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iPhone 7 Plus Depth of Field

rick3000

rick3000

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
May 6, 2008
648
298
West Coast
I was just looking at a review of the new DoF included in the iOS Beta, and the DoF looks all wrong to me. I was looking at this TechCrunch review, and the photos that have foreground, the hand holding a strawberry, the chicken decal, and the paint cans do not look right.

I finally realized it is because there is no foreground blur. With optical DoF you end up with a certain distance that is in focus. From what I can see the iPhone 7 Plus appears to only apply blur to the background, so everything from the subject forward is in focus, which in my opinion looks odd. Kind of like how 48 or 60 fps movies just don't 'look right' compared to 24 or 30 fps.

Did anyone else notice this, or am I missing something?

Best,
-Rick
 
Personally, considering this is an effect that is applied after the image is taken, I think they've done a good job.

Certainly a decent DSLR / quality lens setup will do better, but for a camera phone I'd be happy with it.... and the phone will fit in my pocket far more easily than my camera gear.

The lack of foreground blur could be considered a shortcoming in some images I guess, but edit the DNG RAW file in Lightroom and problem solved.
 
I'm not bashing Apple, I agree it is an impressive feature, but I wasn't sure if it was just me, or if other people thought the lack of foreground DoF in some photos looked odd.
 
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For us it replaces any standalone P&S as a backup to a proper interchangeable lens camera. It is OK for when a proper camera is not available or appropriate. It will never be my first choice....just sometimes the only practical choice because I will have it with me. And now that I have the option of shooting raw format via the Lr Mobile camera app...so much the better.
 
Apple fanboy said:
It will never replace my Nikon's, but surely it will be good enough for you Canon guys? :D

I'll try it out when they release the general upgrade.
Click to expand...

It is impressive if they csn get it to work ok but at the end of the day it is just like the miniature effect that people do to death on instagram. Sorry if this sounds grumpy.
 
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Does anyone here have the iPhone 7+? I'd love to see the 7+ blur and real bokeh in a side by side focused on the same subject (and not from Apple marketing).
 
I never understood the obsession with thin depth of field. I'm always stopping my medium format camera down so that I can get MORE depth of field! That said, Apple has created a pretty good software approximation of the optical effect.
 
E3BK said:
Does anyone here have the iPhone 7+? I'd love to see the 7+ blur and real bokeh in a side by side focused on the same subject (and not from Apple marketing).
Click to expand...
I do, but that feature is only available in the 10.1 beta. I'll post it when it's available. In the meantime, I'm sure we have some beta testers on here.
 
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E3BK said:
Does anyone here have the iPhone 7+? I'd love to see the 7+ blur and real bokeh in a side by side focused on the same subject (and not from Apple marketing).
Click to expand...

Real bokeh from what? The bokeh effect will vary hugely depending on the lens aperture physical characteristics (number and shape of blades mainly).
 
Nathan King said:
I never understood the obsession with thin depth of field. I'm always stopping my medium format camera down so that I can get MORE depth of field! That said, Apple has created a pretty good software approximation of the optical effect.
Click to expand...
depends on your style and your subject matter. With small sensor cameras, you don't get much of a choice.
 
simonsi said:
Real bokeh from what? The bokeh effect will vary hugely depending on the lens aperture physical characteristics (number and shape of blades mainly).
Click to expand...

Use your favorite lens that produces great bokeh and let us know what lens it is, what camera it is, etc. I'm just looking for DSLR/Mirrorless aka real cameras vs the iPhone 7+ effect. I'd do it myself if I had the 7+ and the update and compare it to my Canon 7D w/ 50mm f1.4 as well as my OMD E-M5 w/ 25mm f2.8. It's ok to be curious about the differences, right? That's what the forum is for?
[doublepost=1474598555][/doublepost]
Apple fanboy said:
I do, but that feature is only available in the 10.1 beta. I'll post it when it's available. In the meantime, I'm sure we have some beta testers on here.
Click to expand...

Cool. Love that you're always game to try things out!
 
E3BK said:
Does anyone here have the iPhone 7+? I'd love to see the 7+ blur and real bokeh in a side by side focused on the same subject (and not from Apple marketing).
Click to expand...

The IOS dot release for the portrait mode that does it is not out yet. That feature is in beta.
 
Apple fanboy said:
You? Grumpy? No surely not! Friday tomorrow. That must cheer you up.
Click to expand...

