Doc Barry Loc: Huntsville, Alabama USA

Have you ever seen something out the window of your home and by the time it takes you to get your Canon, Nikon, Sony, or whatever camera, the opportunity is lost? Why not use your smartphone camera since you, like most people today, are chained to it? The first photo shows a possible "why" when using the iPhone 13 Pro Max (13PM). When set to Photo Mode and the camera is close to the window, the camera wants to focus on the screen. A "trick" to fool the 13PM is to stand back from the window enough to allow the 13PM to focus on the part of the scene you desire. Then you carefully move the 13PM camera to the window pane (I have double pane windows with the distance from the screen to the inner pane being about 2"). The result is shown in the second photo. The image could be considered acceptable, but if you look carefully, a slight residual artifact of shooting through the screen can be observed.

I suggest a better way is to set the 13PM to the Portrait Mode which doesn't force the focus to the screen. In fact, unlike the other mode, one has some control over the focus and the depth of field (F/1.5 to F/16, tap the circled f in the upper right-hand corner of the display). The next two photographs show the result when photographing the hummingbird feeder. The screen artifact is not observable. Hey! A lady hummingbird flew into the frame just as I took the shot. After having a drink of my special hummingbird feeder elixir, she perched for a little rest.

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Just Shoot Me Loc: Ithaca, NY

Interesting effect. I can do it on my iPhone 12 also. Waiting for the 14 to come out and I'll see what that can do.
Thanks for the tip.

Ron

Doc Barry Loc: Huntsville, Alabama USA

My pleasure Ron. The iPhone 15 should have significantly greater computational optics capability. Apple has recently been awarded another light field US patent. Others have too such as Google and Microsoft. Goggle acquired Lytro. This will have a major impact on smartphone cameras. The iPhone 15 should have at least 5 times the computational capability of the 13 and better battery run time as well.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Good to know. I am also anxious to see the specs on the 14 Pro camera.

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

Thanks you Doc....I never knew this....I will give it a try.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

Nice tips. Thanks.