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iPhone XS Portrait Mode: XR vs XS

brewno

brewno

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 8, 2007
461
18
Montreal, Canada
Now that reviews are out for both phones, people are loving the Portrait mode in XR -- because it's not zoomed in as much as it is in the XS, and some photos are really better looking. Do we have an option to change which camera lens in the XS? Because if not, that's a bummer...

(Interesting to watch to see the difference, whether you are a fan of hers or not)

What's your opinion about it? Would you like to see an option in the iPhone XS to select which lens you'd like your portrait mode with?
 
Per Jon Gruber's review at https://daringfireball.net/2018/10/the_iphone_xr, you can't use the wide-angle camera on the XS for portrait shots. Makes some sense...the ability to choose between cameras would probably require a relatively complicated user interface, which is not very Apple-like. Maybe they'll enable this choice in the future, who knows.

That said - the XS's implementation of portrait mode definitely has some advantages. Chief among these: the XR can only take portrait shots of human faces. If the iPhone can't detect a face, you won't get that option. Forget portrait mode photos of your dog, or an inanimate object. Also, presumably the XS takes generally better portrait mode photos, because it's not relying strictly on software to enable the feature. Software is going to make mistakes. Like, blurry edges of certain subjects. Or hair that's not quite right. The XS will rely on two separate lenses, so I think it should do a better job. We'll see.
 
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brewno said:
Now that reviews are out for both phones, people are loving the Portrait mode in XR -- because it's not zoomed in as much as it is in the XS, and some photos are really better looking. Do we have an option to change which camera lens in the XS? Because if not, that's a bummer...

(Interesting to watch to see the difference, whether you are a fan of hers or not)

What's your opinion about it? Would you like to see an option in the iPhone XS to select which lens you'd like your portrait mode with?
Click to expand...
It would be nice to have the option, but not hopeful they'll allow it.
 
Vermifuge said:
Complicated? Like the Zoom 1x 2x button?
Click to expand...

Well, relatively. Twice as many options as having none at all (meaning, only one camera to select). This was Gruber’s observation, not mine, but I guess there’s some merit to it.
 
brewno said:
Saw the review here:

https://daringfireball.net/2018/10/the_iphone_xr

And it's impressive how much better the pictures of the XR are turning out...

Did I make a mistake in cancelling my XR to get an XS?
Click to expand...

Again, see my comment above, second paragraph. The XR may produce better shots in certain situations, specifically low-light/longer-distance portrait mode pictures. And the XS will produce superior shots in other situations - like, anything requiring zoom, or portrait shots of non-humans. The XS & XR produce identical photos in most situations.

Use the XR to take a portrait pic of your cat and let me know how that turns out.

Obviously I don't know you and I have no idea what your priorities are in a phone, but if your primary use case involves low-light/long-distance portrait mode shots, then yes - by all means, cancel that XS order and grab a XR. But by and large, I'd say most people consider the XS to be a superior product. And I say that as a likely XR buyer. If the extra $250 (or whatever) doesn't bother you, then it's probably the right model for you.
 
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Portrait on XR does not retain realistic proportions due to the lens used. This is an issue for me. See video below. Go to 3:12 and look at the comparison. The coffee mug is as large as her head on the XR. Her body is also really small. The XS is more true to life. These are the subtle differences that make the Xs a premium phone. I can’t live with the XR compromises for $250.

 
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M33-1 said:
Portrait on XR does not retain realistic proportions due to the lens used. This is an issue for me. See video below. Go to 3:12 and look at the comparison. The coffee mug is as large as her head on the XR. Her body is also really small. The XS is more true to life. These are the subtle differences that make the Xs a premium phone. I can’t live with the XR compromises for $250.

Click to expand...

Look at her sleeves. On the left, the cuff openings are larger than on the right. Her hands are placed further forward. This would give the appearance of the mug being larger on the left hand side. Any other differences could be explained by focal length.
 
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M33-1 said:
Portrait on XR does not retain realistic proportions due to the lens used. This is an issue for me. See video below. Go to 3:12 and look at the comparison. The coffee mug is as large as her head on the XR. Her body is also really small. The XS is more true to life. These are the subtle differences that make the Xs a premium phone. I can’t live with the XR compromises for $250.

Click to expand...
Looking at that video (specifically 3:27) it seems the Xr depth mode isnt adding as much blur to the background of a photo as the Xs does, Wonder why that is, is it because of the single lense system and AI can only do so much?

Adam.
 
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Once the technology is created for the XR I don’t think would be very hard to implemente a switch on the XS interface, with the same limitations of the XR on the wider camera!

As an iPhone XS Max owner I believe I have the right to have all the best possible option that I paid for. I don’t think it’s fair that a phone from the same brand which is 400€ less expensive has better photos, even if is a particular one! It is really better in low light and can be better if you want more scene in the frame...

Here is an example from The Verge review:

910ca017b10735ddb816896c4141b32b.jpg


9f191f33cbfe5125ff268b94b57deeca.jpg



Apple needs to address this and give XS owners the option!
 
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JPOWA said:
Once the technology is created for the XR I don’t think would be very hard to implemente a switch on the XS interface, with the same limitations of the XR on the wider camera!

As an iPhone XS Max owner I believe I have the right to have all the best possible option that I paid for. I don’t think it’s fair that a phone from the same brand which is 400€ less expensive has better photos, even if is a particular one! It is really better in low light and can be better if you want more scene in the frame...

Here is an example from The Verge review:

910ca017b10735ddb816896c4141b32b.jpg


9f191f33cbfe5125ff268b94b57deeca.jpg



Apple needs to address this and give XS owners the option!
Click to expand...


