iPhone Air iPhone Air minimum focus distance

[aldo82]

Hi folks. Sorry if this has been discussed before but there are a lot of threads going on at the moment… Can someone with an Air check out the minimum focus distance and its ability to be used for magnifying small text? I use my 15PM often to help read very small text such as on a medicine packet or cooking instructions and the loss of the wide angle lens for macro is a concern for me. If it’s the same as the wide lens on the 15 PM then I can check it out for myself but I’m wondering if Apple made any changes to make the Air a bit more versatile such as enabling a closer focusing distance?

Thanks!

 

[arbitrage]

It should be the same as the 1x setting on your 15PM if you turn off the Macro setting. I believe if the Macro setting is turned on then even if you select 1x it auto switches to the Ultra-Wide without telling you. So just turn off Macro on your 15PM, select the 1x or 2x and that is what the Air would give you.

 

[aperfectcircle]

If that’s critical to you, the Air won’t cut it sorry. I’ve just tried on some small text in an instruction manual and it’s no clearer than reading it with my eyes. The 14PM by comparison was able to give me a clear zoom on the text.

 

[aldo82]

Thanks both. I did see an Air at the airport yesterday but it was bolted down very firmly so wasn’t possible to check this! It is important for me so most likely rules the Air out

 

[aperfectcircle]

Thanks both. I did see an Air at the airport yesterday but it was bolted down very firmly so wasn’t possible to check this! It is important for me so most likely rules the Air out

If you’re set on the Air otherwise, you could always get a magnifying glass for when you need it. I’ve been meaning to do so myself as I swear text on various products is getting smaller and smaller, or possibly it’s my eyes getting poorer and poorer!

 

[iGeek2014]

Stupid question so forgive me - does the Magnifier app on iOS work at all is this being used in addition to the Camera?

 

[aldo82]

If you’re set on the Air otherwise, you could always get a magnifying glass for when you need it. I’ve been meaning to do so myself as I swear text on various products is getting smaller and smaller, or possibly it’s my eyes getting poorer and poorer!

Having got used to an iPhone that can work as a magnifying glass, it feels like a backward step to change to one that doesn’t provide it and then need to carry a magnifying glass extra to it. Base iPhone 17 or the Pro models are therefore more suited to my needs it seems

 

[aldo82]

Stupid question so forgive me - does the Magnifier app on iOS work at all is this being used in addition to the Camera?

I assume the magnifier app will be limited by the closest focus distance. So it will work but will need to be held further away and won’t be able hi magnify as much as an iPhone with the ultra wide lens. That’s my guess though, I haven’t tried it

 

[arc of the universe]

a little bit related.

i have also read (somewhere in macrumors forums) that the Air would not be the best model you would chose if you are frequently apt to take photos of your meal (like at a restaurant or at home).
however, that would only be for really close-in shots.

i have read that the Air would need to be at least 5 or 6 inches away from whatever you are photographing.
but, as long as you are 6 or more inches away, it should be ok.

 

[azhava]

I assume the magnifier app will be limited by the closest focus distance. So it will work but will need to be held further away and won’t be able hi magnify as much as an iPhone with the ultra wide lens. That’s my guess though, I haven’t tried it

I use the Magnifier app quite a bit, I have it set up to launch with a triple click on the power button. It focuses down to around 2" - 2.5" and also has a lock function (so you can "hold" the image to view it) and a sliding zoom control to allow you to zoom in further.

All that info is from my 16 Pro, so I have no idea which lens the Magnifier app is using or if it would be the same on the Air.

 

[jeffg819]

I have an Air and the magnifier seems to work. Slider bar present to make the image larger.

 

[aperfectcircle]

I have an Air and the magnifier seems to work. Slider bar present to make the image larger.

Can confirm this also, it works brilliantly. How did I not know this app existed!

 

[perezr10]

Yes. I have an Air and you can easily zoom in on small text.

 

[Moreplease]

It should be the same as the 1x setting on your 15PM if you turn off the Macro setting. I believe if the Macro setting is turned on then even if you select 1x it auto switches to the Ultra-Wide without telling you. So just turn off Macro on your 15PM, select the 1x or 2x and that is what the Air would give you.

Not so.

The main camera on the Pro phones has terrible close focus.

The camera on the Air is the same as the main camera on the regular iPhone 17, which has much better close focus than the main camera on the Pro models. These cameras (so the Air) focus down to about half the distance of the Pro main camera (so show things about twice as large).

So the loss of a second macro camera is not as great as it would be on a Pro phone.

 

[aldo82]

Not so.

The main camera on the Pro phones has terrible close focus.

The camera on the Air is the same as the main camera on the regular iPhone 17, which has much better close focus than the main camera on the Pro models. These cameras (so the Air) focus down to about half the distance of the Pro main camera (so show things about twice as large).

So the loss of a second macro camera is not as great as it would be on a Pro phone.

Interesting thanks!