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iPhone 13 Pro Upgraded from the XS Max to the 13 Pro and I expected more from the prime camera!
- Thread starter aarontsuru
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Outdoor daytime photos do look very similar from the XS and 13 Pro to me. I take quite a few pictures with my iPhones.
For me, the killer camera upgrade is not in outdoor settings, nor in “low light” settings. It’s indoor photography. I tend to take a lot of mid to close range photos of my pets and small children. I’ve done many comparisons and the 13 Pro absolutely destroys the XS in what I would call indoor, well lit scenes. By that I mean, 2p in the afternoon with indirect sunlight from 2 sides of an open floor plan living room. I even did some iPhone 12 Pro to 13 Pro comparisons in this type of setting, and the 13 Pro photos are much clearer because of the larger lens and sensor.
I had the 11 Pro and really loved what Deep Fusion brought to the table in improving photos. Deep Fusion + all the upgraded lens hardware on the 13 Pro makes it even better. I didn’t see as much difference between the 11 Pro and the 12 Pro as I did going from the 12 Pro to the 13 Pro. Again, I’m just talking about this specific scenario which is where 90% of my photos are taken. I really disliked the main camera on the XS in well lit indoor settings. So many photos were just downright awful; totally missed the moment. Now with the 13 Pro, that almost never happens unless the subjects are just too wiggly ?
For me, the killer camera upgrade is not in outdoor settings, nor in “low light” settings. It’s indoor photography. I tend to take a lot of mid to close range photos of my pets and small children. I’ve done many comparisons and the 13 Pro absolutely destroys the XS in what I would call indoor, well lit scenes. By that I mean, 2p in the afternoon with indirect sunlight from 2 sides of an open floor plan living room. I even did some iPhone 12 Pro to 13 Pro comparisons in this type of setting, and the 13 Pro photos are much clearer because of the larger lens and sensor.
I had the 11 Pro and really loved what Deep Fusion brought to the table in improving photos. Deep Fusion + all the upgraded lens hardware on the 13 Pro makes it even better. I didn’t see as much difference between the 11 Pro and the 12 Pro as I did going from the 12 Pro to the 13 Pro. Again, I’m just talking about this specific scenario which is where 90% of my photos are taken. I really disliked the main camera on the XS in well lit indoor settings. So many photos were just downright awful; totally missed the moment. Now with the 13 Pro, that almost never happens unless the subjects are just too wiggly ?
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Good Article
I must have missed the reasoning of going with the 13 Pro over the Pro Max??
This cycle there’s no added features on the Max over the Pro so I was just wondering
I bought the 11 Pro Max to get all the bells and whistles then stayed big when I got my 13 Pro Max even thou my sweet spot was the iPhone X
I must have missed the reasoning of going with the 13 Pro over the Pro Max??
This cycle there’s no added features on the Max over the Pro so I was just wondering
I bought the 11 Pro Max to get all the bells and whistles then stayed big when I got my 13 Pro Max even thou my sweet spot was the iPhone X
Thanks so much!! I went with the Pro over the Pro Max due to weight.
I loved my XS Max, but it was getting old lugging it around. My old boss had gotten the 13 Pro Max and with the case on, it was.... alot. Just so much phone.
My biggest complaint about the Pro now is that it's the same weight basically as the XS Max! lol. Oh well, at least I was used to it.
Not sure if you are replying in the wrong thread? This is about going from an iPhone to a different iPhone.
As for the Phone app, I don't really use it, only in a pinch. lol
Still attempting to resist temptation to upgrade in spite of everything I said, and if I do it might very well be the pro.
It's a great phone, just good to level set some expectations. Cheers & good luck!
Overall, I’m happy with my switch from the XS Max to the 13 Pro.
I’m both impressed and disappointed with the camera. I’ve noticed a lot more detail when it comes to shooting people and objects, even in good lighting. For example, the photos I’ve taken of myself in my bathroom on my 13 Pro are a LOT more detailed compared to my XS Max, to the point where it’s like, oh… do I even want to see myself in that much detail? It’s impressive, especially given that the iPhone main camera has not increased at all in megapixels. Of course, low light and nighttime shots are infinitely better. I’m so grateful to have a phone that can take photos at night now and still keep it looking like night but retaining all the detail. I always wanted that, because I love nighttime photography and videography. HDR video is also a big step up.
My disappointments come with the processing. It’s quite easy for a photo to look overprocessed, and I’ve had some veeerrryy weird looking results when I didn’t give the camera enough time finish taking the photo. A few years ago, I remember when Pixel 2 was known for having the best camera but I couldn’t understand why no reviewers were talking about how you had to wait a few seconds after taking the photo for it actually to be “finished.” I hated it and loved how iPhones were always instant, and you didn’t have to wait. Now, the iPhone is no better, and I’m forced to wait for my finished photos.
Otherwise, like others have mentioned, it’s been nice to catch up on the new technologies over the past few years. I have to agree the phone isn’t that different on a day-to-day experience. For me, it’s just gotten rid a lot of the annoyances that I had with my XS Max, which is my favorite type of upgrade. I’ve never been a fan of the flashier upgrade years (redesigns with little to no functional improvements).