I saw this review as well, I was very impressed with the amount of light the XR allows for portraits, I guess its due to the wider lens. Hopefully XS users can get this feature with a software update, if possible. It seems the XR's will be able to capture better night/low light shots (this is where the XS suffers or all iphones previously).
 
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M33-1 said:
Portrait on XR does not retain realistic proportions due to the lens used. This is an issue for me. See video below. Go to 3:12 and look at the comparison. The coffee mug is as large as her head on the XR. Her body is also really small. The XS is more true to life. These are the subtle differences that make the Xs a premium phone. I can’t live with the XR compromises for $250.
Click to expand...

To shoot serious portraits I still use my digicam with a portrait lens that gives real bokeh and a sensor 10 times bigger than the one on the iPhone. For occasional photos the wide lens of the Xr is perfectly fine....
 
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AlexJoda said:
To shoot serious portraits I still use my digicam with a portrait lens that gives real bokeh and a sensor 10 times bigger than the one on the iPhone. For occasional photos the wide lens of the Xr is perfectly fine....
Click to expand...
Agree here. No way any of these sizes hang with Fuji X-T2 & 35 f2 or 16 1.4. :)
 
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PBz said:
Agree here. No way any of these sizes hang with Fuji X-T2 & 35 f2 or 16 1.4. :)
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I would use my 1Dx for portraits all the time, but it’s too large to bring to dinner, at the ball game, etc. I need a good portable replacement. The Xs max works here. I agree that apple needs to give the Xs owners the wide angle portrait option via software with more light gathering ability.
 
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The biggest downside for the XR to me is not having portrait mode for animals, food, etc. Perhaps there are other 3rd party applications that can do this?

Going to be limited to the XR due to the PWM eye strain.
 
Ill be very curious when I get my XR to take portrait mode photos and NOT do what every reviewer is doing which is completely blur out the background. I think it'll look best when used at F4 or F8. It looks too artificial at F1.4 in comparison to a real camera lens. Much more convincing and natural in the middle of the F-stop range for both the XS and XR. Just adding a tiny bit of blur can make a world of difference in photography especially in certain situations. It's about knowing how to properly use these tools that are available that actually make the adjustable portrait mode in general an amazing option to have on either phone.
 
Makes sense that the XR photos are better lit, as the telephoto lens on the X/XS phones have a smaller aperture than the wide lens. It is an interesting compromise for sure - XS, can take portrait photos of more than just faces, but everything is a little worse with lighting, XR, only faces but better lighting
 
Hi everybody! I trying to chose between XS and XR, i want to upgrade my 6s. I love mobilephotography and new iPhone cameras impressed me. So today i've tested portrait mode on XS and XR in room with good light. So, the result is interesting. I think today quality of second lens not enough for shutting in low light. But, portrait on wide lens has much much distortion. So i think better decision for me is XR + extended lens, for example moment 58mm.

PS. sorry for my english)
 
Answer_i3 said:
Hi everybody! I trying to chose between XS and XR, i want to upgrade my 6s. I love mobilephotography and new iPhone cameras impressed me. So today i've tested portrait mode on XS and XR in room with good light. So, the result is interesting. I think today quality of second lens not enough for shutting in low light. But, portrait on wide lens has much much distortion. So i think better decision for me is XR + extended lens, for example moment 58mm.

PS. sorry for my english)
Click to expand...

Yep, XR + 58 mm Moment lens and you have a mean portrait machine. That was the main logic behind my decision to go with the XR in regards to the camera.

You also mentioned the distortion and I see that a lot of people are missing the point when it comes to the focal length of the XR. You don't take headshots with XR, you take half or full body shots. But if you know what are you doing and you are smart with your composition you can absolutely pull off some stunning headshots as well. Just check any XR demo unit in an Apple store, it's loaded with breathtaking headshots.

I got tired and felt trapped by the telephoto lens on my 7 Plus. When I tested the XS I felt the same. I can see how it's impressive to people that never owned a phone that can take a portrait, but I've been on that wagon for two years now and I wanted something new. The XR is exactly that, a beast of a camera with Smart HDR and an insane wide angle portrait mode which gives me much more freedom and even more options when paired with a Moment lens and the Focos app.

I took this one in a very poorly lit restaurant. My XS owning friends were a bit salty, but they'll live.

5e20e82b4ec5098a6f19bf47b33da219.jpg
 
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Mechanixxx said:
Yep, XR + 58 mm Moment lens and you have a mean portrait machine. That was the main logic behind my decision to go with the XR in regards to the camera.

You also mentioned the distortion and I see that a lot of people are missing the point when it comes to the focal length of the XR. You don't take headshots with XR, you take half or full body shots. But if you know what are you doing and you are smart with your composition you can absolutely pull off some stunning headshots as well. Just check any XR demo unit in an Apple store, it's loaded with breathtaking headshots.

I got tired and felt trapped by the telephoto lens on my 7 Plus. When I tested the XS I felt the same. I can see how it's impressive to people that never owned a phone that can take a portrait, but I've been on that wagon for two years now and I wanted something new. The XR is exactly that, a beast of a camera with Smart HDR and an insane wide angle portrait mode which gives me much more freedom and even more options when paired with a Moment lens and the Focos app.

I took this one in a very poorly lit restaurant. My XS owning friends were a bit salty, but they'll live.

5e20e82b4ec5098a6f19bf47b33da219.jpg
Click to expand...

Yes, the same filing... XR+58mm, i think the best way in mobilephoto today...
[doublepost=1548535744][/doublepost]
sddabrow said:
The biggest downside for the XR to me is not having portrait mode for animals, food, etc. Perhaps there are other 3rd party applications that can do this?

Going to be limited to the XR due to the PWM eye strain.
Click to expand...
There is a Halide app, witch provide portrait mode on all objects)
 
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