As smartphone technology rapidly advances every year, with better processors, stronger screens, and faster charging, so is the world of mobile cameras. Lenses and cameras in mobile phones have been improving, providing professional-level quality and variety.
In particular, Apple has been making strides in enhancing its smartphone cameras every generation. The iPhone has become renowned for its high-quality photos, videos, and camera software support.
One of the biggest advancements in smartphone cameras is featuring multiple lenses. This adds more versatility to the device’s cameras, allowing for more camera functionality, better zoom, and higher quality. For example, Apple’s new iPhone 15 series features 2 camera lenses in the base models and 3 in the Pro and Pro Max devices. Multiple camera lenses are becoming a standard in the industry, and they’re here to stay with iPhones.
What The Different iPhone Camera Lenses Do
Since the introduction of the 11 Pro, iPhones have been shipping with cutting-edge additional camera lenses. Each lens is designed for a different mode: Wide, Ultra-Wide, or Telephoto.
Depending on the model of the iPhone you buy, the device will come with either 2 or 3 lenses. Typically, the Base model will only come with 2 lenses, while the Pro and Pro Max phones will come with all three lenses—Wide, Ultra-Wide, and Telephoto.
Swapping between the iPhone's camera lenses is also seamless. To do so, simply open your camera and tap the magnification options just above the shutter button.
Tapping 0.5x will give you the ultra-wide-angle lens, selecting 1x will give you the wide lens, and then zooming in 2x will give you a close-up with the telephoto lens. Below is a specific breakdown of each lens and how it works.
Wide
The wide lens is the standard iPhone lens—every device has one. It has no optical zoom, and it shows the subject of a photo the way you see it with your eyes.
Typically, on newer iPhones that have multiple lenses, the wide lens is the bottom lens. If you’re running an older iPhone with only a wide lens, it’s possible to buy third-party accessories to add a telephoto lens.
Ultra-wide
The ultra-wide lens on iPhones is also sometimes called the fisheye lens. It’s perfect if you want to ‘zoom out’ further out of frame before taking a photo. For instance, if you’re backed against a wall and want the camera to show more of what’s ahead of you—an ultra-wide lens is perfect.
When you see an iPhone with only two lenses, one will be the regular wide lens, and then the other will be the ultra-wide lens. The telephoto lens, which we’ll be breaking down next, is only in models with three lenses.
Telephoto
The telephoto lens on the iPhone is also known as the zoom lens. It’s perfect for taking close-up photos of a subject and is particularly useful for Portrait mode photos.
This lens allows you to zoom in on far-away objects without compromising quality. For example, if your subject is a wild animal, and you can’t get physically closer, the telephoto lens is useful.
Why Do iPhones Have So Many Lenses?
Newer iPhone models have multiple cameras or lenses to provide better camera functionality on par with professional cameras. In the past, phones only had one lens—the wide lens—which didn’t properly support zooming in or ultra-wide options.
This was severely restricting to users trying to take photos. Now, the additional lenses open up the world of photography for users, by offering better depth of field and zoom capabilities.
Without the additional lenses, newer iPhones wouldn’t be able to offer options like 2x, 3x, and 5x zoom. It wouldn’t be possible to use the 0.5x zoom option on the phones either, which creates the fisheye lens effect.
Tips On iPhone Photography: Getting The Most Out of Your Lenses
There’s an adage—the best camera is the one that you have with you. For most people, that’d be their iPhone, which we carry around with us everywhere in our pocket or bag.
So, if you’re looking to get the most out of your iPhone’s camera, we’ve listed out a few tips below. From enhancing the photo quality to exposure and focus, you’ll be an iPhone photography pro in no time.
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Clean your lens. Because the iPhone lens is exposed, it is easy to get dirty. It will pick up dust, smudges, and other particles, so be sure to wipe it off before taking a photo for a clear image.
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Image composition is extremely important in photography. It is how you arrange elements or subjects within a frame. So, if you want to improve your photography, turn on the grid option.
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Remember to adjust the focus and exposure. The last thing you want is to take a picture and realise the subject isn’t in focus or it’s too bright or dim.
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Edit your images. Editing is an essential part of photography, whether you’re using a camera or a phone. Without editing, images can appear flat or muted. Good editing apps include Lightroom Mobile, Snapseed, and VSCO.
- If photography is your hobby, or you’re looking to go pro, investing in photography tools is important. For example, diffusers to soften strong sunlight, and tripods for stabilising your phone.
Common Issues With iPhone Cameras
Although iPhone camera lenses can get scratched, it’s not likely to happen. Apple typically manufactures its phone’s camera lenses from sapphire glass, which is scratch-resistant and long-lasting.
Thankfully, iPhone cameras typically don’t suffer from common issues, and any problems are usually software-related. So, if you run into an issue, like the camera app freezing, restarting your device will fix it.
If you run into any oddities with your iPhone camera not working, another suggested fix is to update your software and reset your camera app’s settings.
Buy Refurbished iPhones at OzMobiles
For the best deals on iPhones, refurbished is a great way to get the latest phones at a fraction of the original cost. At OzMobiles, we stock the latest iPhone models, including the Pro and Pro Max.
All the iPhone devices we sell, including the latest 15 series, undergo an extensive 72-point refurbishment process in our Melbourne headquarters. During this, we run comprehensive tests on all the components to ensure they are fully functional and the phone is running like new at optimal levels.
When you buy from us, we also offer a 12-month free warranty on our devices. We also have a 30-day risk-free return policy, so if there are any issues, or you have a change of mind about the sale, you can return the product.
If you have any questions about our refurbished iPhone devices or their cameras, our team would be happy to answer any questions you may have. For any queries, contact us today—we’d love to help you find the right device to suit your needs.
