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iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 12 Pro & Pro Max Camera Comparison - iPhone 11 Pro?

csilvia

csilvia

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 21, 2015
57
14
Rhode Island
Hello -

I'm sure like many others we are wondering what the 12 pro and 12 pro max cameras are compared to in Apple's website descriptions.

Specifically, when describing the iPhone 12 Pro Max's, on Apple's website, it stated "87% better low-light photos." Is this in comparison to the 11 Pro Max, or the regular 12 Pro?

I was hoping I could downgrade in size this year from the 11 pro max to the 12 pro, but if the cameras differ greatly, then it looks like I may be waiting to downsize.
 
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Compared to the 11. The 12 Pro looks good but the Max has a larger sensor for the main camera and a 65mm telephoto compared to the Pro's 52mm. So you get a 5x optical instead of 4x.
 
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DexBell said:
Compared to the 11. The 12 Pro looks good but the Max has a larger sensor for the main camera and a 65mm telephoto compared to the Pro's 52mm. So you get a 5x optical instead of 4x.
Click to expand...

Just wondering will the camera performance on 12 pro be really inferior than that on 12 pro max, for example the photo taken by 12 pro max under low might have much more details than that by 12 pro...
 
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tkwlee said:
Just wondering will the camera performance on 12 pro be really inferior than that on 12 pro max, for example the photo taken by 12 pro max under low might have much more details than that by 12 pro...
Click to expand...

Unless you're a professional photographer, I really don't think the real world difference between the 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max will be that different. Don't get the larger phone just for the "better camera", because it's unlikely that different to the average Joe.
 
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That's a really **** move by Apple to make sure the Pro Max has the bigger sensor. Not everyone wants to carry around a big freaking phone, this is exactly why I got my 11 Pro due to it's size. It's not too small and not too big, just the perfect size overall.

I'm honestly pretty upset by this move, this might be the first new iPhone that I skip out on. Unbelievable.
 
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Thanks! I'm just trying to take a good picture, AND not have my hands hurt at the end of the day from dealing with the Max's size.

My decision is mostly made up for the iPhone 12 Pro.
 
TL24 said:
That's a really **** move by Apple to make sure the Pro Max has the bigger sensor. Not everyone wants to carry around a big freaking phone, this is exactly why I got my 11 Pro due to it's size. It's not too small and not too big, just the perfect size overall.

I'm honestly pretty upset by this move, this might be the first new iPhone that I skip out on. Unbelievable.
Click to expand...

My sentiments exactly - except I need to get a smaller device so here I go upgrading this year....
 
camera comparison from website, I wonder is there a big benefit on MAX or not


ultrawide.PNG
wide.PNG
telephoto.PNG
 
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tkwlee said:
Just wondering will the camera performance on 12 pro be really inferior than that on 12 pro max, for example the photo taken by 12 pro max under low might have much more details than that by 12 pro...
Click to expand...

it will be inferior. how much? probably subtle in most circumstances but it will be there. the 12 pro max has a much bigger sensor (much better in low light) and also has a nice 5x optical zoom while the 12 pro only has a 4x. it stinks, i thought the days of the “small vs. large” Pro models being different other than screen size was over. i mainly upgrade for each year’s camera improvements but i can NOT use the large size model in my life.
 
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canyonblue737 said:
it will be inferior. how much? probably subtle in most circumstances but it will be there. the 12 pro max has a much bigger sensor (much better in low light) and also has a nice 5x optical zoom while the 12 pro only has a 4x. it stinks, i thought the days of the “small vs. large” Pro models being different other than screen size was over. i mainly upgrade for each year’s camera improvements but i can NOT use the large size model in my life.
Click to expand...

I can use the Max versions just fine but I prefer not to, I'm not trying to carry a mini ****ing iPad in my pockets.
 
TL24 said:
That's a really **** move by Apple to make sure the Pro Max has the bigger sensor. Not everyone wants to carry around a big freaking phone, this is exactly why I got my 11 Pro due to it's size. It's not too small and not too big, just the perfect size overall.

