Editor's Note: The translation and reproduction of this article has been authorized by the author Austin Mann, the original title is "iPhone 13 Pro Camera Review: Tanzania"
Say a word to everyone in Ruaha National Park in Tanzania Mambo vipi! ）
We explored this vast natural habitat in southern Tanzania last month and took it to life with the iPhone 13 Pro camera. In the iPhone section of apple keynote this year, I was thrilled with its macro shooting features, improved ultra-far zoom, and new movie mode.
As I boarded the plane, I repeated in my mind the answer I was looking for:
What kind of improvements can these new technologies bring to the photos and videos we take?
As soon as we got off the plane, we started testing non-stop. From the microscopic scene of small ants to the aerial photography of vast mountains and rivers, we have fully demonstrated the capabilities of the iPhone 13 Pro camera in these tests, and I can't wait to share it with you.
Until then, I would like to thank our awesome wilderness wizard company, Asilia Africa, as well as Peak Design Mobile, PolarPro, and the Halide Camera App for supporting this review and the team of professional creators.
Enjoy it!
Shot with an iPhone 13 Pro telephoto lens and edited the ProRAW format file using Lightroom CC on iPhone.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="10" > macro photography: like the "fourth lens"</h1>
The iPhone 13 Pro still has only three lenses, but the newly added macro photography feature is like adding a new lens. And I think that for real photographers, this is the most powerful upgrade to the imaging system this year.
Macro photography does not only shorten the focus distance, but also provides a new means of observation, opening the door to a new world of photography and storytelling.
Whether you know photography or not, you should have seen photographers walking and shooting, carrying large and heavy backpacks. Regardless of the difference between domestic and foreign practices, the reason we walk around with these backpacks full of shots is because each shot gives us a new perspective on the story we're telling.
Shot in iPhone 13 Pro wide-angle lens macro mode and edited ProRAW format files using Lightroom CC on iPhone.
As a photographer who is fascinated by natural things, I always bring a macro lens with me whenever I go to shoot, because I don't know what surprising details I will encounter. Now that the iPhone 13 Pro has macro mode, I feel like even shooting my favorite "between sizes" macro photography, so I can keep my less frequently used macro lenses at home.
I found out when I was chatting with my friend Doug that macro photography comes in. He is the head of the Usangu project in Ruaha National Park, and usually uses the iPhone 11 Pro to take a large number of animal and plant photos to investigate this complex ecosystem. However, he always had difficulties photographing insects and small plants because he couldn't focus close enough. Now with the iPhone 13 Pro, that's not a problem.
Here are some other macro photos taken in Ruaha National Park:
As I wrote the last paragraph of macro photography, a beautiful picture unfolded in front of me. A praying mantis jumped on my iPhone 12 Pro with a protective case on it. Instead of getting up, I slowly reached for my iPhone 13 Pro. Although the light was dim at the time, the camera and the subject were handheld, and the images taken were still sharp. Take a look:
This photograph isn't perfect, but it illustrates a good point: beauty is everywhere, especially if viewed through a macro lens.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="21" > a new ultra-wide-angle lens</h1>
The most substantial upgrade in the iPhone 13 Pro's camera module is the new 13mm ultra-wide-angle lens. The f/1.8 aperture is now faster — about a notch faster than the f/2.4 ultra-wide-angle lens in the iPhone 12 Pro. A larger aperture means better light collection capability, which in theory allows the camera to take sharper photos with a faster shutter in low-light conditions. I especially wanted to experiment with this new lens because at first I liked the angle of view – but I found that previous generations of ultra-wide-angle lenses were a little softer than I thought in most lighting conditions.
Shot with the iPhone 13 Pro ultra-wide lens and edited ProRAW format files using Photoshop and Lightroom CC.
The new ultra-wide lens still has some border distortion (a 13mm lens after all), but overall sharpness has improved significantly.
Shot with the iPhone 13 Pro ultra-wide lens and edited ProRAW format files using the Apple Photos app.
I also prefer ultra-wide angles to other lenses because it captures the glow of the sun:
Shot with the iPhone 13 Pro ultra-wide-angle lens and edited the ProRAW format file using Lightroom CC on iPhone.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="28" > a "picturesque" 3x telephoto lens</h1>
It shouldn't be surprising that I've used the new 77mm telephoto lens more often in the national park than any other lens. Even so, it impressed me and far exceeded my expectations. I think it's because I'm not a user of the [iPhone] Max version, which means I switched directly from 52mm to 77mm (a 33% improvement), and also because the sensor in the iPhone 13 Pro is much larger than in the 12 Pro. So, no matter what I shoot with a telephoto lens, the things I shoot have a natural cinematic effect, which feels different from what I shot with my previous camera.
