Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

verified

Cancelled
Original poster
Feb 6, 2021
18
10
Is Sensor-Shift really makes difference so that one should buy bigger iPhone?
 
It more than just sensor-shift stabilization….

12 PM advantages (vs 12 Pro):

- much bigger battery and thus battery life
- much bigger main wide angle camera sensor (47%)
- IBIS stabilization...5000 / seconds
- 2.5x telephoto lens...better for portraits
- 2.5x telephoto lens with 5000 / seconds lens stabilization (2x telephoto of Pro only does 1000/sec)
- better stereo sound from speakers
- better gaming due to lack of throttling

12 PM disadvantages:

- ginormous size
- heavier by 25g = 088 ounce = 0.055 lbs
- cost $100 more
 
Is Sensor-Shift really makes difference so that one should buy bigger iPhone?
It more than just sensor-shift stabilization….

12 PM advantages (vs 12 Pro):

- much bigger battery and thus battery life
- much bigger main wide angle camera sensor (47%)
- IBIS stabilization...5000 / seconds
- 2.5x telephoto lens...better for portraits
- 2.5x telephoto lens with 5000 / seconds lens stabilization (2x telephoto of Pro only does 1000/sec)
- better stereo sound from speakers
- better gaming due to lack of throttling

12 PM disadvantages:

- ginormous size
- heavier by 25g = 088 ounce = 0.055 lbs
- cost $100 more
Hey bro, thx for tuning in and making a great input, I’m aware of it except speakers difference and throttling because it’s not valuable for me but smaller size is valuable hence question if Pro’s camera is obviously inferior to Pro Max’s in real world?

PS couldn’t find HUGE difference in available comparison articles
 
Hey bro, thx for tuning in and making a great input, I’m aware of it except speakers difference and throttling because it’s not valuable for me but smaller size is valuable hence question if Pro’s camera is obviously inferior to Pro Max’s in real world?

PS couldn’t find HUGE difference in available comparison articles
You’ll be more than happy with the camera on the 12 pro, speakers are plenty loud on the 12 pro, you won’t even see throttling on the 12 pro, if your heart is set on the 12 pro, go for it, you won’t be disappointed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: verified
The biggest difference you would notice, will probably not be sensor shift, but rather the increased sensor on the main camera. In daylight you can hardly see any difference, but taking pictures in dark or dusky environments, is where there can be some advantages on the max.

I would never buy the max due to the better camera specs compared to the pro, since the difference is small. In my opinion going for the Max should be to get the increased screen size and/or better battery.

I initially got the 12 pro max, but found it felt heavy (going from a xs max) went back to the xs max, sold it (since the xs weirdly felt heavy too suddenly) and bought a regular 12, really love the lightness on the 12, and screen feels plenty for me at the moment.
 
  • Like
Reactions: verified
Is Sensor-Shift really makes difference so that one should buy bigger iPhone?
For best results to your question I’d simply search youtube for “12 Pro vs 12 Max camera comparison” and see the difference for yourself 🙂

From the comparisons I’ve seen there isn’t enough of a difference in camera quality between the two to be the deciding factor. Both are great at photos so get the size you want 👍
 
  • Like
Reactions: verified
The image stabilisation of the 12 Pro also works with 5000 corrections per second, the difference to the max is only on the main lens there is sensor shift sabilisation used.
 
  • Like
Reactions: verified
exchanged the 12p for a 12P max. So this is my experience/take on it after 2 weeks.

> bigger screen totally worth it
> better sounding speakers totally worth it for me.
> better battery totally worth it.
> not too big to handle after a week of use.
> Camera seems fine. Not tested enough.
 
The image stabilisation of the 12 Pro also works with 5000 corrections per second, the difference to the max is only on the main lens there is sensor shift sabilisation used.
12 Pro has 5000 on main. 1000 on telephoto.

12 Pro Max has 5000 on both.
 
  • Like
Reactions: verified
Hey bro, thx for tuning in and making a great input, I’m aware of it except speakers difference and throttling because it’s not valuable for me but smaller size is valuable hence question if Pro’s camera is obviously inferior to Pro Max’s in real world?

PS couldn’t find HUGE difference in available comparison articles
Very true. Too small difference right now to care. But I firmly believe that Apple will slowly take advantage of the bigger sensor on 12 PM with software updates.

For example, to my ordinary eyes, iOS 14.5 seems to have improved 12 PM camera a tiny bit. Prior, I bit*h about my wife’s 11 PM getting slightly more details in the pics at times. But with 14.5, it is now on par and has better noise reduction at same time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: verified
Is Sensor-Shift really makes difference so that one should buy bigger iPhone?
The Max has sensor shift for a particular reason. It has a bigger sensor, which needs a bigger lens. In order to fit that lens into a body of the same thickness (same camera bump basically), they had to remove the lens-based IS. So they employed sensor shift stabilization.

