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iPhone 7 & 7 Plus Cameras

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apolloa

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Oct 21, 2008
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hi,just wondering between the 7 and the 7 Plus none zoom camera, are their any differences or are they both exactly the same? And is the second lens on the 7 Plus only used for zoom photos and bokeh effects, it's not used with the other lens to combine for better photos at all?
Also on the 7 Plus zoom lens, is their any stabilisation and what's it like in low light, is it worth it in low light over the smaller iPhone 7 camera?
 
AlliFlowers said:
I can't tell you exactly how the lenses work. I can't tell you how my microwave oven works either. But they work, and work well. I got the 7+ because of the camera. It's pretty great.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, but I'm after some more specific information if possible. If the iPhone 7S is the same price as the 7, and the iPhone 8 is over £1000, then I may buy an iPhone 7 at reduced cost but not sure which size to get, hence my question on the cameras.
 
Falhófnir said:
http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_7_plus-review-1506p8.php

GSMA are pretty good reviewers, they say there's no difference between the 7 and 7+ primary (28mm) camera, and that it's one or the other, no combination photos. They also say that in low light conditions, the 56mm won't even engage, you just get a cropped image zooming in (as it's such a small aperture and not OIS).
Click to expand...

So the second lens on the iPhone 7 Plus is only used for zoom in good light and the bokeh effect? Nothing else? Do they mention if it has any form of stabilisation, EIS or something?
 
apolloa said:
So the second lens on the iPhone 7 Plus is only used for zoom in good light and the bokeh effect? Nothing else? Do they mention if it has any form of stabilisation, EIS or something?
Click to expand...
Doesn't specifically mention, but I'd imagine digital stabilisation is probably there. Honestly I wonder if one of the 'big improvements' to the 7s+ will be that both cameras are stabilised! :rolleyes:
 
apolloa said:
So the second lens on the iPhone 7 Plus is only used for zoom in good light and the bokeh effect? Nothing else? Do they mention if it has any form of stabilisation, EIS or something?
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I believe only the main camera has OIS, and the secondary camera only has some kind of digital stabilization, as someone else said above.

If I recall correctly, even when using the primary lens, the camera app uses the secondary lens to add in more detail into your pictures. So essentially, the dual camera set up should have more detail to your pictures than the regular single iPhone 7 camera setup, since it combines data/detail from both lenses.

So in summary, advantages to dual camera setup:
  1. Zoom
  2. Portrait mode (bokeh effect)
  3. More detail/clarity
 
xxray said:
I believe only the main camera has OIS, and the secondary camera only has some kind of digital stabilization, as someone else said above.

If I recall correctly, even when using the primary lens, the camera app uses the secondary lens to add in more detail into your pictures. So essentially, the dual camera set up should have more detail to your pictures than the regular single iPhone 7 camera setup, since it combines data/detail from both lenses.

So in summary, advantages to dual camera setup:
  1. Zoom
  2. Portrait mode (bokeh effect)
  3. More detail/clarity
Click to expand...

Hmm the person above said the secondary camera is not used at all other then for zoom and bokeh, so your claiming the opposite? This is what I wanted to know really as it means overall a better camera then on the 7. I need to justify the bigger size as I'm not 100% I'd be comfortable with it?
I have a 6S. Tried a Note 5 twice before so I have some idea of size.
 
apolloa said:
Hmm the person above said the secondary camera is not used at all other then for zoom and bokeh, so your claiming the opposite? This is what I wanted to know really as it means overall a better camera then on the 7. I need to justify the bigger size as I'm not 100% I'd be comfortable with it?
I have a 6S. Tried a Note 5 twice before so I have some idea of size.
Click to expand...
Hmm... Actually I'm not sure now. There seems to be some contradictory info on it. This article does claim that it uses both cameras to create the best image:

https://www.cnet.com/news/how-apples-iphone-7-plus-melds-two-cameras-into-one/

"The iPhone 7 Plus blends its two cameras into one, drawing on each camera's virtues and sidestepping their weaknesses to try to get the best image possible.

That lets the telephoto lens sharpen some wider-angle photos."

Might want to just look up 7 and 7+ photo comparisons to see if you really notice a difference and if that difference is worth it to you.
 
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Go to an Apple store (or AT&T or Verizon, etc.), and look at them side by side. Take pictures of the same thing and examine them. That's the only way you'll get your questions answered.
 
apolloa said:
Hmm the person above said the secondary camera is not used at all other then for zoom and bokeh, so your claiming the opposite? This is what I wanted to know really as it means overall a better camera then on the 7. I need to justify the bigger size as I'm not 100% I'd be comfortable with it?
I have a 6S. Tried a Note 5 twice before so I have some idea of size.
Click to expand...

Let's put it this way, you won't see the difference in good lighting conditions other than the zoom and the bokeh features.
 
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I believe the obvious difference is for effective 2x optical zoom in good lighting, and for portrait mode shots.

I think it’s hard to tell if it’s being used for regular shots as well, or aiding in anyway that would result in different photos from the 7 (non Plus).

I’d say if you’re not overly interested in the outdoor zoom or portrait mode then to go for the 7 if you prefer that physical size.
 
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AlliFlowers said:
Go to an Apple store (or AT&T or Verizon, etc.), and look at them side by side. Take pictures of the same thing and examine them. That's the only way you'll get your questions answered.
Click to expand...

