iPhone 17 Pro camera rumors

[Cmaier]

Among other things, the current rumor is that the Pro versions of the new iPhone will have an optical zoom - i.e. a zoom lens that actually moves - and this may be part of the reason for the bigger camera mesa on the back.

It’s 8x, allegedly, so that would give something like 12mm to 192mm zoom, with 12mm, 24mm, and something like 50mm-192mm being optical. Very nice.

Not clear if that zoom will be constant aperture, though I assume it will.

 

[Eric]

Among other things, the current rumor is that the Pro versions of the new iPhone will have an optical zoom - i.e. a zoom lens that actually moves - and this may be part of the reason for the bigger camera mesa on the back.

It’s 8x, allegedly, so that would give something like 12mm to 192mm zoom, with 12mm, 24mm, and something like 50mm-192mm being optical. Very nice.

Not clear if that zoom will be constant aperture, though I assume it will.

Watching with interest. I know the DJI Mavic drones have optical zoom up to 168mm but their lenses are a bit beefier than what you find on an iPhone. What will be most interesting to see is how they'll compensate for the necessary amount of glass for this, I'm sure they have something up their sleeves.

 

[Cmaier]

Watching with interest. I know the DJI Mavic drones have optical zoom up to 168mm but their lenses are a bit beefier than what you find on an iPhone. What will be most interesting to see is how they'll compensate for the necessary amount of glass for this, I'm sure they have something up their sleeves.

I assume the extending tube is horizontal under the big camera mesa, like a periscope.

 

[Eric]

Sounds plausible. I would also assume a fixed aperture of somewhere between f/1.8 and f/2.4, if it comes out being variable I would be shocked but you never know with Apple.

 

[Cmaier]

Sounds plausible. I would also assume a fixed aperture of somewhere between f/1.8 and f/2.4, if it comes out being variable I would be shocked but you never know with Apple.

I’ve also seen rumors about there being an actual physical aperture (that you can change), though I haven’t seen it mentioned lately.

A couple more years and I might not have to carry around my rx100vii.

 

[Eric]

I’ve also seen rumors about there being an actual physical aperture (that you can change), though I haven’t seen it mentioned lately.

Right, this is what I meant to say when I said fixed. DJI does this with their two (optical) longer lenses (cameras) on their drones. On my Mavic 3 the main camera is variable, the 70mm is fixed f/2.8 and the 166mm is fixed f/3.4. So if you want to control various lighting situations on the fixed cameras ND filters are a must.

 

[Citysnaps]

Regarding the above and upcoming iPhone 17 options...

I was initially looking forward to the 17 Air which would fit much better in the pocket of shirts I like to wear (with respect to easily getting a phone with a silicon case out of and back into my shirt pocket). But am curious about upcoming 17PM iPhones and their features.

90% of the time 35mm (1.5x on my 16 PM) is my ideal focal length. Which is great for hitting up strangers on the streets in SF for conversation and a portrait, wanting to get some decent environmental context for a background. I just have to be aware of perspective distortion shooting too close to subjects, and back off some. Once in a while a telephoto is a better choice for some landscape/cityscape photos, and nice to have as options.

 

[Cmaier]

Regarding the above and upcoming iPhone 17 options...

I was initially looking forward to the 17 Air which would fit much better in the pocket of shirts I like to wear (with respect to easily getting a phone with a silicon case out of and back into my shirt pocket). But am curious about upcoming 17PM iPhones and their features.

90% of the time 35mm (1.5x on my 16 PM) is my ideal focal length. Which is great for hitting up strangers on the streets in SF for conversation and a portrait, wanting to get some decent environmental context for a background. I just have to be aware of perspective distortion shooting too close to subjects, and back off some. Once in a while a telephoto is a better choice for some landscape/cityscape photos, and nice to have as options.

I’m guessing the iPhone Air’s only native focal length will be 24 or 28mm.