iPhone 17 Pro What's 'Pro-fusion camera system'

[WallySpoons]

Hi

On the 'compare specs' page, comparing my current 15 pro and the 17 pro, I'm not clear what the difference is. What is a 'fusion' camera system. Does this mean the camera takes data from all three lenses at once or something. The marketing would suggest that there are additional advantages of the 17 pro's camera system that are not reflected simply in the hardware numbers....

As an aside, as someone who likes to take photos but I wouldn't even call myself a keen amateur, the iPhone's cameras are astonishing. I've just bought a fujifilm x-e5, but it's going back because the bump from the iPhone to the dedicated camera is almost un-noticeable for the things I use it for. The only real limitation I see is low light - and that's just physics.

 

[WallySpoons]

Detailed hardware specs...

15 pro
48 MP wide ƒ/1.78 main rear lens
12 MP ultra wide ƒ/2.2
12 MP telephoto with 2x at ƒ1.78 and 3x at ƒ2.8

17 pro
48MP Fusion ƒ/1.78 main rear lens
48MP Fusion Ultra Wide ƒ/2.2
48MP Fusion Telephoto ƒ/2.8

So main hardware difference is 12-48MP on the ultra wide and telephoto... but what's fusion?

Ta.

 

[gstevie]

High resolution + multiple use modes

• These sensors allow you to shoot in either full 48MP (for maximum detail) or default down-to ~24MP (for file size / sharing) depending on what you need.
• The main sensor also supports a 2× “optical-quality telephoto” mode via cropping, meaning you can get zoomed-in shots without needing a separate physical telephoto lens.

Better detail, low-light, flexibility

“Fusion” implies combining hardware (sensor) + software (image processing) to get better results: higher detail, better handling of light/noise, good performance when zooming, etc.

 

[maerz001]

High resolution + multiple use modes

• These sensors allow you to shoot in either full 48MP (for maximum detail) or default down-to ~24MP (for file size / sharing) depending on what you need.
• The main sensor also supports a 2× “optical-quality telephoto” mode via cropping, meaning you can get zoomed-in shots without needing a separate physical telephoto lens.

Better detail, low-light, flexibility

“Fusion” implies combining hardware (sensor) + software (image processing) to get better results: higher detail, better handling of light/noise, good performance when zooming, etc.

But this already applies to the 15pro 48mp main camera. Why is this not fusion?

The way you describe it, it sounds like a digital crop brings you details and good performance which is contradicting cos you lose 3/4 of the pixels at 2X

 

[dizmonk]

Hi

View attachment 2548573On the 'compare specs' page, comparing my current 15 pro and the 17 pro, I'm not clear what the difference is. What is a 'fusion' camera system. Does this mean the camera takes data from all three lenses at once or something. The marketing would suggest that there are additional advantages of the 17 pro's camera system that are not reflected simply in the hardware numbers....

As an aside, as someone who likes to take photos but I wouldn't even call myself a keen amateur, the iPhone's cameras are astonishing. I've just bought a fujifilm x-e5, but it's going back because the bump from the iPhone to the dedicated camera is almost un-noticeable for the things I use it for. The only real limitation I see is low light - and that's just physics.

I am SO glad you asked these questions. I've been stuck wondering the same thing,

 

[gstevie]

But this already applies to the 15pro 48mp main camera. Why is this not fusion?

The way you describe it, it sounds like a digital crop brings you details and good performance which is contradicting cos you lose 3/4 of the pixels at 2X

It really is just Apple’s marketing terms for this year, mostly to boost the focus on the standard and Air models, they can’t have a fancier sounding camera than the pro models.

In reality, there is very little different in the actual hardware of the main cameras of the 15 pro series and the 17 pro. It will be more software and tweaks done that way, they will say needs the new A19 Pro chip to process, but that is likely either rubbish or minimal.

We will need to wait till Wednesday at the earliest for the reviews to drop to see what difference it really is.