I'm honestly pretty upset by this move, this might be the first new iPhone that I skip out on. Unbelievable.
Click to expand...

Its called physics. A larger sensor won't fit into the smaller phones, period.
 
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tkwlee said:
How about so-called sensor-shift stabilisation?!
Click to expand...

Sensor shift is huge. Its what's referred to as IBIS (In Body Image Stabilization) in mirrorless cameras. Its significantly better than the OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) in the 12 Pro. Here is more on it

indianexpress.com

iPhone 12 Pro Max: What is sensor-shift image stabilization and how does it work?

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max could come with the Sensor-shift image stabilisation system. But what is Sensor-shift image stabilization and what's makes it superior to OIS?
indianexpress.com indianexpress.com
[automerge]1602618161[/automerge]
 
TL24 said:
That's a really **** move by Apple to make sure the Pro Max has the bigger sensor. Not everyone wants to carry around a big freaking phone, this is exactly why I got my 11 Pro due to it's size. It's not too small and not too big, just the perfect size overall.

I'm honestly pretty upset by this move, this might be the first new iPhone that I skip out on. Unbelievable.
Click to expand...
Maybe because it doesn’t fit into the smaller size? Not a **** move if it can’t be done due to size.
 
My only question is the aperture on the Max being at 2.2. The iPhone 11 Pro Max had a 2.0 aperture. Will this be a problem at all when noticing quality or with anything else? The iPhone 12 Pro has a 2.0 aperture as well.
 
Ortiz83 said:
My only question is the aperture on the Max being at 2.2. The iPhone 11 Pro Max had a 2.0 aperture. Will this be a problem at all when noticing quality or with anything else? The iPhone 12 Pro has a 2.0 aperture as well.
Click to expand...

the smaller aperture implies it will not perform as well in low light, having the slightly extra range in telephoto is nice though. problem evens it out, but i'd say the main advantage to the Pro Max is truly only in the Wide (ie. the "normal, use it most of the time) lens which has a bigger sensor size and the in body image stabilization.
 
canyonblue737 said:
the smaller aperture implies it will not perform as well in low light, having the slightly extra range in telephoto is nice though. problem evens it out, but i'd say the main advantage to the Pro Max is truly only in the Wide (ie. the "normal, use it most of the time) lens which has a bigger sensor size and the in body image stabilization.
Click to expand...

So it shouldn’t be a problem. Also with the help of everything else that gives the max a 87% better performance on low light pictures. Guess I won’t have a problem with this.
 
So really ... day to day use - is there really going to be a major difference between the Pro and Pro Max? I think it's ****** they put more into the Max camera, but I understand the physics of it. From a consumer standpoint, they should have not made any fuss over the camera enhancements for the Max, because the Pro now seems less Pro in comparison.
 
Dwalls90 said:
Unless you're a professional photographer, I really don't think the real world difference between the 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max will be that different. Don't get the larger phone just for the "better camera", because it's unlikely that different to the average Joe.
Click to expand...

I disagree, I think the Max has a much better camera and you will be able to tell the difference. The sensor size sounds much larger and stability will be better. Will take better low light pics, etc...

The camera on the 12 Pro, is hardly any different than the 11 Pro. Not even sure why you would buy the 12 Pro and I like the smaller phones.
 
howywood said:
I think it's ****** they put more into the Max camera, but I understand the physics of it. From a consumer standpoint, they should have not made any fuss over the camera enhancements for the Max, because the Pro now seems less Pro in comparison.
Click to expand...
If it doesn't fit, then it doesn't fit.

What I find more weird is having the 12 and 12 Pro, with the only hardware difference having the third lens and a stainless steel frame. The price jump for these two things is insane...
 
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GDF said:
I disagree, I think the Max has a much better camera and you will be able to tell the difference. The sensor size sounds much larger and stability will be better. Will take better low light pics, etc...

The camera on the 12 Pro, is hardly any different than the 11 Pro. Not even sure why you would buy the 12 Pro and I like the smaller phones.
Click to expand...
Lol! Wait until you see how heavy it is 😂
 
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