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iPhone 15 Pro My 15 Pro camera is awful: lens constantly switch and it can’t focus. What gives?

S

sppunk

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 13, 2012
236
179
I’ve given it a few days and can’t anymore. The camera in my 15 Pro switches lenses constantly and can’t focus on an object without switching, this never becoming clear.

It’s worse than any phone I’ve had since the iPhone 6.

Anyone else experiencing this?
 
There were those with the 14PM who claimed that that camera system was the worst in iPhone history, so maybe the 15 series is just carrying the same torch.
 
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I’m not a pro photographer by any means but I am having a hard time seeing how much better the camera is in my 15 pro vs. my 13 pro. Low light pictures seem like they are a bit blurrier. Maybe I am holding it wrong…
 
now i see it said:
There were those with the 14PM who claimed that that camera system was the worst in iPhone history, so maybe the 15 series is just carrying the same torch.
Click to expand...
I’m coming from the 12 which was infinitely better than this one. It could, ya know, snap a photo!
 
Each of the iPhone camera lenses has a minimum focus distance that you have to be mindful of. If you get too close beyond the minimum focus distance, the other cameras are going to take over and switch giving you the appearance of the other lens. The main 1X camera has a minimum focus distance of 200mm which is 7.7 inches. If you have macro mode turned on and if you get closer than 7.7 inches the ultra wide camera will take over and switch.

The 5X camera has a minimum focus distance of 53.15 inches or 4.43 feet. which means you can’t use the 5X Camera, any closer than 4.4 feet away from your subject. if you get closer than that, then the 1x Camera will copy the magnification of the 5X and zoom in and it will switch.

Third-party apps, like Halide, Moment, pro camera, etc. Will allow you to hard select the lenses to where they won’t switch. It’ll just have to get used to using a third-party app to take some of your photos which is a bad thing because you have way more control over your cameras with a different camera app.

You’re getting frustrated because you’re exceeding the minimum focus distance for those camera lenses. Take a look at the date below for the main 1X and 5X Camera.

If you don’t have the max iPhone, then the 3x camera has a minimum focus distance of 25 inches or 2.1 feet


IMG_1409.jpeg


IMG_1410.jpeg
 
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ToddH said:
Each of the iPhone camera lenses has a minimum focus distance that you have to be mindful of. If you get too close beyond the minimum focus distance, the other cameras are going to take over and switch giving you the appearance of the other lens. The main 1X camera has a minimum focus distance of 200mm which is 7.7 inches. If you have macro mode turned on and if you get closer than 7.7 inches the ultra wide camera will take over and switch.

The 5X camera has a minimum focus distance of 53.15 inches or 4.43 feet. which means you can’t use the 5X Camera, any closer than 4.4 feet away from your subject. if you get closer than that, then the 1x Camera will copy the magnification of the 5X and zoom in and it will switch.

Third-party apps, like Halide, Moment, pro camera, etc. Will allow you to hard select the lenses to where they won’t switch. It’ll just have to get used to using a third-party app to take some of your photos which is a bad thing because you have way more control over your cameras with a different camera app.

You’re getting frustrated because you’re exceeding the minimum focus distance for those camera lenses. Take a look at the date below for the main 1X and 5X Camera.

If you don’t have the max iPhone, then the 3x camera has a minimum focus distance of 25 inches or 2.1 feet


View attachment 2288906

View attachment 2288907
Click to expand...
This is understandable and at the same time terrible design. Why is a $1,200 phone camera ow that requires you to first measure the photograph image before which to take epic? A ~2002 Nokia point and shoot and every iPhone I had previous was fine.
 
sppunk said:
This is understandable and at the same time terrible design. Why is a $1,200 phone camera ow that requires you to first measure the photograph image before which to take epic? A ~2002 Nokia point and shoot and every iPhone I had previous was fine.
Click to expand...
All camera lenses are like that. They all have a minimum focus range. Nikon, Sony, Canon, iPhone, Samsung etc all have lenses that have to be used at a certain minimum distance. My Sony 85mm f/1.4 has a 3 foot minimum focus distance. It will not focus on anything closer. That’s just the way it is. The only lenses on a smartphone or DSLR that will focus close are macro lenses. Don’t blame the design, you have to educate yourself and know the cameras limitations. Once you learn that, you’ll not have any issues. You have to “think” like the camera.
 
