How to master the Camera app on iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro

Posted:
in iPhone edited December 2019
The Camera app has been updated for the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro to take advantage of the new ultra-wide lenses. AppleInsider explains how to use the new features to take the best pictures you can on the go.




The iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro received major camera overhauls to the joy of photographers everywhere. Both handsets were bestowed new ultra-wide-angle lenses, upgraded selfie cams, and a host of new software-specific features.

With all of these changes comes a swath of changes to the native iOS Camera app. Some features are obvious, while others fly a bit under the radar, so let's walk through all the changes in the Camera app to make you a photo-snapping pro.




QuickTake

Demonstrated on stage during the iPhone 11 launch event, QuickTake is perfect for when a photo-op unexpectedly turns into a video-op.

Swipe right to capture a video with QuickTake
Swipe right to capture a video with QuickTake


On other iPhones, holding the shutter button will fire off a series of burst images until the shutter is released. With the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, holding the shutter button will immediately start recording a video.

You can then swipe to the right to lock it into the video so you don't have to continue to hold the shutter button,

Capturing burst photos is still easy, just press the button and quickly swipe to the left and hold. The shutter button silhouette will turn to an incrementing count of the burst photos being taken.

Capture outside the frame

Lossless cropping thanks to Capture Outside the Frame
Lossless cropping thanks to Capture Outside the Frame


Capture Outside the Frame is a subtle, and initially disabled, feature on the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro.

When shooting with the wide or tele lens, it also captures an image using the ultra-wide or wide lens respectively. When laid atop one another, the wider shot is essentially captured "outside the frame."

This comes into play when cropping or leveling out a shot. You can correct an angled horizon or crop out slightly without any loss of image quality.

Settings toggle for Capture Outside the Frame
Settings toggle for Capture Outside the Frame


To enable, head to the Settings app > Camera > and enabled Photos Capture Outside the Frame.

If the photos aren't used, they will automatically be deleted after 30 days to reduce the necessary storage.

Night mode

Night mode is automatically triggered in the camera app whenever it is necessary. It does so based on the available light in your scene.

Night mode toggle for iPhone 11
Night mode toggle for iPhone 11


The icon appears in the top left-hand corner, or the adjustments tray above the shutter.

When on, Camera will do its best to choose an exposure time based on how much you are moving, the light, and the subject. The more movement there is, the faster the shutter has to be to reduce blur.

Users can manually override this by sliding the exposure counter that appears above the shutter when enabled.

Apple does these Night mode shots by capturing a series of shots then combining them. In this scenario, there would be little motion blur. Avid photographers know when using a DSLR or mirrorless camera, keeping the shutter open for longer can create motion blur and light trails.

For this, the iPhone will automatically detect when it is placed on a tripod rather than held freehand, and then allow these light trails to be captured without the risk of the camera moving.

Changing aspect ratios

Alternate aspect ratios on iPhone 11
Alternate aspect ratios on iPhone 11


With previous iPhones, Apple allowed users to switch between standard 4:3 or 1:1 square photos. iPhone 11 shuns this by now allocating three options for photos -- 4:3, 1:1, and 16:9.

Even better, if a photo is shot in 16:9 it can be cropped back to 4:3 after the fact without any loss of quality.

Adjusting scope

Another change to the iPhone 11 is how to switch between the different levels of zoom. Instead of a 1X that could be tapped to become 2X, a .5 1X and 2X are prominent above the shutter button.

Adjusting zoom scope with iPhone 11
Adjusting zoom scope with iPhone 11


Each of the three can be tapped to move between, or you can swipe along the numbers to open up the zoom wheel to scroll between the three lens presets or smaller increments in between. Apple also labels the lens equivalents below them.

To get back to the three original options, just swipe down on the adjustment wheel.

Wide Portrait mode

Apple's implementation of Portrait mode requires two lenses to operate at its best. iPhone XR cheated this by using software, but it was limited to portraits of people.

1X Portrait mode (left) versus 2X Portrait mode (right)
1X Portrait mode (left) versus 2X Portrait mode (right)


A limitation for the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max was that it always required users to be zoomed in to 2X as it used the tele lens.

The iPhone 11, and its newfound ultra-wide lens, finally allows the more affordable handset to capture true stereoscopic Portrait mode shots of objects and pets alongside humans. For the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, the addition of the third ultra-wide lens means Apple is now able to capture these Portrait shots with a wider angle.

When lining up a Portrait mode shot on the iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max, a 1X/2X button will appear in the lower left-hand corner to alternate between these modes, allowing you to get much closer to the subject or capture a wider image.

Not all hardware, not all software

These improvements are great. They add a lot to the photography experience on the iPhone. But, better hardware and software isn't enough, and the enhancements won't magically make you a better photographer.

Take those shots. Experiment with lighting. See if that office cat will hold still for a Portrait mode shot. Keep what's good, and mercilessly delete what's not.

The only thing that makes a better photographer is practice.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 7
    Using the Pro, what is the best technique for extreme close up? Which lens or setting will give the greatest detail on a closeup of a tiny insect on a tiny flower?
    welshdogwatto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 7
    Non destructive cropping of aspect ratios is really a cool feature. Typically in other phones I've seen, shooting in 16:9 aspect ratio is a lower quality picture compared to 4:3. I'm guessing the iPhone is still shooting in 4:3 behind the scenes and keeping the metadata even when you have 16:9 aspect ratio selected. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 7
    Using the Pro, what is the best technique for extreme close up? Which lens or setting will give the greatest detail on a closeup of a tiny insect on a tiny flower?
    From my experience, I have gotten the best results using the 2x optical zoom on the Pro for tiny insects or flowers. Make sure you always use AE/AF lock for a clear shot. For larger flowers like a bird of paradise, you can get some great results using portrait mode. For bunches of flowers, I will either use ultra wide or the regular lens. 
    welshdogwatto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 7
    Using the Pro, what is the best technique for extreme close up? Which lens or setting will give the greatest detail on a closeup of a tiny insect on a tiny flower?
    From my experience, I have gotten the best results using the 2x optical zoom on the Pro for tiny insects or flowers. Make sure you always use AE/AF lock for a clear shot. For larger flowers like a bird of paradise, you can get some great results using portrait mode. For bunches of flowers, I will either use ultra wide or the regular lens. 
    Thanks, tried it and it works well. 
    welshdogwatto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 7
    Using the Pro, what is the best technique for extreme close up? Which lens or setting will give the greatest detail on a closeup of a tiny insect on a tiny flower?
    Get an external macro lens like the ones made by moment and sandmarc. I have the sandmarc set (wide, take, macro and fisheye) and all of them are incredible. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 7
    JaiOh81 said:
    Using the Pro, what is the best technique for extreme close up? Which lens or setting will give the greatest detail on a closeup of a tiny insect on a tiny flower?
    Get an external macro lens like the ones made by moment and sandmarc. I have the sandmarc set (wide, take, macro and fisheye) and all of them are incredible. 

    Are they available for the 11 Pro Max?
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 7 of 7
    JaiOh81 said:
    Using the Pro, what is the best technique for extreme close up? Which lens or setting will give the greatest detail on a closeup of a tiny insect on a tiny flower?
    Get an external macro lens like the ones made by moment and sandmarc. I have the sandmarc set (wide, take, macro and fisheye) and all of them are incredible. 
    I did that for two phones in the past, but I upgrade often and had to throw both sets away because they didn’t fit the successor phone. Plus, ended up not using them all that much because fiddling with lenses was just too inconvenient—might as well use a camera. 
    watto_cobra
Sign In or Register to comment.