To see this depth of field compression on my iPhone, I'm really a little uncomfortable:
The photo below better illustrates the depth-of-field compression between the buggy, the mountains, and the sun. Because the focal length is longer, the sun also looks bigger.
Shooting with an iPhone 13 Pro telephoto lens, using Lightroom CC on iPhone, the ProRAW format file was edited and the lens flares removed.
Despite being in a helicopter, unstable and shaky, I took this picture of a purple heron flying overhead above the Great Ruha River with a telephoto lens.
Here are a few of my favorite photos I took with a 3x telephoto lens in Ruaha National Park:
In Usangu, south of Ruaha National Park, a herd of egrets flies past herds of horned wildebeest and zebras. Shoot with the iPhone 13 Pro telephoto lens
Shot with an iPhone 13 Pro 3x telephoto lens and edited ProRAW format files using Lightroom and Photoshop.
Shot with an iPhone 13 Pro 3x telephoto lens and edited ProRAW format files using Lightroom CC on iPhone.
Finally, let's take a look at the natural shallow depth-of-field bokeh effect of a 3x telephoto lens, which is more pronounced when shooting foreground subjects at close range (this is not portrait mode):
Shoot with the iPhone 13 Pro 3x telephoto lens.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="42" > style of photography</h1>
I'm not very willing to use filters or shooting presets. I've always used Photoshop and prefer to adjust every pixel in my photos manually. The preset, on the other hand, is to select an "appearance" and apply it to the entire photo (sometimes even in batches), which is almost the exact opposite of what I do.
One of the main reasons I always stay away from presuppositions is their lack of depth. Tone and color balance are universally applied throughout the image, feeling artificial, bland, and unimaginative.
However, the "photographic style" is different. Because this function can identify the subject of the shooting and use different settings for different objects in the picture. This means that it will have more depth than the filter.
I usually find that iPhones take photos that are a little brighter and cooler than I prefer, so it would be great to adjust the way iPhone processes pictures at the image pipeline level, rather than tweaking every HEIC file in post. I've customized my own photography style to -30 shades and +15 color temperatures to make my photos better suit my preferences.
Take a look at this photo of our amazing tour guide Anderson and notice the depth of the photo. The photo doesn't feel like a one-size-fits-all preset, but feels Like Anderson stands out from the background—his skin tone is accurate, and the background full of warmth is pleasant without being distracted.
The first time I used the photographic style, I found that these settings were very slight. Now I understand what that is meant. Changes that are too strong can certainly lead to unwelcome results, especially when applying these settings in bulk.
Of course, I definitely use the ProRAW format when I take pictures of my customers. But sometimes I just want to produce some good photos, so I don't need to adjust everything later. The photographic style is just right here.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="50" > technical data provided by Halide cameras</h1>
I download the Halide Camera App every year as my third-party camera app. And, I always look forward to opening the technical data they provide to better understand the hardware information of my iPhone camera. Below I shared the technical data and highlighted the biggest changes.
These changes were what we had expected — ultra-wide lenses had a larger aperture, and telephoto lenses had longer focal lengths, but we also noticed a reduction in telephoto lenses. Of course, since the focal length has become longer, such a change is also reasonable.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="53" > turn on focus mode for photography</h1>
When iOS 15 debuted at WWDC this year, there were a few things that caught my eye as a photographer. First, the new Photos app, as well as the ability to view/modify metadata, photo geolocation, and other data.
I'm also curious about the new focus mode, wondering what it will do for photographers. When I'm shooting with an iPhone, if I call or get a notification at the moment when I'm about to take a picture, it drives me crazy. Similarly, let's say I called while shooting a video or taking a time-lapse shot, and the whole process was interrupted.
In order to solve this problem, I created a shortcut in the Shortcut app called "Shooting Mode". It's simple – I just say "Shoot Mode" to Siri and the script will automatically turn on Do Not Disturb and set the screen brightness to 75% (that's a value that doesn't say much, I just don't want the brightness to change around).
This method works and works, but I have to be able to connect to the Internet to use it, and I have to think about turning it on and off.
Now that iOS 15 has Focus Mode, I've set up a custom configuration in Focus Mode (Settings > Focus > + > Custom) to automatically turn on Do Not Disturb mode when using the System Camera app and Halide Camera, blocking out all notifications.
As I use iPhone more and more to provide work to my customers, this little tweak allows me to focus on capturing images without distraction while shooting with iPhones. It effectively transforms the iPhone 13 Pro into a single-function device (a camera) rather than an internet communication device with a built-in camera. I really like the changes it has made to my creative process.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="60" > a short story from the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute</h1>
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As part of the ongoing work here in Ruaha, we would like to share dr. Ernest.) Ernest's story and the importance of the conservation work he and his team have done across Tanzania. The clip below was shot entirely using the iPhone 13 Pro / 13 Pro Max and DJI OM 4 handheld gimbal. We used movie mode and shot tons of content with 3x lenses (it's cinematic without cinema mode).
