iPhone 7 Plus Camera - Pictures are bad

iPhone 6s vs iPhone 7, both running latest IOS 10.1.1

https://upload.vstanced.com/image/Tkx

https://upload.vstanced.com/image/TkJ

Download pictures if you want to compare details, this is best site I've found and pictures should be the same quality like ones on my phones.

Incredible difference. 7 looks washed out and blaaaaaa. Exactly the same problem I'm getting on my 7plus. Hopefully it's just a bug on the iOS in the 7's, as it clearly is not on the 6.

So, we should NOT compare :

iPhone 7 plus vs iPhone 6/6s (plus)

Instead, we should compare :

iOS 10.0.x vs 10.1.x

Two months in and the problem remains.

I have this issue on my iPhone 7 (model MN972B/A). To say the least, I'm very disappointed with the image quality - it reminds me of the overly aggressive noise reduction I've seen on some Android handsets.

I've been looking at this since noticing just how poor dim lighted photographs are. I am a photographer and want to make the most use of RAW in iOS, most of the portraits I've taken indoors with the standard app have been truly terrible. Trying to mimic the standard app using third party apps like ProCamera doesn't work, for obvious proprietary locked down API reasons.

With the 7+ it seems there is a lot more to think about particularly where the telephoto lens is concerned. Please read through the iMore article below.

So I've been using ProCamera 10 and noticed the Dual mode lens option, which appears to mimic the "portrait" mode in the standard app doesn't take RAW photos which ***** big time. The explanation is in the second link below.

Looking at a lot of images here the combination of these two links, to me, explains the issue. I think for the likes of ProCamera the sooner they have access to the API that allows RAW capture using dual lenses the better.

When I have an SLR I know what settings to use in all environments and tweak as necessary, for my iPhone I want to take this out capture a moment and know I have a RAW file to manipulate later.

http://www.imore.com/iphone-7-plus-telephoto-wont-shoot-low-light-situations

https://www.procamera-app.com/en/blog/dual-camera-iphone-7-plus-procamera/

http://www.imore.com/iphone-7-plus-telephoto-wont-shoot-low-light-situations

Maybe we should remove the "Plus" word from the name of this topic as this problem is common for both models of iP7s and it could be confusing for people to think that it is somehow related only to plus model.

I think there are severa distinct problems that this thread in all encompassing.

Fact is when I look at shot on iPhone advertising and now the Demo photo library on the MBP in-store, I don't believe these have been shot on an iPhone from my experience.

I created a bug report for this as well. I'm incredibly peeved because I upgraded and locked myself into a 24mo installment plan for this from an iPhone 6 Plus. It takes marginally better photos. I'm still in the return period and am thinking I will return the phone and upgrade when there is resolution.

I agree. All these issues affect both iPhone 7 models. If only the topic starter can change the title of the topic..

@PaigeyFee

I signed up to the Apple Upgrade Program like a sucker, I think this is the death knell for me and Apple. I have a 2010 MBP that I've been desperate the swap out and have quite simply lost trust in Apple at this point and do not want to drop +£2.5k on a new MBP.

Despite what was said in an earlier post, I don't believe this watercolour effect is caused by optical image stabilisation. As I understand it, OIS works by employing an articulated lens that moves in such a way as to counter any *fine* hand movements. There is no overlaying of images, and it works the same way for photos as for video. This being the case, OIS does not explain the watercolour effect.

Furthermore, it was stated that the RAW image doesn't display the artefacts because the sensor does not receive a stabilised image. I call BS on that! OPTICAL implies that the lens system is performing the stabilisation, and where does the sensor gather light from... yes, from the lens system.

Like others, I'd says its a software issue, easily resolved if Apple would tweak the JPG algorithm.

Exactly how did you do this because I can't find the option to turn that off

I've been comparing samples from my iPhone 7 using the stock camera and ACDSee Camera Pro, and an old LG G3. Same internal scene, same composition (sorry, no images yet). Here's what I noticed, all EXIF info reported by Google Photos:

A. iPhone stock app: f/1.8, ISO 32, shutter 1/50, file size 2.1MB. Some watercolour effect, most noticeable on skin texture and items that were not focussed.

B. ACDSee Camera Pro (Sharpening 25, Clarity 15, JPEG quality - Standard): f/1.8, ISO 25, shutter 1/50, file size 2.6MB. Considerably less watercoloring, but still apparent.

C. ACDSee Camera Pro (RAW, converted to JPG by Google Photos): f/1.8, ISO 50, shutter 1/35, file size 11MB/2.2MB (RAW/JPG). No hint of the watercolour effect, as expected. Note, Google Photos automatically converted this to a JPG file with file size 2.2MB

D. ACDSee Camera Pro (JPG derived automatically from RAW file - NOT a DNG preview): f/1.8, ISO 50, shutter 1/33, file size 2.8MB. ***?! The worst case of the watercolour effect I've seen from an iPhone. It's more like poster paint.

E. LGG3 Stock Camera: f/2.4, ISO 100, shutter 1/30. On par with image B.

I'm beginning to think that one contributing factor to this issue is the wider aperture on the iPhone. As most photographers know, a wider aperture results in a much shallower depth of field.

Following on from my previous post, here is a 500 x 500 px sample from each of the photos. The plant was approx. 20ft from me, and was not the subject, so it should be slightly out of focus. The lighting changed for picture C (sun moved behind a cloud) but you can still see the watercolour effect.

Image A iPhone stock app:

Image B ACDSee Camera Pro:

Image C ACDSee Camera Pro RAW:

Image D ACDSee Camera Pro JPG derived from RAW:

Image E LG-G3 stock camera with default settings:

I mailed my 7 Plus in for return today. I'm not willing to wait the problem out and lose the return period for something they /may/ fix.