iPhone 12 Pro Max minimum focus distance is very long

I have consulted multiple people who is using the phone and technicians, everyone is telling that is how it is manufactured and since the lens is an upgraded lens, the focal distance for this particular lens is nearly 2x than other macro lens used in Iphones so far. I have checked multiple phones and its the same.... So there is nothin to be done on this from apple jus need to get acquainted I guess...

Seems like some over-glorified genius has seriously blundered and created something useless for most of us who were under the impression that “if Apple is charging more for something, it must be worth more”

Hope Apple corrects this serious mistake ASAP.

We just can’t take closeup photos anymore!

Even Apple’s iPhone 4 takes better closeup photos than my 12 Pro MAXimum bad Apple😖

Agreed this is disappointing. My partner’s iPhone X does much better at macros. Until there is a real solution, it helps to use 2.5 zoom, put your finger at the subject, wait til the camera focuses on your finger, use AF lock, then pull your finger away and shoot.

I wouldn’t count on any solution ever considering that Apple has never acknowledged a problem or even confirmed that the MFD is different on the 12 Pro Max. In fact, Apple has never given a spec for MFD on any iPhone model.

[Edited by Moderator]

I agree that it is very disappointing that my 12 pro max can’t focus as close as even my 6+. I was hoping to get close ups of bumblebees for identification purposes and could not believe I couldn’t focus as close as my previous 6+ iPhone. I am hoping for apple to provide a solution.

I too am more than annoyed with the Pro camera. I bought this phone for the better camera. I sell pics on Shutterstock and also sell coins. I need good quality pics and assumed the pro max would do the job.

i took 10 landscape pics with the pro max and uploaded them to Shutterstock. EVERYONE was rejected!

i recently tried to take pics of coins. They are horribly out of focus! My XS Max was far superior. Why isn’t there a closeup feature!

Now I’m stuck with this pos phone for 2 years!

If iPhone's previous minimum focusing distance is the most important spec to you for the camera, the answer is easy: get the "regular" iPhone 12. In fact, even most iPhone 12 Pro users (though not all, which is hard to understand) say that minimum focusing distance is fine on their cameras, too. I own the Pro Max, not the 12 Pro, so I can't speak about it from personal experience. Only the 12 Pro Max, with a faster lens and much larger sensor vs all other models has definitively seen a change in minimum focusing distance. I haven't gotten around to rigorous measured testing of actual MFD but, in approximation testing, it's about 4-4.5 inches vs roughly 3 inches for my wife's 11 Pro Max. That may not sound like a big difference but--if we assume 4.5 inches is correct--that's a 50% greater MFD vs. 3 inches, which matters a lot when you're doing close-up work. To achieve the same frame-filling close-up with the Pro Max, you can either zoom in, crop in edit or enlarge in post, but all 3 of these solutions compromise ultimate quality to some degree. Specs for the iPhone 13 Pro Max have yet to be announced, but if lens speed and sensor size get bumped up again, then the laws of optics dictate another increase in MFD.

Pretty hard to change phones once you've committed to a 2 year contract for the phone. Everything I read said the Pro had the best camera of any phone. They surely didn't consider lack of ability to do closeup. Every macro lens I find that says it works on the Pro there are always a number of reviews saying it does not.

This is my 7th Iphone and the first I wish I did not buy.

I think Apple made a huge mistake in not revealing the change in MFD spec for the Pro Max. It then compounded that blunder by never acknowledging that it exists and being upfront with users about the cause: faster lens + larger sensor = increased MFD. It's neither a hardware "mistake" nor something that's going to get a firmware/software fix. This is incredibly insulting to the very group to which the Pro Max is specifically targeted: pro and prosumer photographers--other than the bigger screen, the camera system IS the sole reason you buy the Max phone--and close-up work IS a major photographic use of the iPhone for this pro/prosumer group. I can only hope that Apple will make the MFD spec clear with the 13 Pro Max. We shall see.

That said, posters and trolls here have taken this to ridiculous extremes, claiming that whole Pro Max camera system is bad (no, it's arguably the best in any number of parameters, especially low light) or that it "can't" do close-ups. What's true is that you can't get AS close with the wide lens as you could previously, and you'll have to compensate through some cropping or using the zoom lens. Neither is ideal, and if you're doing 13x19 prints or larger, the quality difference may show, but photos used on the web should have no issue.

What is the best wat to let APPLE know this? I ahve beent hrough several chas, no one really cares. I can not believe I swtiched from a perfectly fine excellent photography Samsung phone to this garbage, Regret and will go back to samsung even if their newer phones are the saem, at least they did not go ona nd on about this superior caera without letting people know they would lose the whole reason the have a camera to begin with,

Samsung had the identical issue, even before Apple, on their top-of-the-line phone camera for the same reason: faster lens + increased sensor size = increased MFD. Samsung, like Apple, also did not disclose the change in spec, which led to a similar flood of user complaints. Don't believe me? Check out the whole thread on Android Central titled "Why Can't I Focus Closely on my Note Ultra 20?" (List price of $1199)

I do believe you. I also believed the hype that apple had the best camera, which it definitely didn’t and I would have preferred to stay with my old phone. That is my fault for being swayed by my kid to facetime her. Overall I don’t like either as they should have disclosed it, but especially don’t like apple.

so

my question is what is the best way to let apple know they have wrecked a feature i use as a person with a disability as well as messed with a hobby I loved.

I’m also very dissapointed about the focus distance! VERY! I thought that the topmodel of Apple’s phones would do better. I have always been a Apple Fanboy, since 1998. But right now I’m considering shifting phone brand!

I had a Huawei p20 Pro before that. Did’nt quite match my Apple LineUp that good. BUT now I think i’m turning back or maybe testing Samsung instead.

The Macro AND VIDEO part was that much better. The stabilization-performance in Huawei is Incredible. Now I’m back to Apple, and got “Shaky” videos, if I don’t “take myself together” or use a 3 part stabilizer.

Just a heads up for other photographers and Mobile videographers outthere!

Don’t make the same mistake. And Apple - Come on - get on the track again. We pay way to much for been that dissapointed

I paid big money for the IPhone 12 and the auto focus and settings are difficult! This phone a s camera are worse than the camera I used in the iPhone 8. Very difficult to just point and shoot! As a filmmaker it’s horrible

I don't see the problem. The closeup distance on my 12 Pro Max is pretty good. This is at about 100 mm (4 inches).