Mate, I have man flu. Mrs Kenoh is on the verge of homicide. I thought the female of the species was supposed to be more nurturing and caring. Not here, no sir... I am already 4 days over my allotted 1 hour of allowed sick time this year so she is raging at me. Sympathy expired, tolerance has run out so now I am just getting told to stop being a wuss...

So no, Friday is grump day too... :)
[doublepost=1474618359][/doublepost]
Nathan King said:
I never understood the obsession with thin depth of field. I'm always stopping my medium format camera down so that I can get MORE depth of field! That said, Apple has created a pretty good software approximation of the optical effect.
Click to expand...

It is just different shooting styles isn't it. What do you shoot? Come on give us some photog p0rn to go gaga over...

Each to their own though right? I like the way shallow DoF makes the subject pop but like a lot of things, HDR, weird focus effects like those applied in Instagram, then can be overdone but when nailed then wowza!

I am curious about this software apple are developing as if it works consistently, whose to say it won't find its way into other image capture devices.

All very interesting.
[doublepost=1474618480][/doublepost]
coldsweat said:
There you go - I fixed it for you!

Anyway - shouldn't you Nikon shooters be banging on about the iPhone 7's lack of dynamic range & what the DxO score will be? :D:D:D
Click to expand...

Yeah, maybe they should work on fixing auto correct before upping their game to image manglement... Thanks for fixing that, we know AFB gets upset when it gets it the wrong way round... :)
 
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E3BK said:
Does anyone here have the iPhone 7+? I'd love to see the 7+ blur and real bokeh in a side by side focused on the same subject (and not from Apple marketing).
Click to expand...

Quick & dirty shot on the kitchen table - everything on auto
sgsto2.jpg


but heres the one everyones really waiting for...........
1sjukh.jpg
 
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coldsweat said:
Quick & dirty shot on the kitchen table - everything on auto
sgsto2.jpg


but heres the one everyones really waiting for...........
1sjukh.jpg
Click to expand...
I'm not sure the iPhone can have its lens fine tuned!
[doublepost=1474632133][/doublepost]
kenoh said:
Mate, I have man flu. Mrs Kenoh is on the verge of homicide. I thought the female of the species was supposed to be more nurturing and caring. Not here, no sir... I am already 4 days over my allotted 1 hour of allowed sick time this year so she is raging at me. Sympathy expired, tolerance has run out so now I am just getting told to stop being a wuss...

So no, Friday is grump day too... :)
[doublepost=1474618359][/doublepost]

It is just different shooting styles isn't it. What do you shoot? Come on give us some photog p0rn to go gaga over...

Each to their own though right? I like the way shallow DoF makes the subject pop but like a lot of things, HDR, weird focus effects like those applied in Instagram, then can be overdone but when nailed then wowza!

I am curious about this software apple are developing as if it works consistently, whose to say it won't find its way into other image capture devices.

All very interesting.
[doublepost=1474618480][/doublepost]

Yeah, maybe they should work on fixing auto correct before upping their game to image manglement... Thanks for fixing that, we know AFB gets upset when it gets it the wrong way round... :)
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear you have a slight cold! ;)
 
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coldsweat said:
Quick & dirty shot on the kitchen table - everything on auto
sgsto2.jpg


but heres the one everyones really waiting for...........
1sjukh.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks for testing!! Really interesting. I'm going to keep my observations to myself until I see a new more test shots but a good start on seeing these. Again, thanks for being game.
[doublepost=1474633256][/doublepost]
MCAsan said:
The IOS dot release for the portrait mode that does it is not out yet. That feature is in beta.
Click to expand...

Many people on this board are either in the Dev program or Public beta. I'm in the public beta. I just don't have a 7+, only the 7. But yes, the feature is still in Beta and @coldsweat has it.
 
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kenoh said:
It is just different shooting styles isn't it. What do you shoot? Come on give us some photog p0rn to go gaga over...
Click to expand...

Agreed. I do architecture, often with perspective control lenses, so my needs probably aren't typical nor well served by the iPhone. In the below shot I used tilt to move the plane of focus parallel with the facade and shift to prevent keystoning. Even with the tilt I had to stop down a fair bit.

29812126171_ece929ce45_z.jpg


:)

23480032931_619f31e3ca.jpg
 
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