{"id":78590,"date":"2021-11-15T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-15T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=78590"},"modified":"2021-11-15T12:56:01","modified_gmt":"2021-11-15T18:56:01","slug":"macro-photography-on-the-iphone-13-pro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/78590-macro-photography-on-the-iphone-13-pro\/","title":{"rendered":"Macro Photography on the iPhone 13 Pro"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Apple\u2019s latest \u201cPro\u201d iPhones \u2014 the iPhone 13 Pro<\/strong> and iPhone 13 Pro Max<\/strong> \u2014 have a new feature distinguishing them from all other iPhones before them. That feature is a macro photography mode<\/strong>. The two high-end iPhones can take ultra closeup photos of flowers, insects, coins or anything else as close as 2 cm to the lens. Here\u2019s how to use macro mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Macro photography mode is automatic!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1 – Make sure you\u2019re in the default iPhone Camera<\/strong> app. If you plan to take a photo, make sure Photo mode is enabled. For macro video, swipe to Video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 – Move in closer to the object you\u2019re photographing. Remember that it\u2019s possible to get within 2 cm (that\u2019s about 0.79 inches) of the object. You can also use the zoom control on the viewfinder to get \u201ccloser\u201d if you wish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Macro mode automatically switches from the normal wide lens to the ultra-wide lens when the object you\u2019re photographing moves within 5.5 inches (13.97 cm). This is useful in that the user doesn\u2019t need to make a manual switch, but it can also be disconcerting if you\u2019re not expecting it. Just realize that your viewfinder suddenly \u201cjumps\u201d when the phone is within that 5.5 inch range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 – Hold the phone as still as you can, or consider using a tripod. Once the phone achieves focus, tap the shutter button to take the photo or begin shooting video. For video, remember to tap the shutter button again to end the recording. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Examples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let’s take a look at what the macro photography mode on the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max can do. I love to take pictures of flowers, and Mother Nature has been very good this Colorado November as I still have petunias, dying snapdragons, and dandelions to take photos of. These are all handheld photos!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"iPhone
Petunia, Macro Photography Mode. iPhone 13 Pro Max, ISO 32, 77mm, \u01921.8, 1\/243 second<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"iPhone
Dandelion, Macro Photography Mode. iPhone 13 Pro Max, ISO 32, 26mm, \u01921.8, 1\/1468 second<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"iPhone
Rock, Macro Photography Mode, iPhone 13 Pro Max, ISO 1000, 26mm, \u01921.8, 1\/30 second<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Beadwork, side-by-side comparison, normal wide lens, ultra-wide lens in macro photography mode<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Store receipt side by side comparison, normal wide lens, ultra-wide lens in macro photography mode<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Macro photography mode versus accessory macro lenses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Accessory manufacturers have been selling add-on lenses for the iPhone for almost as long as it has existed. Some are telephoto lenses meant to make faraway objects appear closer, while others are designed for macro photography. In my opinion, Apple just killed the market for add-on macro lenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those accessory lenses have always been problematic in that they needed to be purchased almost every year if you swapped out your iPhone. While some were inexpensive \u2014 and produced bad results \u2014 some were quite pricey and produced equally bad results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Macro images taken with accessory lenses were often marred by vignetting (shadowing) around the edges. I found that most of them also had less depth of field than the iPhone 13 Pro ultra-wide lens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to turn off automatic macro mode<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps you\u2019re not thrilled by the “shift” in automatic macro mode. If so, Apple took care of you in iOS 15.1 by making it possible to turn the mode off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 – Launch Settings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 – Scroll down to Camera<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 – Scroll down to Auto Macro (on the bottom of the Camera window)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Tap the Auto Macro button to disable the automatic macro mode<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4 – Tap the Auto Macro button to disable the automatic macro mode (red arrow in screenshot above)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

With the macro photography mode on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, Apple has made the built-in cameras of the pro phones even more useful. For those readers with one of these amazing phones, give macro photos a try!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n