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iPhone 12 Pro This is why I get the pro model over the regular
- Thread starter Closingracer
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Bottom line. Take as many pictures as you can. One day they’re gonna leave ya.
I recently made the decision to leave my DSLR behind more often. You all are right, I get better photos with my old Canon Digital Rebel 4i than I do with my iPhone, even with kit lenses and shooting in JPEG. And with being a dabbler instead of a pro.
But I’ve learned over the years that when I bring my camera equipment to an outing, then that’s what I’m doing for the day. I can try to participate in the activity and shoot as well…but I am dissatisfied with the experience of both.
Choosing to shoot instead of participate is a perfectly good choice! it’s fun and creative and appreciated. But I find as I get older I want to lug around my equipment less and be involved in the activity more.
The real turning point for me is an upcoming (pending how things are with the virus) trip to Italy. My first trip outside North America! And to one of the most photogenic places in the world! But the idea of carrying my camera bag and tripod (and stressing constantly over their safety and security), taking a thousand photos and poring over all of them after returning home…that used to be worth it for the shooting experience. But I don’t feel that way any more.
(I also feel that there’s no photo I could take that would be as good as any one of a thousand id find with a DuckDuckGo search.)
So I’m expecting to upgrade my SE to a 13 or 13 Pro, and leave the camera at home when I go. I’ll probably feel naked, lol, but for the first time it feels like the right choice.
in the spirit of the original post, I am not sure if I’m going to get the 13 Pro, or save a few bucks and get the 13 and a case with an attachable telephoto lens.
But I’ve learned over the years that when I bring my camera equipment to an outing, then that’s what I’m doing for the day. I can try to participate in the activity and shoot as well…but I am dissatisfied with the experience of both.
Choosing to shoot instead of participate is a perfectly good choice! it’s fun and creative and appreciated. But I find as I get older I want to lug around my equipment less and be involved in the activity more.
The real turning point for me is an upcoming (pending how things are with the virus) trip to Italy. My first trip outside North America! And to one of the most photogenic places in the world! But the idea of carrying my camera bag and tripod (and stressing constantly over their safety and security), taking a thousand photos and poring over all of them after returning home…that used to be worth it for the shooting experience. But I don’t feel that way any more.
(I also feel that there’s no photo I could take that would be as good as any one of a thousand id find with a DuckDuckGo search.)
So I’m expecting to upgrade my SE to a 13 or 13 Pro, and leave the camera at home when I go. I’ll probably feel naked, lol, but for the first time it feels like the right choice.
in the spirit of the original post, I am not sure if I’m going to get the 13 Pro, or save a few bucks and get the 13 and a case with an attachable telephoto lens.
Totally understand. I see people taking pics of stuff, like at golf tournaments, and I’m like… just watch and enjoy the moment. There are professionals taking pics that can be enjoyed later.
And it looks like they’re taking vertical video anyway, so that’s not gonna age well.
I agree and since the camera quality gap between DSLR and smartphone is reducing - but still here for a long time in favor of DSLR ofc, don't get me wrong - I made the same conclusion as you plus another one, i don't mind the little "worse'" quality of smartphone vs DSLR because when I watch again my photos ofc I want them to be beautiful but more importantly I want them to capture a memory quicly and easily rather that making a top tier photo all the time.
And with the inconvenience of DSLR, some memories would not be taken in picture. I don't have always a lot of space or time to capture some moments IRL !
But for slow paced trips ofc DSLRs are awesome
I've tried several times to shoot sports, and...that's not easy, and my hugest appreciation for the work of sports photogs over the years. I used to work in a collegiate athletic department, and for our publications the primary objective was to get images where individual athletes' faces were identifiable. Taking photos of a shortstop poised for the pitch or a point guard casually taking the ball upcourt is a lot easier, lol. But the real thing? Capturing that exact moment of action? Fuhgeddaboutit.
My DSLR is right here on my desk next to me. To my left out the sliding glass door is our battery of birdfeeders. That is the vast majority of the photos this camera now takes, lol.
I don't think I would have arrived at this point if the cameras hadn't gotten so much better on the iPhone. My current phone is an SE 2020: this will be the first time I'm upgrading sooner than two years in, and the first time I'll be doing so just for the camera.