One of my biggest annoyances was just the size of the XS Max. I got so tired of having such a large phone that it made me also go to the 13 Mini. I was 90% sure I was going to the Mini, but ProMotion, the longer battery life, cameras, brighter screen, and better GPU pulled me in last minute. I figured that if I was going to spend all that money to upgrade, I might as well get the best of the best and make sure I don’t regret my purchase. Overall, I’m happy I didn’t go with the Mini because phones without ProMotion look much more jittery now, and it’s so nice not to have to ever worry about battery life anymore. The 13 Pro seems to have been enough of a downsize that I feel much less annoyed using my phone, but not too small that I miss having a bigger screen and longer battery life. But I do still want something even more ergonomic sometimes.
I’m both impressed and disappointed with the camera. I’ve noticed a lot more detail when it comes to shooting people and objects, even in good lighting. For example, the photos I’ve taken of myself in my bathroom on my 13 Pro are a LOT more detailed compared to my XS Max, to the point where it’s like, oh… do I even want to see myself in that much detail? It’s impressive, especially given that the iPhone main camera has not increased at all in megapixels. Of course, low light and nighttime shots are infinitely better. I’m so grateful to have a phone that can take photos at night now and still keep it looking like night but retaining all the detail. I always wanted that, because I love nighttime photography and videography. HDR video is also a big step up.
My disappointments come with the processing. It’s quite easy for a photo to look overprocessed, and I’ve had some veeerrryy weird looking results when I didn’t give the camera enough time finish taking the photo. A few years ago, I remember when Pixel 2 was known for having the best camera but I couldn’t understand why no reviewers were talking about how you had to wait a few seconds after taking the photo for it actually to be “finished.” I hated it and loved how iPhones were always instant, and you didn’t have to wait. Now, the iPhone is no better, and I’m forced to wait for my finished photos.
Otherwise, like others have mentioned, it’s been nice to catch up on the new technologies over the past few years. I have to agree the phone isn’t that different on a day-to-day experience. For me, it’s just gotten rid a lot of the annoyances that I had with my XS Max, which is my favorite type of upgrade. I’ve never been a fan of the flashier upgrade years (redesigns with little to no functional improvements).
One of my biggest annoyances was just the size of the XS Max. I got so tired of having such a large phone that it made me also go to the 13 Mini. I was 90% sure I was going to the Mini, but ProMotion, the longer battery life, cameras, brighter screen, and better GPU pulled me in last minute. I figured that if I was going to spend all that money to upgrade, I might as well get the best of the best and make sure I don’t regret my purchase. Overall, I’m happy I didn’t go with the Mini because phones without ProMotion look much more jittery now, and it’s so nice not to have to ever worry about battery life anymore. The 13 Pro seems to have been enough of a downsize that I feel much less annoyed using my phone, but not too small that I miss having a bigger screen and longer battery life. But I do still want something even more ergonomic sometimes.
Yeah, I caved. 13PM 512 in sierra blue. My 48th bday gift to myself, I was going to wait for the 14 like I said, but I can always upgrade in one year if I wanted to, so what the heck.
I went from an 11 Pro to a 13 Pro, mostly because of some insanely good upgrade deals offered by my carrier. I agree that the camera differences are a bit underwhelming in some instances. Smart HDR 3 and 4 from the 12 and 13 respectively definitely deliver better saturation, and the larger sensor on the primary camera definitely helps with lower light situations. What’s odd is that I feel like Night Mode is worse on the 13 than on the 11 - shots come out darker on the 13 whereas the 11 tended to expose longer and lift the shadows better. I also feel like the 13’s telephoto lens is just softer in focus than the 11’s.
Either way I’m happy with the cameras though. I wanted access to ProRAW since I develop a lot in Lightroom and I’ve been thoroughly impressed with the format’s capabilities.
Either way I’m happy with the cameras though. I wanted access to ProRAW since I develop a lot in Lightroom and I’ve been thoroughly impressed with the format’s capabilities.
8K video and 48mp sensor which would also require USB C connectivity. I have a 12PM (512) but honestly the video is most important. Some even say that apart from macro shots the 13 Pros shots are slightly worse than the 12 Pros. Maybe Covid limitations on development or maybe I think the resources were spent on the new sensor coming soon. Video is where the iPhone is king and they have to address 8K, so they may literally have phoned (or Zoomed) it in this year with regard to photo development.
Thanks! I actually just came back from an apple store just now, my AirPods pro need replacing as part of the repair program, and played around with the Max and the Mini. While my GF was struck by how much larger and heavier it felt to her and how thick it was, especially compared to her XS Max which was in an otterbox type of case. ON the contrary, I was struck by how heavy it did not feel, compared to my 11PM. The size difference in the camera lenses even compared to my 11PM, was ridiculous though, looks more like a Norelco razor than ever!
haha! no thank you. I'll stay out of the millennial-boomer-gen z wars thank you very much.