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iPhone 13 iPhone 13 Pro: Cinematic Mode being "pro-grade" - bad joke

M

Menneisyys2

macrumors 603
Original poster
Jun 7, 2011
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I've just downloaded the official video stream (at the maximum quality at the maximum 1080p, resulting in a 1,13GB mp4 file) and looked for giveaways of fake bokeh in the Cinematic Mode. I didn't need to search long, see attached screenshots. One full-sized image, the other is an annotated crop where I've annotated three occurrences of completely out-of-place, in-focus areas of individual hairs, while the head (and the hair) of the person should already be out of focus.

If you watch the footage as video, you'll see it's even worse when in video as these areas continuously are defocused and, then, focused again.

That is, this fake bokeh in the Cinematic Mode suffers from exactly the same problems as the Portrait photo mode and can in no way deliver pro results.
 

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dz5b609 said:
The demo looked like the feature is more like a work-in-progress, it probably will become better with AI learning. Though calling it fake bokeh isn't really true because it does use the other sensors and camera's, it's more like a hybrid bokeh.
Click to expand...
The Photo mode also uses Multicam in Portrait mode, at least it used to use for example in the 7+ back in the day; this is why back in the day the subject of Portrait needed to be in the center of the image of the wide (normal) lens.
 
Worlrl said:
It's just a cool feature.
It can never compete with even the cheapest DSLR lens
Click to expand...
Yup, it is. Still, Cook calls this in his interview "on par with professional high-end video equipment" - see https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...pple-watch-and-more-in-new-interview.2310999/ . That is, Apple is advertising this as a pro-grade feature and doesn't at all mention the problems inherent with anything software-based bokeh'ing / "focusing" during post processing (after shooting).
 
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Noticed and discussed live during the keynote yesterday. I am still kinda Meh regarding the overall complaint. The Depth and out of focus feature is a nice touch and will offer some people who can't afford a Mirrorless or pro cinema camera some more creative freedom. Most will not notice unless you stop a frame or two, and I am fine with that.

Just like Portrait mode on many of my iPhones, I doubt I will ever use it, and keep depth shots to videos I create using my R5.

screen-shot-2021-09-14-at-12-49-16-pm-png.1831021
 
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Worlrl said:
It's just a cool feature.
It can never compete with even the cheapest DSLR lens
Click to expand...

Oh, really? I could name half a dozen scenarios where your “cheapest DSLR lens” couldn’t compete.

Every tool has limitations.

Funny thing. Photographers can offended if someone looks at their work and says, “That’s a nice picture. You must have a great camera.” It isn’t the camera that matters, it’s the talent behind. Until someone else shows up with the “wrong” kind of camera.
 
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This is just a nice-to-have feature, people who uses the phone for taking everyday videos of their kids/pets will probably never use it, and pros wouldn't use it to replace pro DSLR.
Computer is computer, can't beat optical physics
 
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It's basically using the same software as 'portrait mode'—and we all know that looks— and is a bit more forgiving because it's in motion. It is a long way off from the level of sophistication to cut out hair and edges perfectly, using ai. That is tedious to do by hand, on a still image and the success rate real depends on the situation, and contrast of the subject against the background.
 
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dz5b609 said:
The demo looked like the feature is more like a work-in-progress, it probably will become better with AI learning. Though calling it fake bokeh isn't really true because it does use the other sensors and camera's, it's more like a hybrid bokeh.
Click to expand...
The work in progress goes on since the release of the 7+ and the flawless results are still not there yet.
Thats 5 years of fake bokeh running in beta mode
 
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auwkeung said:
This is just a nice-to-have feature, people who uses the phone for taking everyday videos of their kids/pets will probably never use it, and pros wouldn't use it to replace pro DSLR.
Computer is computer, can't beat optical physics
Click to expand...
Pros will use whatever equipment there is to do the job.

If the iPhone with the fake bokeh can do the job, I don't see why pros won't use it, especially when you consider the phone is so much lighter. Sometimes people just don't want to bring a huge mirrorless camera everywhere, especially when not on a paid assignment.
 
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teohyc said:
Pros will use whatever equipment there is to do the job.

If the iPhone with the fake bokeh can do the job, I don't see why pros won't use it, especially when you consider the phone is so much lighter. Sometimes people just don't want to bring a huge mirrorless camera everywhere, especially when not on a paid assignment.
Click to expand...
Yup, the size of the phone is definitely a plus.
 
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