iPhone 13 Pro camera not focusing on subject but on background

I’m noticing that when I touch the screen to get it to focus on a certain point it will adjust focus and I can see it get that point in focus, but then it will settle in/lock onto a different spot in the frame - meaning the point I touched is blurry… I can fill +75% of the screen with the subject or the depth/distance I want in focus, and it will still settle to focus on a small section away from the center of the screen… Distance from subject, .5/1/3 lens, hand held, setting the camera down/tripod, and nothing effects where it ends up focusing…

Someone mentioned turning off the lens correction but I haven’t seen a difference after doing that… No screen protector, Apple case, no magnets, updated and battery fully charged… I’m comparing photos of the same plant, taken in the same location, various lighting conditions (pot lights, halogen, incandescent, a mix), and nothing seems to effect the focusing…

Comparing the iPhone 13 Pro photos to my iPhone 8 and while the iPhone 8 doesn’t produce as crisp an image (comparing in focus to in focus), it focused on what I wanted it to and did so quickly… The length of time it takes the 13 Pro to focus is long enough that it’s noticeable and effects me being able to take pictures as I go about my day… I can’t just point, touch focus, and click… I need to stop, try and get it to focus, and find a way to keep the camera still - handholding it just adds more time to how long it takes to focus…

I can’t believe it’s this bad and I am sure I’m doing something wrong or missing a trick… It’s been a week and I didn’t expect this much of a learning curve… I’m not excited about the learning curve I’m going to go through when I start playing with Portrait, Cinema, video, etc LOL I’ve watched a bunch of videos and don’t see others having this same issue… Is anyone else experiencing this, or does anyone have an idea about what might be causing the problem? Fingers crossed it’s just user error…

Posted on Oct 4, 2021 11:48 AM

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95 replies

daisy_emm Author

Level 1

39 points

Dec 20, 2021 8:29 AM in response to ZbyszekW

Yes! Everything you said!

There should be absolutely zero problems with touching the screen - especially when the phone will autofocus on that same spot, then lose focus when I touch the screen to lock it. Nothing changed. The phone focuses and locks. I touch it in the same spot to lock it, adjust exposure, reframe and immediately when I touch the screen it goes out of focus and can’t find anything to focus on. Still life, tripod, unchanging light. There’s no reason this should be a problem.

The macro is a disaster. The reframing - how did they think that wouldn’t be irritating. Especially, when reframing a closeup changes so much compares to if reframing happened when zooming far out at some distant landscape horizon.

I bought the phone for the camera and now have to carry a camera for the first time since my IPhone 8. I wanted the macro. I expected I would be able to easily chose between auto, macro on, macro off, and that with every option have the same ability to focus. The fact that focus is incredibly random is insane - ‘in focus’ is easily top two expectations/requirements of a camera. The fact that focus gets better *and* worse as you progress through is mind boggling. If it got worse as you zoomed in or as you zoomed out I’d figure it was just part of it. But in focus at 1x, out of focus at 1.5x, in focus past 3x…?

Koenich

Level 1

14 points

Dec 22, 2021 5:57 AM in response to daisy_emm

The 13 Pro Max Camera is a complete letdown compared to the 11 Pro Max i had before.

Whenever i take Portrait pictures it shows perfect focus and bokeh - but when i look at the picture afterwards in my camera roll it is completely different and useless. I end up killing off the portrait effect to be able to use the photo.

I'm on 15.2 and this is still (!!!) not gone!

The focus problems continue in video mode, where i currently have to manually tap-focus everything and instantly correct the lighting aswell (mostly over-exposes everything i tap).

Also: The Tele Lens Photos are completely different color, especially in the evenings. It's completely pale and the color correction does not seem to work. But that's a different story.

ozlem163

Level 1

8 points

Oct 16, 2021 4:39 PM in response to daisy_emm

I have ıpone pro camera always freezes and not focusing paying too much money for good phone but not working

Dec 18, 2021 11:36 PM in response to daisy_emm

I have the same problem

daisy_emm Author

Level 1

39 points

Dec 20, 2021 8:17 AM in response to MatthewRideout

Yes! What’s with the telephoto/3x being blurrier than digital zoom? I get clearer photos between 3.1-5 than I do by clicking the 3x preset/button thing. Irritating.

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iPhone 13 Pro camera not focusing on subject but on background