This might sound crazy but the iPhone 12 Pro Max will replace my DSLR.

I've waited for a long time for this. I have dreaded taking the DSLR out with multiple lenses and I've been saying for years, once the iPhone can do 10 bit HDR video and has an ultra wide lens, that's it for me. The 11 Pro had an ultra wide lens but nothing else.

The only thing I'll miss is blurring the background in video with the full frame sensor. However, I'd rather sacrifice on that and be able to just use a phone. I like to bounce flash off the ceiling and walls and so I bought a flash that is supposed to work great with the iPhone.

I mostly do landscapes and I've seen some amazing landscapes taken with the regular pro already. Plenty enough dynamic range with the extra wide lens.

I do not use a lot of lenses, the 3 lenses on it pretty much covers what I was using.

I will be going down from 30 Megapixels to 12 Megapixels but honestly, if I don't zoom in and pixel peep, at normal viewing distances, it can be hard to tell the difference.

I already feel liberated by this decision and have waited years to be able to make it. I've always loved photography but hated big photography gear.

I also know that probably within 2 years form now the iPhone will go up to 20 and then 30 Megapixels, the technology to create bokeh will get better as well.

With certain apps you can shoot LOG 4k 10 bit Dolby Vision and HDR up to 60FPS as well as controlling the shutter, etc.

I am very excited about this, I wish camera companies would innovate. All traditional camera companies do is up the megapixels, dynamic range, and that's it. They don't come up with something like Lidar.

The freedom of going on an Autumn hike without a HUGE Tamrac DSLR bag will be so nice. It'll just be a nice slim phone in my pocket. :-D

"The only thing I'll miss is blurring the background in video with the full frame sensor."

Not got my hands on one yet, but it's a thought: https://www.ulanzi.com/products/ulanzi-dof-adapter

I did the same DSLR/2 lenses vanishing act 2 years ago when I got a 7+ and have not regretted it. I will have a 12 Pro Max in the coming months. They don’t quite have the ultimate IQ of a DSLR but they are very good and handle issues differently. It is a very pleasant method to approach photography.

I’m still shooting mostly RAW and doing the computational part manually and have been pleasantly surprised to overwhelmed at times with the things that can be accomplished. I doubt I’ll be going back.

I was tempted to get the 12 pro max, but wanted a smaller phone. I will keep my mirrorless cameras for a while, at least until GH6 and/or A7IV are available.

BAHdog said:

I did the same DSLR/2 lenses vanishing act 2 years ago when I got a 7+ and have not regretted it. I will have a 12 Pro Max in the coming months. They don’t quite have the ultimate IQ of a DSLR but they are very good and handle issues differently. It is a very pleasant method to approach photography.

I’m still shooting mostly RAW and doing the computational part manually and have been pleasantly surprised to overwhelmed at times with the things that can be accomplished. I doubt I’ll be going back.

Click to expand...

Have you found any ND filters for it?

Congrats. Just a short time ago people were talking about the possibility of iPhone making "good enough" images. Now we are talking about whether we even need out DLSR gear.

--Darin

darinb said:

Congrats. Just a short time ago people were talking about the possibility of iPhone making "good enough" images. Now we are talking about whether we even need out DLSR gear.

Click to expand...

Yep... I mean sure its still a compromise but it's not a big enough compromise. The things I gain are worth it.

Look at the original Canon 5D. I know it's full frame but it's 12 Megapixels and I see amazing photos posted with that. I'd be willing to bet the new iPhone has more dynamic range than it as well.

My only worry is I hope the flash I bought works off camera well with the iPhone because I really like to do off camera flash for portraits. I do not like the flash look, so I like to bounce the light, it looks better and it allows me to use base ISO even in a dark house.

A few years ago I had a 4k prosumer camcorder that cost 2 grand, it couldn't even do 10 bit or HDR. It had a 1 inch sensor so there was no shallow depth of field. However, I remember how amazing and detailed it looked. I get the same feeling from the iPhone's footage.