Again, back to the original post subject, I've been looking at reviews of the 12(/mini) and the 12 Pro, and the consensus from reviewers I see is that the telephoto lens is just not that big a deal compared to the ultrawide. Unless you're a true pro photographer, that there really isn't that big a need. That runs counter to my intuition: I'm always shooting with my zoom lens on my DSLR, it's essentially my everyday lens.
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My one shining moment (at least, for me): Joe Mauer's last at-bat of his career (a double to left, of course).
(This is where being closer would have been great...would love to have some depth of field. Took this at maximum zoom from the center field stands, lol.)
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I agree having my phone is a must so I always have it on me. If I’m omw to work and see a nice sunset or a bird or whatever I will have my phone on me not a camera. As other people said the gap is closing and to me the conscience of just using my phone is worth it.
I like the bokah effect on the iPhone even if it’s not as good as a DSLR. The background is blurred out enough I enjoy it.
Optical zoom is a wonderfully useful feature. but, it’s basically the only thing of value (to me) the Pro has that the regular 12 does not. And the extra weight of the Pro is a big minus.
Not to rain on your parade, but this is why I'll be getting an iPhone 13 mini instead:
I've had the iPhone 12 Pro Max for over a week now and while I like it a couple things are kind of irking/confusing me.
For some reason when I open the camera and tap on 2.5x, I've noticed that the camera doesn't actually engage the telephoto lens. It just used the main f1.6 lens and just digitally crops in, which leads to a pretty low quality shot.
I've tested this also by opening the camera, putting my finger over the telephoto lens, switching to 2.5x and then taking a photo - it didn't swap the lens at all. Only when you zoom further than 2.5x does the telephoto camera engage.
Source: I’m noticing the 2.5x photo isn’t using the telephoto lens.
Basically even if the Pro has dedicated 2x lens, it will sometimes default to the wide lens when the lighting isn't great and crop it to 2x using digital zoom.
I've had the iPhone 12 Pro Max for over a week now and while I like it a couple things are kind of irking/confusing me.
For some reason when I open the camera and tap on 2.5x, I've noticed that the camera doesn't actually engage the telephoto lens. It just used the main f1.6 lens and just digitally crops in, which leads to a pretty low quality shot.
I've tested this also by opening the camera, putting my finger over the telephoto lens, switching to 2.5x and then taking a photo - it didn't swap the lens at all. Only when you zoom further than 2.5x does the telephoto camera engage.
Source: I’m noticing the 2.5x photo isn’t using the telephoto lens.
Basically even if the Pro has dedicated 2x lens, it will sometimes default to the wide lens when the lighting isn't great and crop it to 2x using digital zoom.
I love the iPhone camera‘s too. I’ve got the 11 now, and want to go for the 12-mini because of the pocketability factor. But, I might go for the 12 pro to have the best camera with me…when I don‘t have my large sensor/fast prime lens combo with me…this was not from the iPhone.
I get where you are coming from techinically, but I think art requires inspiration first and foremost. Having the best tools sometimes doesn't end in the best art. Look at many filmmakers. Their best films were made when they were on smaller constricted budgets where they had to get creative.
I took this photo with my 12 PM, it was quick but I caught this moment these animals were sharing food at the zoo.
Umm that’s only in low light situations. Unless you’re majority of pictures are taken at night it’s a non issue.
The weight difference is negligible imho. You have the telephoto lens, lidar and 10 x digital zoom vs 5x. At the price difference of $150 for both models at 128GB I find the pro worth it.
64GB is too small for me.
The regular model produces great photos too which a lot of people don’t seem to realise on tech forums.
No ones talking smack about the regular models. Just sharing why we personally go for the Pro model. If you break down the hardware, there are minor differences too.
It’s the minor differences too that make the regular models an attractive option for many too. If that 5% better is worth it for some then that’s great I think. As long as some can get all the features I need without paying upwards of a grand for a phone, then it’s great to have that option too. Although the thread is about reasons for the Pro, it’s nice to see a balance I think. As I said the regular model also takes a very good picture, I took this last night:
