Camera on IPhone 12 Pro Max not focusing

HARDWARE ISSUE NOT SOFTWARE THERE WILL BE NO FIX.

Hi guys I see a lot of people here hoping for a software fix. I’ve spoken with engineers at Apple they have advised me that it’s a limitation of the camera system due to the larger lens. There will be no fix for this. No software update will fix it. Apple have said if you aren’t happy with the camera you can return your iPhone for a refund.

HARDWARE ISSUE NOT SOFTWARE THERE WILL BE NO FIX.

Hi guys I see a lot of people here hoping for a software fix. I’ve spoken with engineers at Apple they have advised me that it’s a limitation of the camera system due to the larger lens. There will be no fix for this. No software update will fix it. Apple have said if you aren’t happy with the camera you can return your iPhone for a refund.

It’s intentional, you’re meant to use the telescopic lens for macro or close ups. The reason it’s different to Xs Max etc is because there’s a specific lens for this function now, as opposed to 2 lenses serving dual purpose. 1st pic is with main camera, second is with the correct 2.5x .

OffdutyRockstar wrote:

It’s intentional, you’re meant to use the telescopic lens for macro or close ups. The reason it’s different to Xs Max etc is because there’s a specific lens for this function now, as opposed to 2 lenses serving dual purpose. 1st pic is with main camera, second is with the correct 2.5x .

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/fe66ef9f-b0ca-4cff-becc-e24c41aea51e

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/e2ef30ff-143e-4d48-8fb6-f4bdf9ab2257

It's not. The 2.5x quality on close up is bad. I was on the iPhone 7 Plus before the 12 Pro Max, and the 7 Plus make better close up photo. The 2.5x also also deform what you're taking, it's not what I was waiting from a 1200€ phone.

Apple won’t replace it, because they told me that “it works just the way it’s supposed to”. They said that the camera is designed for telephoto shots, and that “it is not designed for macro”. They told me that I could buy an ‘attachment’ macro lens, and ‘try’ that!

There’s really a very simple fix just go to the .9 setting on your phone for zoom and it will use the white angle lens at virtually the same temperature as the 11 and will do close-up pictures and focus with no issue and then of course you can zoom in on it you’ll find no loss as the .9 setting is virtually identical to the aperture of the 11 pro max lens

TRY It

while I agree Apple should be able to fix this in software I do understand the issue of focal length and because they didn’t go with a Perscopic lens configuration it is a limitation of the focal length of the lens again easily fixed by simply using a .9 setting

masterlu:

Then return it. It is a hardware issue. If you read the whole discussion here, several people have stated (including me) that they’ve been in touch with Apple support and got official word from Apple that it’s a characteristic of the larger lens.

Apple will never make an official statement on this since they don’t see it as an issue 🤷‍♂️ It’s a larger lens, simple as that. A larger lens acts like this.

I had the same issues with camera. Not focusing easily and sometimes in different lightings taking terrible quality pictures.. I was reluctant and lazy to send back but I did it after one month of usage and gladly I did so. They detected defects and sent me a new phone...

do send it back it if you came across the same issues...

They can't do that, it's against the law and accordence with your consumer rights. As the item is not fit for purpose.

Apple has to replace the device if your not happy. Or If you got it from a network provider they have to either repair it, replace it or offer you an alternative handset if its a manufacturer issue. Just contact Apple log a complaint and obtain a case reference and send that to your network provider requesting a replacement item under your consumer rights act of 2015. If they refuse report then to ofcom.

MacGiver44 wrote:

One workaround is using the 2.5x lens. If you do that it will focus properly with the 2.5x. But we’ll...it is not the way neither the user experience I expected.

But it still won't focus as close as the old cameras.

It seems to be hardware, not software, so don't think there will be a fix via update.

Earlier, many 12 Pro phones would not focus close up. iOS 14.2 update fixed this for the 12 Pro's. So there is hope that Apple may release a update that will fix the 12PM's too. Or it could be that the 12PM camera hardware is inherently incapable of focusing as close as other iPhone models. Either way it would be good if Apple released a statement to clarify this issue. There is a long thread on MacRumors on this issue, with many unhappy 12PM owners. If anyone from apple is reading this, would you please consider releasing a clarification? Thank you.

I have found that using the wide-angle lens solve his problem as it is a smaller Aperture it focuses close and then of course you have to use the zoom it’s a workaround and I too am very disappointed because I do use mine a lot for close-up but that seems to be the only way around it I don’t necessarily agree with Apple as to the reason as I am a photographer and I have plenty of lenses that have faster lenses that have no issue focusing close it’s a design flaw not sure if it can be addressed in software but it could’ve been in the mechanics of the device

I wanted to add that if you click on the 0.5 lens/view option, the camera will focus correctly, although with a wider view

I had the same issue and contacted support.

The response was "the device has a larger camera sensor and optics so the macro focus distance (MFD, or minimum focus distance) was increased compared to other iPhone 12 or iPhone 11 devices." This means, iPhone 12 pro max cannot focus close up!! my old iPhone 10 max was able to take focused photo. Huge huge disappointment. This is a total downgrade, not an upgrade for me as I need to take close up shots for my work.

I spoke with Apple today about this. They told me it isn’t a software issue and it’s a limitation of the new camera sensor.

Basically the camera can’t take clear pictures close up you need to use the zoom. I said that’s ridiculous and they basically said if you aren’t happy with the product you can return it for a refund.

It seems like Apple doesn’t care about the customer anymore. The person I spoke to argued with me and said this is what engineering said. So looks like it’s a hardware thing. There will probably be a class action about this if enough people get together.

it seems to me like it’s poor design on the part of the camera area and Apple just don’t want to admit it so they are putting the blame back on the users. It doesn’t even scan QR code’s or Barcodes.

for a $2000+ price tag you would expect the camera to be better than the previous generation iPhone but in this case a $20 android phone can take better close up pics.