iPhone 13 Pro Max Video Camera Zoom Issues

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Level 1

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iPhone 13 Pro Max Video Camera Zoom Issues

When I am taking a video with the back camera of my shiny new iPhone 13 ProMax and I drag my finger across the zoom, as the zoom moves from 0.5 to 1.0 there is an obvious jarring hiccup as the cameras change. When I continue to zoom from 1.0 through 3.0, the video hiccups again and the lighting is processed (it usually looks cooler) by the third camera.

I reset my iPhone to factory specifications and set it up again without setting up the iCloud. I had the same results with the choppy video.

A senior advisor wasn't able to diagnose/solve the issue but admitted the video quality was not as expected. Apple shipped a replacement phone. When I opened the new phone, I had the same issue. I have owned other iPhones and have not experienced the issue to this degree.

I have attached a 22-second video demonstrating the issue.

My phone is a 13 Pro Max with 1 TB of storage, running the latest iOS.

Posted on Oct 14, 2021 4:46 PM

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Answer 1

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C_Mc Author

Level 1

16 points

Oct 17, 2021 11:48 PM in response to Dogcow-Moof

Thanks for your insight, Mr. Moof!

I don't have a lot of experience with the iPhone 13 yet. But this issue did not seem to occur when I was shooting video on my iPhone XS Max. I was able to slowly zoom from 1.0 through 2.0 without the noticeable jarring as the lens changed. Perhaps it is more noticeable because the cameras are shooting higher detail.

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Answer 2

Nov 7, 2021 7:37 AM in response to C_Mc

I have the exact same issue and have been looking for someone to bring it up too. When I noticed It I knew it was switching between lenses, which is fine. BUT! When this phone is advertised as basically a movie maker, to not be able to zoom with a camera to make any content without jarring image and color changes which cannot be fixed in post is kinda bogus. If this is NORMAL than they need to stop giving this phone to Hollywood DPs and have them slopping on praises of how they can make full movies with it.

regardless I’m glad I found this post so I don’t feel crazy and I now know it’s just how the phone is made and it’s not a defect. I’ll stop making my sequel to Lethal Weapon now.

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Answer 3

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,557 points

Oct 17, 2021 9:10 PM in response to C_Mc

If you tap the different zoom levels offered by the iPhone 13 Pro Max (.5x, 1x, 3x), you are actually switching between the different camera lenses.

If you are zooming between levels, it is a digital zoom where you are actually magnifying the pixels gathered at the lower zoom level until you reach the next optical zoom level.

So for example, when zooming between 1x and 3x, you're reducing the resolution of your video as soon as you go above 1x until you hit 3x, assuming good light. If light is low, the iPhone won't ever actually use the 3x lens but will continue to zoom digitally.

The bottom line: there is nothing wrong, this is normal for any camera.

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Answer 4

C_Mc Author

Level 1

16 points

Oct 17, 2021 11:41 PM in response to daljylorriane

They really did not say anything. This seems to be the norm with these phones as the camera "toggles" from one lens to the next. I changed the camera quality to the higher resolution formats and the "hiccup" wasn't as noticeable. This seems strange for a phone that was supposed to change movie-making as we know it!

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Answer 5

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,557 points

Oct 18, 2021 12:12 AM in response to C_Mc

On the XS Max you were in digital zoom as soon as you left 1x and it went back to optical when you got to 2X, so you were losing resolution, you may just not have noticed plus on the 13 Pro Max you are in digital zoom between 1x and 3x.

Movie makers don’t actively zoom without using very expensive optical zoom lenses. When using the 13 Pro Max they would never use digital zoom, they would do shots at 1x or 3x as needed and intercut the footage with other shots.

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Answer 6

C_Mc Author

Level 1

16 points

Nov 7, 2021 7:53 AM in response to Gnargoyle84

Apple is a great marketing machine. I would bet that all the stellar videos from the product launch were shot without changing lenses with the zoom feature. That allowed Apple to make their claims (the videos were shot by film maker Pros after all), without exposing issues that amateur film makers like the rest of us are experiencing.

Too bad you canceled your directorial debut!!

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