The only problem is I do like a bit of a flat look and the iPhone footage is sharp. I'm hoping filmic pro puts out a LUT or flat profile that can be used with the 10 bit Dolby Vision. It says you can edit the dolby vision in camera but I wonder if you can take that sharpness away.

BlueCosmo5050 said:

BAHdog said:

I did the same DSLR/2 lenses vanishing act 2 years ago when I got a 7+ and have not regretted it. I will have a 12 Pro Max in the coming months. They don’t quite have the ultimate IQ of a DSLR but they are very good and handle issues differently. It is a very pleasant method to approach photography.

I’m still shooting mostly RAW and doing the computational part manually and have been pleasantly surprised to overwhelmed at times with the things that can be accomplished. I doubt I’ll be going back.

Click to expand...

Have you found any ND filters for it?

Click to expand...

never looked for any accessories in order keep it fast, sleek and mobile. I do carry a credit card sized white balance card. My old Gitzo mountaineer is now set up for my phone but I don’t carry it, just use it for certain kinds of photography close to home.
In difficult lighting I do resort to HDR and some of the other computational methods in the ProCamera app. Can’t wait to try that fine app with an iPhone Pro Max. Love the ultimate control. Other things can be taken care of in the Affinity Photo editing app.

It probably will suffice for a camera but then it really is the price of a camera and lens ,i think phone cameras are a useful tool but still have compromises it is not like the computational thing is not going to go to milc as well ,but they are lighter and easier to carry.

I don't know if i am willing to give up on my ILC yet, but I am considering getting the iPhone 12 PRO Max in November. The new ProRAW capabilities intrigue me as this would give me a RAW file that includes the computational capabilities of the iPhone. It will be interesting to see how the 3rd party editing tools take advantage of this.

--
My Flickr Birds

What’s crazy is why you, and tons of others, bought dslr's in the first place. If all you needed was a small sensor with a zoom, you spent a lot of time lugging around a dslr when any number of point-and-shoots would have filled your use case.

uniball said:

What’s crazy is why you, and tons of others, bought dslr's in the first place. If all you needed was a small sensor with a zoom, you spent a lot of time lugging around a dslr when any number of point-and-shoots would have filled your use case.

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Kind of a vague, unsubstantiated statement.


Equipment has vastly improved and don’t forget that skills are 99% of the equation. Lol

My photography career spanned more than 30 years, was adventurous and lucrative enough that I retired at an early age. My needs and priorities have changed.

I do wilderness forays, need gps navigation, maps and take reference books for plant info and foraging. My iPhone does all that so less weight and bulk. Other than photography I can also call one of my girlfriends. Therefore a good piece of kit for me at this time.

hi,bad, can you leave your email to me. i have some question to ask you.thanks!

darinb said:

Congrats. Just a short time ago people were talking about the possibility of iPhone making "good enough" images. Now we are talking about whether we even need out DLSR gear.

Click to expand...

As usual, it depends on your wants and/or needs. For example, shooting surfing, well, the phone is worthless. For lots of other things it's fine.

uniball said:

What’s crazy is why you, and tons of others, bought dslr's in the first place. If all you needed was a small sensor with a zoom, you spent a lot of time lugging around a dslr when any number of point-and-shoots would have filled your use case.

Click to expand...

I guess many bought DSLRs because the small sensor cam had really bad IQ. They've improved recently, and we now have superzoom bride cams, like the Sony RX10 IV, that are very good, but ILCs were needed at one time to get decent images in off light conditions.

I am definitely looking at the iPhone 12 Pro Max for all of my grab shots.

I'll stick with my real camera for promotional shots of real estate, but I may not carry it any longer when looking at property.

I'll still use the real camera for planned portraits, but I might not take it for a night out anymore.

