No person at Apple goes to name me and ask for my recommendation concerning the following iPhone digicam. And I do know that a number of the issues I need gained’t match up with the mass market. And I additionally know that a number of the issues I need might make the cellphone a bit bit bigger.
However although I’m not mainstream or essential sufficient to warrant Apple’s consideration, that isn’t going to cease me from providing some recommendation.
I’m actually amazed on the state of the iPhone 13 Professional (and Professional Max) with regard to the digicam and the three lenses. I’m much more amazed on the computational pictures that goes into profiting from the digicam.
However there may be at all times room for enchancment. I’ve created this checklist primarily based on what I THINK could also be attainable. I’m not asking for issues that clearly require a DSLR, interchangeable lens digicam, and so on. I’m asking for issues that I consider COULD be completed to enhance the digicam, not less than for me.
I’ll add that I reached out to my viewers on Twitter to ask others need they wish to be certain I didn’t miss something that sounded good to me and I received some good solutions. So thanks for that. I additionally received some solutions that confirmed many individuals don’t understand that the iPhone can already do a number of the issues they are saying they need future fashions to do. That’s why Jefferson Graham and I do the iPhonePhotoShow.com podcast so we will help individuals use the prevailing instruments to the fullest. However I digress. Right here’s my want checklist, in no specific order.
1. Cease the megapixel insanity!
I do know I’m within the minority right here. And I strongly suspect I’ll find yourself being upset as a result of I understand how advertising and marketing works. The common Joe/Jane Doe thinks extra megapixels imply a greater digicam. It’s merely not true. I’d MUCH desire the identical variety of megapixels on a BIGGER SENSOR. Sony has figured this out. Apple is a bigger firm with extra assets and (in my view) extra expertise. Why can’t they determine this out? So see quantity two.
2. Give us a much bigger sensor
ESPECIALLY when you’re gonna improve the variety of megapixels. Larger sensors end in cleaner photos. It’s simply physics.
Think about every pixel is a bucket accumulating water. Larger buckets acquire extra water and supply a extra correct measurement of common water capability. A sensor with larger pixels will acquire extra gentle, and extra gentle will typically enhance picture high quality.
The extra megapixels you cram onto a sensor, the SMALLER they get. Which means SMALLER buckets. I need larger buckets.
This alone would enhance the iPhone digicam to the purpose the place it might be FAR extra more likely to be able to taking the place of a “actual” digicam.
3. Higher optical zoom (not digital zoom)
Sure, computational pictures has come a good distance. However these rattling physics are (once more) getting in the best way of success. Higher optics means higher picture high quality and I don’t suppose computer systems will be capable to generate an approximation of this in digital kind that may match what optics can do. At the least not for a number of extra years. I’d like to see a 5 occasions OPTICAL zoom on the digicam which might imply together with an extended (presumably bigger) lens on the cellphone, however I can stay with that.
4. Absolutely open up the API to third-party builders
Whereas the native iPhone digicam app is superb, I not often use it. I’m a giant fan of the stuff from Filmic, Inc. The extra builders we let play on this area the extra superior the outcomes shall be and that can assist Apple’s backside line, so that is truly of their greatest pursuits and naturally the most effective pursuits of their clients.
5. Standardize round USB-C / Thunderbolt and be completed with it
With ProRes information, even utilizing the prevailing cable to laptop connection (versus AirDrop) it’s nonetheless painfully sluggish to switch giant information. We’d like quicker knowledge switch. And sufficient with the dongles, adapters, totally different connectors, and so on. Let’s go together with USB-C / Thunderbolt and keep there. It will make it simpler for third-party producers to know how one can make investments their R&D and advertising and marketing budgets into merchandise that everybody is aware of will work with the cellphone. Once more, that is good for Apple’s backside line since this can drive extra cellphone gross sales and can make happier clients.
6. Print playing cards, books, wall prints and extra proper from my cellphone, and direct from Apple
Apple now makes use of extensions through the desktop Photographs app to permit a myriad of printing choices. Most individuals suppose that’s higher. A number of selections could be a good factor. I don’t. Again within the day, Apple had its personal printing service (I don’t know who they jobbed it out to but it surely was a uncommon mixture of affordability and prime quality) and I’d desire THAT choice since I belief Apple to curate the only option and I’d additionally wish to have that choice instantly from the cellphone’s native digicam app as a substitute of getting to do it on a desktop, laptop computer, and so on.
7. Give us a quicker sensor
As a substitute of extra megapixels, I discussed utilizing a bigger sensor but additionally a FASTER sensor so we get quicker readouts for even higher autofocus and fewer rolling shutter.
8. Add a MicroSD card slot
I do know it’s old-school, however wow it might be a lot simpler to make use of the iPhone as an actual digicam if it had a MicroSD card slot, particularly if we’re not going to get USB-C / Thunderbolt connections.
9. Add much more storage
1TB will quickly have to be 2TB as we add an increasing number of functionality to the cellphone. Extra and quicker RAM may even assist.
10. How a couple of two-way headphone jack?
(I do know I’m dreaming right here) however how a couple of two-way headphone jack? 3.5mm — so it really works with all commonplace cell mics. In an ideal world, this could be two-way; in for recording or out for monitoring. I’d pay $100 further for that. Simply sayin’ ….
If even considered one of this stuff made the following iPhone, it might be nice. Possibly the iPhone 15 or 16? I get outdated so I is probably not round lengthy sufficient for iPhone 20! If anybody at Apple is listening, hurry it up please. I’d like to see these a few of these issues earlier than I am going to that huge darkroom within the sky.
Editor’s notice: We’re happy to characteristic this visitor put up from Scott Bourne. Scott is a featured speaker on the upcoming Visible Storytelling Convention, the place he’ll share his ardour for utilizing the iPhone to seize nice photos. Scott was the founding father of Photofocus and continues to weblog at Picturemethods.com in addition to be an energetic podcaster with the iPhone Picture Present.