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What I have noticed is when on photo or video. Macro mode takes slightly longer to auto enable on 2x, and a little more longer on 5x, compared to almost instant on 1x. Other than that, the camera functions equivalent to the 14PM.
 
LIVEFRMNYC said:
What I have noticed is when on photo or video. Macro mode takes slightly longer to auto enable on 2x, and a little more longer on 5x, compared to almost instant on 1x. Other than that, the camera functions equivalent to the 14PM.
Click to expand...
Macro mode always uses the ultra wide lens.
 
now i see it said:
There were those with the 14PM who claimed that that camera system was the worst in iPhone history, so maybe the 15 series is just carrying the same torch.
Click to expand...
Not super surprising considering it's basically the same camera system, with the exception of a longer zoom on the max.

But yeah I have to agree, these cameras are a little underwhelming in some use cases. My 12 Pro's cameras seemed to be more usable with much closer minimum focus distances
 
sppunk said:
This is understandable and at the same time terrible design. Why is a $1,200 phone camera ow that requires you to first measure the photograph image before which to take epic? A ~2002 Nokia point and shoot and every iPhone I had previous was fine.
Click to expand...
Well I don't want to sound rude but have you considered that the Pro is maybe not for you? ToddH has explained the technical side of things how they work. Comparing new iPhone or any other device that have multiple lenses to Nokia from 2002 is almost a joke. I'm a user where I point and shot, signle lense type device is good enough for me and leave the rest to know what they doing. Now give me engine /gearbox that's where my strength is 😀
 
It’s a pro max stop being a plus. Jk

Just gotta manually play with the lenses via apps and get used to the camera. I’m sure Apple will roll something out to simplify this later.
 
sppunk said:
This is understandable and at the same time terrible design. Why is a $1,200 phone camera ow that requires you to first measure the photograph image before which to take epic?
Click to expand...
That’s how my $2,200 Canon 5D Mark IV works. I have to manually change the lenses ($200-$1,200 each) if I want to shoot a subject that is closer than the minimum focal distance of the lens.

You don’t have to measure as much as use some common sense and your feet to get further from the subject when you want to use a specific lens.
 
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ade555 said:
Well I don't want to sound rude but have you considered that the Pro is maybe not for you? ToddH has explained the technical side of things how they work. Comparing new iPhone or any other device that have multiple lenses to Nokia from 2002 is almost a joke. I'm a user where I point and shot, signle lense type device is good enough for me and leave the rest to know what they doing. Now give me engine /gearbox that's where my strength is 😀
Click to expand...
Ha no rudeness detected.

I‘m a former journalist and now professional designer and use a Canon EOS R7 at lest three times a week so know photography and cameras. This iPhone is not like that, it gets caught between lenses constantly.
 
sppunk said:
Ha no rudeness detected.

I‘m a former journalist and now professional designer and use a Canon EOS R7 at lest three times a week so know photography and cameras. This iPhone is not like that, it gets caught between lenses constantly.
Click to expand...
I can't advice as I know absolutely nothing about photography but will keep a eye on this topic to educate my self a bit, could do with decent camera for taking very close ups of scoring on bores ect.
 
All the people in the thread saying x is better than the 15 Pro camera; it’s simply that you don’t understand photography basics!

There’s a thread on this very forum which proves the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max take excellent photos if in any doubt.
 
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i've only noticed it on my 15 Pro Max when macro mode is enabled. Doesn't bother me as the change is quick enough.
 
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