How do I fix my iPhone 16 Pro ultrawide camera shaking issue?

16 pro max my friend. I'm currently using ios 18. My macro mode will try to come on anytime I am not shooting a flat scene causing the camera to go back and forth between 2 lenses or sometimes shake bad. Like the original post, when it shakes, the video seams just fine. But when I turn the dang macro off, all 3 lenses work beautifully. So from my side of the galaxy, it's the macro mode for sure. But then, like my cardiac surgeon mother would say "just cause 2 ducks sneeze, doesn't mean they both have a cold." So my issue might be different from the phone of the guy we are responding to but have similar symptoms.

I’ll make it simple. Turn off macro mode. Just turn that thing off. Yes you wont be able to focus on ants and tiny things up close, but your camera wont shake no more. This isnt a camera problem. It’s not broken. It’s just that, the stupid macro mode is not tuned correctly so it tries to take over. At least this is my issue that i learned to stop the shaking by turning off macro mode. Now my baby works just fine.

Does it do it outside in good light? If you point at a subject with a lot of contrast, details and colors does it do it? The object in the room are single color and there is very little color and details. All cameras focus extremely well in good light, with subject that have lots of contract and details. For example point an Auto Focus camera at a plain white wall (no contrast and no detail) and all cameras will struggle to accurately focus. If the walls had details or objects on them, it might focus much faster and more accurately.

The other lenses don’t exhibit anything similar? Do you have any protective covers over the lenses?

OK, so I followed your link and I see a low resolution file that really doesn’t help with diagnosing the issue. I would say it’s the result of having the focus point in the window (bright light) and AF system not being able to lock on to a subject. I don’t see an AF lock yellow box or an indication of the AF/AE lock. The rapid motion from foreground to background with no focus point selected would cause symptoms like what the video displays, I think. The resolution is so low and no explanation of what I’m looking at basically results in a no firm diagnosis conclusion.

I’d suggest opening a case with Apple support to preserve your consumer rights. I’d also suggest putting some effort into producing a video that is truly displays the issue. I don’t know if it’s caused by no focus point, rapid movement (who shoots video that way?), no tripod or what exactly.

You need to have Apple perform diagnostics on your iPhone. It can be done in person at an Apple Retail Store or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can also contact Apple Support and request remote diagnostics.

If you’re in the US please call  1-800-MY-APPLE or outside the US, consult the support articles below.

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Official Apple Support

You need to have Apple perform diagnostics on your iPhone. It can be done in person at an Apple Retail Store or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can also contact Apple Support and request remote diagnostics.

If you’re in the US please call  1-800-MY-APPLE or outside the US, consult the support articles below.

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Explore Service Locations

Official Apple Support

Live Chat with an Apple Advisor in Messages. 

Macro mode doesn’t try to activate at 1.5 meters (~5 ft.) in my 16 Pro Max. My macro mode activates around .6 meters or 24 in. Not trying to be argumentative, it’s good advice to turn it off unless specifically shooting close up. Just trying to understand what’s going on. Are you using a 16 Pro Max or different model? My wife’s 15 PM doesn’t go into macro until about .5 meters or 20 in.

Hi, yes I’m using a 16 Pro Max as well. The distances I stated above are for my 16 PM with reference to my Wife’s 15 PM. I’m not have the macro issue you describe it doesn’t try turning on until an AF point falls on a very near distance. When the yellow flowers shows, I tap it to disable the macro mode. If your device is going into macro mode further than the distances I stated above, it sounds more like a camera issue.

I can also resolve the macro issue by forcing the camera to focus on a specific point. I also frequently check the edges of my scenes to insure AF hasn’t picked up some stray object and going in and out of focus and switching to macro.

Same for me! It does the same in all light scenarios when using the 0.5 lens.

I’m scared, I use my phone to record my YouTube videos. It is affecting me a lot, I have to retake multiple times.