No that won't answer the question because the 7 Plus has a higher DPI screen so the photos will always look different to the standard 7 screen no matter where they come from :( . I thought of that one already unfortunately..
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xxray said:
Hmm... Actually I'm not sure now. There seems to be some contradictory info on it. This article does claim that it uses both cameras to create the best image:

https://www.cnet.com/news/how-apples-iphone-7-plus-melds-two-cameras-into-one/

"The iPhone 7 Plus blends its two cameras into one, drawing on each camera's virtues and sidestepping their weaknesses to try to get the best image possible.

That lets the telephoto lens sharpen some wider-angle photos."

Might want to just look up 7 and 7+ photo comparisons to see if you really notice a difference and if that difference is worth it to you.
Click to expand...

Hmm ok thanks for the review, they seem to suggest the two cameras are used but only when zooming from 1.5X to 1.99X. So in a very limited range, and their is no stabilisation on the second camera and also the main camera use used mostly.
 
AlliFlowers said:
Use AirDrop to send the photo to the other phone.
Click to expand...

That seems like a lot of fussing around in the store being harassed by sales people.

What I want from the camera based on my 6S is:

Faster low light focus.
Better quality shots.
Better low light shots.

The ability to take photos of my black and white spaniel with good sharp fast focus and the ability to not smudge his white fur, which is something the 6S can do.
 
apolloa said:
That seems like a lot of fussing around in the store being harassed by sales people.

What I want from the camera based on my 6S is:

Faster low light focus.
Better quality shots.
Better low light shots.

The ability to take photos of my black and white spaniel with good sharp fast focus and the ability to not smudge his white fur, which is something the 6S can do.
Click to expand...

Well, there’s at least definite improvement in that the 7’s camera has OIS compared to the 6s.
 
I have the 7+.
If it uses both cameras to when the 28mm is chosen, I don't know, but if it does, I would bet you would be hard pressed to tell the difference between a photo taken with the 7+ vs a photo taken with the 7 of the same subject.
As already mentioned, when you choose the "tele" camera, if there is not enough light, the phone won't actually use the 56mm lenses but instead give you a 2x digital zoom.
I use a third party camera app and it allows you to select which camera to use for a shot, regardless of the lighting conditions. Even in low light I can use the tele lens if I desire that.
It also allows the use of both at the same time (called dual lens mode). I have not tried that. I shot in raw almost exclusively and when in the "dual camera mode" the app will not produce a raw file.
The term "optical zoom" is not correct when referring to the 7+. If you're using the 28mm camera and you zoom up to 2x you're actually using a digital zoom on the 28mm camera until you reach 2x and then the phone switches to the 56mm camera.
In other words any zoom between 1.1x and 1.9x is a digital zoom of the 28mm cam. When 2x is reached the phone switches to the 56mm cam. Zooming up higher than 2x is now a digital zoom of the 56mm cam.
There is no "optical zoom" as such. There are two separate cams.
The auto focus, to me, is fast and accurate. This is my first iPhone after many, many years of Android, Windows and BB phones, so I can't compare to your 6.
 
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fred98tj said:
I have the 7+.
If it uses both cameras to when the 28mm is chosen, I don't know, but if it does, I would bet you would be hard pressed to tell the difference between a photo taken with the 7+ vs a photo taken with the 7 of the same subject.
As already mentioned, when you choose the "tele" camera, if there is not enough light, the phone won't actually use the 56mm lenses but instead give you a 2x digital zoom.
I use a third party camera app and it allows you to select which camera to use for a shot, regardless of the lighting conditions. Even in low light I can use the tele lens if I desire that.
It also allows the use of both at the same time (called dual lens mode). I have not tried that. I shot in raw almost exclusively and when in the "dual camera mode" the app will not produce a raw file.
The term "optical zoom" is not correct when referring to the 7+. If you're using the 28mm camera and you zoom up to 2x you're actually using a digital zoom on the 28mm camera until you reach 2x and then the phone switches to the 56mm camera.
In other words any zoom between 1.1x and 1.9x is a digital zoom of the 28mm cam. When 2x is reached the phone switches to the 56mm cam. Zooming up higher than 2x is now a digital zoom of the 56mm cam.
There is no "optical zoom" as such. There are two separate cams.
The auto focus, to me, is fast and accurate. This is my first iPhone after many, many years of Android, Windows and BB phones, so I can't compare to your 6.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the reply :) So it seems the dual lens camera on the 7 Plus, should be seen really as a bonus used in limited shots, it's not a reason to buy the 7 Plus.. I did see a video showing how to take bokeh shots with the 7 Plus and I can garuntee my dog won't stay still that long!
Definitely food for thought, I'll have a play at the weekend.
 
Actually the cameras are the main reason I went with the 7+ over the 7.
I use the longer lens cam more then the faster wide lens cam. As I mentioned the camera app (and all of the 3rd party manual apps that I've tried) allows me to choose which cam (or use both at the same time) regardless of the lighting conditions.
For me and for my uses of the camera, the camera on this iPhone is the best of any cell phone camera that I've ever used with the possible exception of the Lumia 1020 years ago. I've used many Android, Windows and BB phones over the years. I had a Samsung S8 when I bought the iPhone a couple of months ago. I sold the S8.
My lady friend, who has been a Samsung girl for years, starting with th S3, said rh same thing after she saw and tried my iPhone 7+. She now has one also and has sold her recent S8.
 
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