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iPhone 12 Pro Max Torn...I love my iPhone mini, but...

germ79mreg

germ79mreg

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 10, 2020
15
8
That ProRaw capability and bigger sensor of the 12 Pro Max has me second guessing.
I feel I’m either going to love the size of my phone and not be able to shoot RAW or learn how to love a big phone and enjoy the beefed up sensor and ProRaw.

Reviews of ProRAW are so few and far between right now and are hard to navigate as they aren’t always comparing the right images.
It would seem ProRaw is overkill for everyday use, but I sure would mind the flexibility of ProRaw for certain pics. I shoot exclusively RAW with my DSLR and love it for special shots.

So, what have you guys done? Any advice you can offer will be much appreciTed
 
Even as a photographer, I bought the mini. Size and weight of a smartphone are more important to me than a larger sensor that you struggle to even see any real difference from in anything but low light.
ProRaw also offers nothing that grabs my attention, I’m sure it will improve but so far, edited ProRaw photos are no better than a well framed, slightly edited regular photo with hdr turned on.

OP unless you’re going to be using the phone as a camera day and night, the difference won’t be worth the extra money, the extra size, extra weight etc..

Just use that money to buy even an entry level DSLR or APS-C camera and it will give you the best of both worlds.
 
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Talk about opposite ends of the spectrum...

F3C0F03F-B6FF-4098-954B-C22E8F09AC83.png
 
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These comments have been just what I needed to hear. Practical and logical. I really think I’m gonna keep the mini and just have my dslr around for stuff I know I want to capture in true RAW.

I’m not sure the amount of times I’d want to unexpectedly shoot RAW with my phone will be worth the other 99.5% of time when I just want a conveniently sized phone and really good camera in my pocket.
 
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What gets a lot of people on here in trouble, is constantly reading large phone posts on here, as well as watching YouTube videos about new phones. It doesn’t take long before said people start second-guessing themselves about the phone they purchased, It gets so bad that they can’t make up their mind one way or another.

It is good you made the thread. Do yourself a favor and try not to overwhelm yourself with posts, videos and new iPhone specs in general and you will be able to weather the new phone storm.
 
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germ79mreg said:
These comments have been just what I needed to hear. Practical and logical. I really think I’m gonna keep the mini and just have my dslr around for stuff I know I want to capture in true RAW.

I’m not sure the amount of times I’d want to unexpectedly shoot RAW with my phone will be worth the other 99.5% of time when I just want a conveniently sized phone and really good camera in my pocket.
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One thing to keep in mind, the mini may be better for some photography. There is a thread going here about how the Pro MAX with its larger sensor and different focal distance isn't good for Macro photography, if you are into that. I got the Max, and love it... but honestly coming from a Pixel 4XL, to my eyes I can't see much difference in photo quality. The Pro Max (and I'm sure the Mini as well) is just much faster.
 
yeah I think to pay more it needs to be more than just pro raw really.

for me I would miss battery life on pro max and bigger screen to go down to mini.
 
I really love the 12PM, had an X before.
But the size of the 12m is really nice and it's much easier to hold/type one handed/all the other arguments etc.

As said before: the best knife in a knife-fight is the one you have with your. That also goes for camera's. If you need to put it in a purse/murse/backpack, you could as well buy a flip phone and bring your DSLR.

I for one have pockets big enough in my jeans/suit jacket that I can bring an iPad mini (it's real, I tested it :-D). It's not comfy or convenient, but it might be clear that the 12PM won't give me transportation problems :cool: . I can take a quick snap with one (right) hand and for everything else I need a second hand or fumble the phone around.
I don't find the 12PM a convenient size, not at all. but the combination of battery life and screen size is awesome for me. I really use my iPP11" 2018 a whole lot less. (And a whole lot in this case is defined in 3-5 hours a day to 3 hours a week.)

The camera's are really nice, but not as much as an improvement between the 12m and the 12PM as I would have expected. Perhaps future updates and ProRaw will improve it, but Really doubt that.

TL;DR
@OP, I think you did choose the right phone for you.YMMV
 
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The battery difference should be enough. Imagine 6-12 months from now. How bad will that battery be.
 
The first question is could you deal with a giant phablet? If the answer is yes, I'd highly recommend it. I'm a big fan of big phones myself.
 
As is the usual answer, "it depends".
If all you want to do is selfies and snaps of friends, use whatever phone you want.
If you want the best image possible, get the tool that is best for the job.
The iPhone pro Max camera has 12 MegaPixels with a very small sensor, according to Apple. My Nikon has 46 Megapixels with a full frame sensor. The images of the iPhone are not even in the same ballpark.
Don't try to compare Apples to Oranges, so to speak.
Pay your money and take your choice.
 
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I’ve seen rather large improvements offered by ProRAW over RAW iPhone images taken with Halide, SOOC Jpegs, etc. I can’t say I’ve seen the same advantage when comparing the 12 Mini/12/12 Pro’s “standard” sensor size versus the 12 Pro MAX. ProRAW seems to offer a greater benefit over sensor size.

However, you’d get ProRAW simply by using a 12 Pro, which is a far more manageable size than the MAX.
 
Apple_Robert said:
What gets a lot of people on here in trouble, is constantly reading large phone posts on here, as well as watching YouTube videos about new phones. It doesn’t take long before said people start second-guessing themselves about the phone they purchased, It gets so bad that they can’t make up their mind one way or another.

It is good you made the thread. Do yourself a favor and try not to overwhelm yourself with posts, videos and new iPhone specs in general and you will be able to weather the new phone storm.
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Great thought. Maybe one of the best I have read here for a few weeks.
 
Going through the same dilemma
Most days I need to charge the phone in order to get through the day
Like the 12 pro but not sure it worth the price difference consider I don’t use the camera as much during the pandemic
To me the weight difference is the key more than the size
 
Phone Junky said:
Batteries are easily replaceable.
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If you want to come out of pocket ur self. Regardless no 2020 phone battery size should have a 2 in the front number with 5G and screens these days. I bet in 6 months mini users won’t be very happy.
 
Renho said:
If you want to come out of pocket ur self. Regardless no 2020 phone battery size should have a 2 in the front number with 5G and screens these days. I bet in 6 months mini users won’t be very happy.
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In 6 months I'll be just as happy as I am right now that I am not lugging around a big phone. Some will sacrifice size and portability in exchange for a bigger battery. Others will will sacrifice battery in order to have a smaller, more easily carried, phone. I am the latter.
 
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I absolutely love the large screen phones. However, if the size is an inconvenience then a slightly better sensor isn’t worth it. I’d stick with the mini if you’re happy with the size.
 
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Renho said:
If you want to come out of pocket ur self. Regardless no 2020 phone battery size should have a 2 in the front number with 5G and screens these days. I bet in 6 months mini users won’t be very happy.
Click to expand...
As has been mentioned in other threads on this topic, the only people that will have an issue are those heavy users that either have no access to a charger throughout the day (shouldn't be using the mini to begin with) or refuse to plug in when available because they like to be able to say they don't have to plug in. I'm a moderate user and my Mini usually falls in the 30 - 50% range when I turn in for the night.
 
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