mirrorless cameras) which is significantly better than the OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) found in the 12 Pro.
From what I can tell, the pro max ultra wide and wide lenses are identical, but the pro max has more zoom from the telephoto at the expense of aperture size (which is typical of telephoto lenses). The Max's f/2.2 aperture lets less light in than the non-Max's f/2.0.
By the way the 12 Pro camera specs look just like the 11 pro except for the wide angle lens having a wider aperture and software features (RAW editing and advanced HDR stuff).
11 Pro Specs:
Ultra Wide: ƒ/2.4 aperture
Wide: ƒ/1.8 aperture
Telephoto: ƒ/2.0 aperture
2x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 4x optical zoom range
Dual optical image stabilization
12 Pro Specs:
Ultra Wide: ƒ/2.4 aperture
Wide: ƒ/1.6 aperture
Telephoto: ƒ/2.0 aperture
2x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 4x optical zoom range
Dual optical image stabilization
12 Pro Max Specs:
Ultra Wide: ƒ/2.4 aperture
Wide: ƒ/1.6 aperture
Telephoto: ƒ/2.2 aperture
2.5x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 5x optical zoom range
Sensor-shift optical image stabilization
iPhone - Compare Models
Compare features and technical specifications for iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone SE, and many more.www.apple.com
I don't really want to carry around a large phone but I probably will if it means a better camera...
The wide lenses are the same, but the Max has a larger sensor with larger pixels which will lead to noticeably better photos, especially in low light. Sensor shift in the Max vs just OIS in the Pro will make a big difference too.
If this isn’t the best camera on a smart phone i will be rather shocked.
Interesting that the number of pixels in the sensors was not mentioned on the Apple specs page!! I would have totally missed that had you not shared the screenshot. Another reason to get the pro.
I'll say it again, I don't want to carry around a larger phone but I will for a better camera. Camera quality is the most important feature of an iPhone for me these days.
Does anybody know whether the ultra-wide lenses are identical on the 12 Max and non-Max, and also if there is any difference from the iPhone 11 Pro? I love the idea of an ultra wide lens but was always a bit disappointed in the quality of that lens on my iPhone 11 Pro...
It has several advantages I can think of. Ability to shoot and edit RAW natively while retaining computational features like Deep Fusion and Smart HDR, that's huge. You lose that in 3rd party apps when shooting RAW. Sensor Shift stabilization is huge, dont think any other phone has that. Dolby Vision HDR video and the ability to edit it natively is also a big one. No other phone has that. I would have liked to have seen a larger sensor, maybe a 1/1.33" like the competition, but we shall see. I'll be interested to test it against my Note 20 Ultra.
There’s a comparison on the camera section which is very clear.
iPhone
Designed for Apple Intelligence. Discover the new iPhone 16e along with iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 and iPhone 15.www.apple.com
Thanks, That is helpful. There was a lot to scroll through to find it. Just surprised it wasn't highlighted on the phone vs. phone comparison page given how big a deal a larger sensor is.
It’s good we will have night mode on all lens, night mode on portrait mode as well. I do love night mode so this getting even better is a big plus for me.
Same number of pixels but the pixels on the Max will be larger due to the larger sensor. That is ideally what you want, larger pixels on a larger sensor are better than more pixels on a smaller sensor. Thats why a 20 megapixel camera with a full frame sensor will produce better photos than a 24 or even 26 megapixel camera with a smaller, cropped sensor.
They don't have 4x and 5x, this is marketing misdirection at its finest.
The way they get this number is by taking the ultra wide lens as being 1x (13mm) and the telephoto being 52mm is 4x 13mm, so they say it has a 4x "optical zoom range." However, the 52mm telephoto is the same focal length going back all the way to the iPhone 7 plus and is not any longer. It's the same 2x lens you know and loathe for its inability to be used indoors/in low light.
The Max though, has a 2.5x zoom, slightly longer at 65mm equivalent vs 52mm, albeit with a 2.2 aperture vs 2.0 on the standard Pro.
The way they get this number is by taking the ultra wide lens as being 1x (13mm) and the telephoto being 52mm is 4x 13mm, so they say it has a 4x "optical zoom range." However, the 52mm telephoto is the same focal length going back all the way to the iPhone 7 plus and is not any longer. It's the same 2x lens you know and loathe for its inability to be used indoors/in low light.
The Max though, has a 2.5x zoom, slightly longer at 65mm equivalent vs 52mm, albeit with a 2.2 aperture vs 2.0 on the standard Pro.
yep...
deep fusion = all 3
nightmode = just ultra wide and wide (because i'm sure telephoto continues to be the lens that lets in the least light and just super underperforms in dim settings)