The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max get improvements for both its 24MP main camera and its 5x telephoto lens. Other upgrades include better night mode and smart HDR photos. 

Apple also added the ability to change a portrait’s focus point after the fact, something it calls Pixel Shift Zoom. 

Lens Coatings 

Apple’s smartphone cameras are widely regarded as among the best in the world. This year’s Pro phones appear to offer significant improvements that could give loyal iPhone users a compelling reason to upgrade from their current models. 

Apple describes the new 48MP sensor as capturing more light than previous models, which should lead to brighter, more detailed photos even in low lighting conditions. The camera also uses a new anti-reflective coating that should reduce flares and distortion. 

The main camera on the iPhone 15 Pro offers a choice of five different camera iphone 15 pro ‘virtual’ lens sizes, including 13mm ultra-wide, 24mm wide, 35mm, and 120mm telephoto. This means you can zoom without major quality loss — unlike the 3X optical and 10X digital zoom of past iPhone models. 

Apple also announced that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will support’spatial videos,’ which combines the main and ultra-wide cameras to create a three-dimensional video. The feature will be available later this year. 

ProRAW and ProRes 

For video shooters, iPhone 15 Pro gets improved support for Apple’s professional-grade ProRes format. This new support allows users to record video directly onto external storage devices like USB-C and also adds support for a log encoding for color recording, which is popular amongst cinematographers who want more flexibility when it comes to color grading. 

The main camera on the new iPhone Pro models can now capture 24 megapixel high-resolution images by default, which is twice as clear as the iPhone 14 Pro’s. The Max model can even capture a slick 5x (120mm equivalent) telephoto zoom, which will allow you to get some serious close-ups. 

The iPhone 15 Pro also lets you switch between different focal lengths on the main camera, which is a welcome improvement for photographers who frequently take photos of landscapes or portraits and might want to adjust the aperture or focus post-shot. The camera’s Smart HDR mode is also a huge improvement over previous iPhone generations, offering more vibrant colors and deeper shadows than ever before. 

Night Mode 

A big upgrade on the iPhone 15 Pro and the new Pro Max is night mode. It captures more light, with more detail, and more realistic skin tones. 

It also lets you change the focus point and aperture post-shot, so you have ultimate control over your image. This is a really neat feature and makes the phone even more powerful for photographers. 

You’ll need two essentials for good Night Mode shots: a tripod and a dark scene. You can select Auto or Max, with Max spending more time on the exposure to ensure you get the best possible shot. 

It may seem odd to cheer on noise, but this is a welcome improvement over previous generations of the phone. You’ll be able to see details you didn’t notice before. This will be especially helpful when you use the camera for things like astrophotography. There will be even more upgrades coming to the phone’s cameras in the future, including spatial video for Apple Vision Pro. 

Portrait Mode 

The iPhone’s Portrait mode lets you capture stunning, professional-looking photos with a blurred background. But while traditional DSLR cameras achieve this effect with an aperture, the iPhone does it by using software algorithms. 

When in Portrait mode, the camera detects a person or a face and automatically creates a depth of field effect to make your subject pop out of the frame. You can also change the amount of background blur or add a variety of studio lighting effects. 

To take a portrait photo, aim the camera at a person or a face and tap the circular f icon that appears in the viewfinder. If the f icon turns yellow, the picture has been captured with a portrait effect. You can change the lighting effect on a portrait photo after it has been captured by selecting the image in the Photos app, then tapping Edit. The lighting effects include Natural Light, Studio Light, Contour Light, Stage Light Mono, and High-Key Light Mono.