What Makes iPhone Cameras Unique? Understanding The Science Behind iPhone’s DSLR Cameras
Ever been in a conversation where an iPhone’s 12 MP camera holds more value, depth, and clarity than a certain 45 MP or 50 MP camera from some other brand? We all have been, right? That’s because this argument is valid and certainly worth talking about. Another talking point in the gadgets world these days is the iPhone DSLR camera. Yes, you read that correctly!
With the introduction of iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, the world of Apple cameras and iPhones had officially entered level DSLR. The level every smartphone user thought they’d reach one day and boom – Apple had done it last year! Now that’s a new bar that the Apple phone cameras in their latest flagship models have upgraded and made much more enticing for the common user.
Coming to the world of DSLR iPhone cameras, we’re going to bring you what makes the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max cameras stand out against all its predecessors and even the same generation iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus.
Let’s begin on that note.
iPhone 14 Pro
Let’s begin with the Apple iPhone 14 Pro, which comes with a 48 MP main camera (a huge jump from the 12 MP by 12 MP setup that we have seen in a majority of yesteryear iPhones), a 12 MP telephoto lens camera, and a 12 MP ultrawide camera.
The Specifications:
48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28″, 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS
12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), 1/3.5″, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF
TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
The presence of the 3D LiDAR scanner makes it a true-color experience for those using the iPhone 14 Pro.
The innovation, named TrueDepth Camera, is the newest feature that enables the iPhone cameras to stand out. This is the camera that powers the Face ID and can be used to replicate the Memoji feature.
When it comes to Video capacity, the specifications are:
4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, Cinematic mode (4K@24/30fps), stereo sound rec.
iPhone 14 Pro Max
As the name suggests, this year’s flagship Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max brings out the larger than life iPhone approach to the 14th generation. But if you’re comparing it with the iPhone 14 Pro camera then you’re going to find it pretty similar with some upgrades.
The Specifications:
48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28″, 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS
12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), 1/3.5″, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF
TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
The TrueDepth feature is similar to what it was in the iPhone 14 Pro.
When it comes to Video capacity, the specifications for the iPhone 14 Pro Max are:
4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, Cinematic mode (4K@24/30fps), stereo sound rec.
Things are pretty clear and if you’ve been an Apple fan for long you will understand that the bare difference between the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max models is in the size of the device and the screen.
When it comes to the camera photo and video specifications, they’re the same.
iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max – A Comparison
Now that you know about what goes inside the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models out of the world, we must understand why they’re still being compared to their predecessors in iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
The memes are lit and totally worth enjoying but there are some solid differences between the 13 and 14 generation iPhones.
- The Screen Resolution: With a resolution of 2796 x 1290, the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max are ahead of their predecessors that have a resolution of 2778 x 1284. Though the internal memory remains the same.
- Battery: When we thought there won’t be a surprising element during this comparison, we found out that the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 4352 mAh battery whereas the iPhone 14 Pro Max features a 4323 mAh battery. That’s something.
- Camera Setup: As discussed above, the iPhone 13 Pro Max features a triple camera setup of 12 MP + 12 MP + 12 MP. On the contrary, the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a triple 48 MP + 12 MP + 12 MP setup, giving it an advantage over its predecessor.
Doesn’t mean the iPhone 13 Pro Max camera is lesser by any means. Still one of the best iPhone cameras in the market.
How The DSLR Mode Makes A World of Difference?
Apart from the fact that Apple’s computational photography can make for outstanding photos there are debates over the possibility of matching the DSLR quality with a simple iPhone camera. So is it true? Let us find out.
While most, if not all, iPhones have an inferior camera when compared to a DSLR – the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max may have a different tale to tell.
iPhone 14 Pro: if we’re talking about the second-most expensive Apple iPhone available in the markets then the iPhone 14 Pro already provides a camera equivalent to the 35mm lens on a DSLR. It also offers a macro facility and the right focal length for 99% of the shots you’d want to take.
The overall night photography with the iPhone 14 Pro is termed more than ‘good enough’ now and the dynamic range helps to provide low-light miracles, which were never seen in the iPhones before.
You don’t have to move with a heavy DSLR and a hefty tripod setup when you can carry an iPhone 14 Pro with a mini tripod stand.
iPhone 14 Pro Max: Now about the flagship iPhone available in the markets this year, the exceptional dynamic light and the high-end 48-megapixel camera is just the beginning for Apple enthusiasts. The improved low-light performance is as good as in the iPhone 14 Pro camera and the extra sensor capabilities make it better to shoot from this device.
With a hefty advancement in the main iPhone camera, there is better image quality and the ultra-wide angle provides a more natural environment for all your photos and videos.
Read: iPhone 14 – Everything New Apple Will Get Onboard This September With Their Flagship
Apple vs Others – Why Apple Cameras Are Worth The Hype?
The engineering behind the iPhone 14 Pro Max is legendary by Apple standards but is yet to prove itself against Samsung’s powerful 10x Zoom lenses and Google’s pioneering computational photography. Despite the odd competition, the 240 pixels per inch tech coming from Apple is a step ahead of their 12 MP triple camera setup. An upgrade every Apple geek deserved.
Compare a 12 MP iPhone camera to a 65 MP Vivo or Oppo camera and you will find that Apple cameras present a more realistic and natural image thanks to the LiDAR and TrueDepth enhancements. This stands true because of new-age enhancements, which other phone brands simply cannot afford to include in their devices.
LiDAR – Even though it was first introduced with the iPhone 12 series, the LiDAR scan function truly evolved when iPhone 13 series arrived. An acronym for ‘Light Detection and Ranging’, a LiDAR beam enables true 3D representation of an environment. It also helps improve the low-light photography capabilities of an iPhone.
TrueDepth – the TrueDepth camera works by projecting thousands of invisible dots on a human face. This analysis helps the camera sensors to create a depth map and the infrared, moreover, helps to provide accurate face data on a real-time basis.
Fortunately, though the 48-megapixel wonder in the flagship iPhone is both worth the price and one of the biggest upgrades if you’re a photographer with professional interests or someone who is more than an ordinary adventurer.
Read: Everything You Need To Know About The Three-Camera System On iPhone 11 Pro
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