After watching this video, especially the interview in film mode, I suddenly understood that we were moving beyond pure computational photography to the world of computational photography. The advent of the cinematic model marked another fundamental shift: software was no longer limited by hardware and opened up entirely new possibilities in the creative process.
I'm not just talking about the effect of shallow depth of field, but the movie mode allows you to choose your focus point after shooting. This is particularly cool in documentary-style works, because during the filming process, something can happen that you didn't expect. Instead of rushing to refocus on the spot, you can change the focus on perfect pictures in later editing work. That's pretty cool, too.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="64" > some expectations</h1>
Provides better noise reduction against the wind for the iPhone's internal microphone. All of Taylor's videos were made using the iPhone 13 Pro and the microphone that came with it. The built-in microphone is nice and sounds great in most cases, but even a breeze can have a big impact on the recording.
I want to turn off the digital zoom completely. If I could, I would choose only between the three "golden" perspectives of 13 mm, 26 mm and 77 mm, rather than the middle one. Sometimes when I switch between lenses, I occasionally stop in the middle of two stops, and I don't think the quality of the digital zoom at this point is acceptable. For the same reason, if I had the option, I would also turn off the low-light digital zoom on the 3x telephoto lens.
I want the UI in night mode to allow the user to manually set the exposure duration before taking a picture. Many times the prompt said to expose for 30 seconds, but it changed the moment before I pressed the shutter.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="68" > advice for iPhone photographers to photograph wildlife</h1>
Be sure to shoot ProRAW! Considering that light conditions can be unstable, this feature can qualitatively change your shots.
Don't patronize and photograph large animals! Macro lenses can be used to capture details, such as butterflies or flowers.
Don't miss the shooting opportunity because you spent too much time looking back on the spot! Animal behavior is hard to predict, and even if you take a good photo and want to take a look at it, you may miss the time to take a better photo. Be prepared! As I always say, shoot first and then edit later.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="72" > buying advice for photographers</h1>
If you're shooting (or want to shoot) macro right now, this year's buy-and-buy is all it. You can think of macro as a fourth lens that can provide a whole new camera capability, rather than a simple iterative upgrade.
If you haven't used a Max-sized phone before, this year is a more substantial upgrade to the 13 Pro, as you can switch to a larger sensor and a 33% increase in telephoto lenses. The camera modules for the iPhone 13 Pro pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are exactly the same, so you don't have to struggle between them because of camera capabilities.
If you're just taking everyday photos with your camera and aren't interested in macro or film shooting, you might not be too impressed with this year's upgrade. Features like shooting style and improved Smart HDR 4 affect every photo you take, but there's limited room for improvement.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="76" > everything is self-evident</h1>
This photo is one of my favorites in this project and I love it for several reasons. First, the male adult leopard lay in the baobab tree for two hours before starting to move, and when it finally stood up, the light dimmed and began to change, making the shooting scene more challenging.
An adult male leopard prepares to hunt after finding prey in a baobab tree. Shoot with the iPhone 13 Pro telephoto lens
Still, shooting in ProRAW format means I can easily recover highlight detail in the sky, enhance shadows in the foreground, and make the detail of the backlit leopard and baobab just right for my liking.
I used a 3x telephoto lens to take this photo, giving the leopard a distinct prominence (you can even see its whiskers) without losing the strong sense of position in the composition.
For me, this photo is a good illustration of hundreds or even thousands of small improvements in the iPhone camera system over the years. Some noticeable improvements, such as an extended 77mm focal length, HDR light balance, and a larger sensor, but there are also subtle improvements such as semantic rendering, deep integration, and focus pixels.
It's all reflected in a picture like this, which A few years ago, I would never have believed I could have taken on an iPhone.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="83" > ask me questions on Instagram Stories</h1>
Soon I'll be hosting a "Ask Me Any Questions" event on Instagram Stories, and I'll be happy to answer your questions about the iPhone 13 Pro and wildlife shoots, but there are other questions as well. Whether you want to learn more or ask your own questions, you are welcome to join me.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="85" > special thanks</h1>
Thanks to Asilia Africa, Peak Design Mobile, and Halide for supporting this article.
Thank you to our amazing guide Anderson, as well as Kristina, Doug, Brandon, and the entire team at Asilia. I was able to finish this article with you guys.
Thank you to Dr. Ernest, and the team at Tawiri for all you have done to protect this ecosystem.
Thanks to our helicopter pilot, Stephan.
Finally, I would like to thank Taylor McKay, who shot and edited the video.