In real cameras, IBIS isn't necessarily better or worse vs. lens IS, it just depends on the scenario. Typically, for longer lenses (lets say 100mm+) lens IS starts to work better than IBIS.

Anyways, as far as video stabilization is concerned, there's not much difference between regular Pro and Max, because neither stabilization system is doing much, it's actually 90% software. That's why the ultrawide looks as smooth as the other lenses.

In real cameras, IS allows you to hand hold the camera (vs being on a tripod) at much slower shutter speeds, so you can have a lower ISO. On the iPhone, unless you're using a special photo app like Lightroom and shooting manual settings, this won't make much difference.

The way Apple has set up the iPhones, there's practically no difference between normal Pro and Max, unless you shoot RAW, not even ProRAW (which kinda sucks because you don't get the Smart HDR, and these sensors suck for dynamic range without it). The exception is in lower light situations, where the Max uses the advantage of the larger sensor to have faster shutter speeds. That means 2 real life benefits, 1) kids or anything moving around in lower light have a greater chance of not being blurry and 2) night mode takes less time.
 
Thx everyone for exhaustive answers. It‘s clear now that if one wants smaller device it won’t be huge loss or if any at all if goes with Pro.

Meanwhile I’m into PWM dilemma and considering LCD iPhone.. I haven’t seen any OLED iPhone at that moment and will have a chance to see it this week But I really hardly question the impact on eyes and brain of the flickering effect even though I’m sure I can adapt to it, but should I adapt to it or even support this kind of harming technology at all. I don’t mean to pivot everyone on this question here, just wanted to let you know.
 
Thx everyone for exhaustive answers. It‘s clear now that if one wants smaller device it won’t be huge loss or if any at all if goes with Pro.

Meanwhile I’m into PWM dilemma and considering LCD iPhone.. I haven’t seen any OLED iPhone at that moment and will have a chance to see it this week But I really hardly question the impact on eyes and brain of the flickering effect even though I’m sure I can adapt to it, but should I adapt to it or even support this kind of harming technology at all. I don’t mean to pivot everyone on this question here, just wanted to let you know.
Uh what?! Stop reading everything on the internet and assume that you will be affected.

OLED is pretty much on every smartphone all over the world. You don’t see mass exodus from OLED nor any class-action suit.

Just buy the darn phone and enjoy it!
 
  • Like
Reactions: LFC2020
Uh what?! Stop reading everything on the internet and assume that you will be affected.

OLED is pretty much on every smartphone all over the world. You don’t see mass exodus from OLED nor any class-action suit.

Just buy the darn phone and enjoy it!
I simply do not agree. It doesn’t matter to me if I’m affected by PWM flickering or not but the tension of eyes and brain is undeniable so I’m not gonna support longevity of PWM tech by adopting it.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: 8rlee8
Do you have a source on this?


“There is also one relatively stealthy (I cannot find this on the website but I verified that it is true) update to the telephoto. It is the only lens other than the wide-angle across all of the iPhone 12 lineup to also get the new optical stabilization upgrades that allow it to make 5,000 micro-adjustments per second to stabilize an image in low light or shade.”
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Deifie
I simply do not agree. It doesn’t matter to me if I’m affected by PWM flickering or not but the tension of eyes and brain is undeniable so I’m not gonna support longevity of PWM tech by adopting it.
Undeniable???? Yeah ok.

Good luck finding a decent LCD flagship.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: verified


“There is also one relatively stealthy (I cannot find this on the website but I verified that it is true) update to the telephoto. It is the only lens other than the wide-angle across all of the iPhone 12 lineup to also get the new optical stabilization upgrades that allow it to make 5,000 micro-adjustments per second to stabilize an image in low light or shade.”
Thanks for providing a source. But i´m not sure if the example which shows differences is enough to conclude a different OIS frequency. I´m wondering because i nowehere found something about this topic in other reviews.
Perhaps there is a method to measure the OIS frequency...🤔
 
Thanks for providing a source. But i´m not sure if the example which shows differences is enough to conclude a different OIS frequency. I´m wondering because i nowehere found something about this topic in other reviews.
Perhaps there is a method to measure the OIS frequency...🤔
Well, whether 5000 vs. 1000 can be perceived, according to author, he confirmed the difference b/w the telephoto lens stabilization…and is a (small) positive for 12 Pro max.
 
Yes, but i don´t think this is a represantative test to check this as the movement of the hand is not fixed. Or did he have both phones mounted on a rack so both got the same vibrations?
 
Undeniable???? Yeah ok.

Good luck finding a decent LCD flagship.
Thanks, at that moment it would be hard to find one without PWM and Temporal dithering so I’m looking forward to see Mini LED devices designed by Apple.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.