iPhone 12 Pro Camera: A Pro Photographer's Upgrade

Apple’s iPhone 12 Pro significantly enhances its already impressive camera capabilities, introducing features particularly valuable to dedicated photographers – those who enjoy extensive post-processing of their images. Naturally, these advancements will also be appreciated by more casual users who prefer a simpler shooting experience.

A key alteration is the redesign of two out of the three lenses within the rear camera system. The Pro Max model features a new, longer telephoto lens, equivalent to 65mm, compared to the 52mm lens found on earlier versions. This increased optical zoom will be highly sought after, as 52mm can still feel relatively wide for portrait photography.

The enhanced wide-angle lens, included across all iPhone 12 models, has a simplified lens assembly consisting of just seven elements, leading to improved light transmission and a wider aperture of F/1.6. The 12 Pro Max receives an additional benefit with a slightly larger image sensor. At this level of technology, even small gains in photon capture are crucial, especially when utilizing the updated Night Mode.

Image Credits: Apple

Perhaps an even more impactful and forward-looking hardware change is the introduction of sensor-level image stabilization for the wide camera. Initially implemented in DSLRs, this technology detects movement and subtly shifts the sensor to compensate, performing this correction thousands of times per second. It represents a more streamlined and lightweight alternative to systems that move the lens itself.

While many flagship smartphones offer image stabilization, the quality of implementation is critical. Practical testing will reveal whether Apple’s version lives up to its claim of being a “game changer.” Regardless, it indicates that this feature will be a mainstay of the iPhone camera system moving forward, and the benefits it provides are likely to endure. During the recent virtual event, it was suggested that this stabilization could allow for two-second handheld exposures, offering a full F-stop advantage, though this claim should be viewed with some caution.

Image Credits: Apple

On the software front, the introduction of Apple ProRAW will be a boon to photographers who utilize the iPhone as either their primary or secondary camera. When a photo is captured, only a portion of the data collected by the sensor is used to create the final image – a significant amount of processing is dedicated to eliminating redundant information, enhancing colors, and establishing an appropriate tonal curve. This results in a visually appealing image, but at the expense of flexibility; once this “extra” data is discarded, adjustments to colors and tones become limited.

Image Credits: Apple

RAW files, as experienced DSLR photographers know, provide a minimally processed representation of the sensor’s data, allowing the user complete control over the image’s final appearance. The ability to shoot in a RAW format (or a RAW-like format; further testing will provide more clarity) empowers photographers who may have previously felt constrained by the iPhone’s standard image processing. While workarounds existed previously, Apple’s direct access to the camera architecture gives this format the potential to become the new industry standard.

This increased flexibility in image format also enables the iPhone Pros to record in Dolby Vision, a grading standard typically used in post-production suites for film and commercial projects. Direct recording in this format could be beneficial for those planning to utilize it, particularly when using iPhones as supplementary cameras. If cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki approves of the quality, it is certainly sufficient for the vast majority of other users. It is unlikely, however, that many will edit their footage directly on the phone.

These two advancements, ProRAW and Dolby Vision, demonstrate that Apple’s improved silicon has created substantial headroom in the photography processing pipeline. As previously noted, this is currently the most important aspect of the imaging workflow, and the company is likely developing numerous ways to leverage the power of its latest chips.

Despite the continued advantages offered by larger cameras and lenses, the iPhone also possesses its own strengths. As the iPhone approaches cinema-quality imaging – even if it’s simulated – its portability and ease of use become increasingly valuable. Apple has been strategically targeting enthusiast photographers who are undecided between purchasing a DSLR or mirrorless system alongside a phone with a capable camera. By enhancing the capabilities of the phone, Apple is likely attracting more users to its ecosystem.

The Pro models, of course, come with a considerable price premium compared to standard iPhone devices (the Max begins at $1,099), but these improvements are not unattainable for lower-end models – many will likely be incorporated into future iterations. Naturally, by that time, a new set of features will have been developed for the Pro devices. For photographers, however, planned obsolescence is an accepted part of the process.