Can someone kindly explain how iPhone 15 Pro chooses between 24MP and 48MP photo quality in any given setting?

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Level 1

4 points

Can someone kindly explain how iPhone 15 Pro chooses between 24MP and 48MP photo quality in any given setting?

I’m not a terribly technical digital photographer so this likely has an embarrassingly simplistic answer…

Using a new iPhone 15 Pro, I recently captured some photos atop an active volcano which I was quite excited to bring into Lightroom and fuss around with. During that process I noticed some unexpected artifacting and came to discover that not a single photo, shot in the span of several hours that day (from a sunny mid-afternoon to dusk), exceeded 24MP. Yet the next day, during a casual walk through town, shot entirely 48MP quality. (Main camera, 1x, 4:3.)

Why is this? I ignorantly assumed when using the HEIF Max settings pictured below the phone would always produce a 48MP photo. If that’s not the case what are the factors at play that output at 24MP versus a 48MP?

Any help in understanding would be much appreciated!

iPhone 15 Pro

Posted on Sep 22, 2024 2:36 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 22, 2024 7:47 AM in response to radwick

I don't have a 15--does this help?

You can switch between 12 MP, 24 MP, and 48 MP. Go to Settings > Camera > Formats > Photo Mode, then choose 12 MP or 24 MP. To capture resolution at 48 MP, go to Settings > Camera > Formats, then turn on Resolution Control or ProRAW & Resolution Control(depending on your model).

I found it at

Change advanced camera settings on iPhone - Apple Support (GU)

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Answer 2

Sep 23, 2024 7:43 AM in response to radwick

You're right-- I completely missed it. And you are sure that you're in 1x, 4x3 the whole time? With a different aspect ratio there are fewer pixels. But even at 16x9 it should be 36MP or so. Zoomed images will be smaller by the zoom factor. But it sounds like you know that. I have no experience with this-- but I know that the camera is very picky about 48MP!

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Answer 3

radwick Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 25, 2024 1:25 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

I guess what I’m trying to understand is what are the factors at play in regard to its pickiness? Presuming the settings are correct, why can’t I depend on it to shoot 48MP, especially at those important moments? Is what’s happening normal? Is something wrong with my phone? Is lighting a factor?

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Answer 4

radwick Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 22, 2024 7:07 PM in response to Richard.Taylor

Thanks for your response! Unfortunately these are the exact settings I already have, but maybe I’m missing something? (Take a peek at the attached screenshot.)

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Can someone kindly explain how iPhone 15 Pro chooses between 24MP and 48MP photo quality in any given setting?

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