I do make some fine art prints for gifts, and I have sold a few. I like a day outside with my camera trying to create the best possible pictures. But if I'm out without it, it would be very nice to get much better than what I thought possible with a phone. In the right conditions, a great shot is possible with just the phone in your pocket.

Traveling by car, I don't mind the weight and bulk of my system at al. But I have been looking for a smaller system for traveling by plane. This could easily be it.

If I go with the iPhone 12 Pro Max, I will add a Canon Powershot Monocular, which easily fits in any pocket and makes for a complete system, 13mm - 400mm.

EDIT

Does anyone know about macro possibilities on this phone?

--
That's my opinion, and it's worth what you paid for it.
Eddie Rizk
The race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong, but that's the way to bet.
Formerly "Ed Rizk"
My email was hacked and unrecoverable along with all associated accounts, so I got permission to create a new one.

Eddie Rizk said:

If I go with the iPhone 12 Pro Max, I will add a Canon Powershot Monocular, which easily fits in any pocket and makes for a complete system, 13mm - 400mm.

Click to expand...

Do you mean 2 complete systems? Interesting product. But if an expensive phone with a good camera is never-the-less needed, I'll forget about it.

uniball said:

Eddie Rizk said:

If I go with the iPhone 12 Pro Max, I will add a Canon Powershot Monocular, which easily fits in any pocket and makes for a complete system, 13mm - 400mm.

Click to expand...

Do you mean 2 complete systems? Interesting product. But if an expensive phone with a good camera is never-the-less needed, I'll forget about it.

Click to expand...

It will work without the phone. It can record to a mini SD card. It will also send the photos to the phone wirelessly, like every other camera. It would even work with my iPhone 8.

That said, it’s not really any better than the phone. It’s only 12 MP, and it only shoots JPEGs. So I wouldn’t use it for anything that I wouldn’t use a phone picture for. I would think of it as a phone accessory. But you can use the mini SD card or ISB to connect it to your computer, if you want.

Eddie Rizk said:

uniball said:

Eddie Rizk said:

If I go with the iPhone 12 Pro Max, I will add a Canon Powershot Monocular, which easily fits in any pocket and makes for a complete system, 13mm - 400mm.

Click to expand...

Do you mean 2 complete systems? Interesting product. But if an expensive phone with a good camera is never-the-less needed, I'll forget about it.

Click to expand...

It will work without the phone. It can record to a mini SD card. It will also send the photos to the phone wirelessly, like every other camera. It would even work with my iPhone 8.

That said, it’s not really any better than the phone. It’s only 12 MP, and it only shoots JPEGs. So I wouldn’t use it for anything that I wouldn’t use a phone picture for. I would think of it as a phone accessory. But you can use the mini SD card or ISB to connect it to your computer, if you want.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I never knew it existed. However, having since read some reviews, it’s not for me.

uniball said:

Eddie Rizk said:

uniball said:

Eddie Rizk said:

If I go with the iPhone 12 Pro Max, I will add a Canon Powershot Monocular, which easily fits in any pocket and makes for a complete system, 13mm - 400mm.

Click to expand...

Do you mean 2 complete systems? Interesting product. But if an expensive phone with a good camera is never-the-less needed, I'll forget about it.

Click to expand...

It will work without the phone. It can record to a mini SD card. It will also send the photos to the phone wirelessly, like every other camera. It would even work with my iPhone 8.

That said, it’s not really any better than the phone. It’s only 12 MP, and it only shoots JPEGs. So I wouldn’t use it for anything that I wouldn’t use a phone picture for. I would think of it as a phone accessory. But you can use the mini SD card or ISB to connect it to your computer, if you want.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I never knew it existed. However, having since read some reviews, it’s not for me.

Click to expand...

It’s only for me, if I get a new phone with a great for a phone camera. Then it’s just a phone accessory.



I’ll shoot my EF 100-400, if I want serious pictures. It would be nice to have 13-400mm in my pocket at all times.