While all iPhones have the ability to zoom in, some have a camera specifically designed for that function and a telephoto lens. The first model with a telephoto camera and the first with two rear cameras was the iPhone 7+, which was released in 2016. The iPhone 11 was the first smartphone to have an ultra-wide lens, which is at the other end of the spectrum. This ability set off a trend whereby rival smartphone manufacturers frequently included ultra-wide cameras on their new devices.
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The First Iphone With Three Cameras
Apple’s first iPhone with 3 cameras was the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. The base model iPhone 11 does not have an OLED display and came with a dual-lens camera on the back. This is why it was less expensive.
The first iPhones with three rear cameras were Apple’s iPhone 11, which debuted in 2019 but was only available in Pro models. In 2020, Apple stuck to the same deal with its iPhone 12 range.
All of Apple’s iPhone 12 models, a first for any iPhone, came with OLED displays and 5G this time around.
Once more, only the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are among the iPhone 12 models to have three cameras on the back. The 2020 flagship models from Apple are these. Although they are the most expensive, they also have the best camera performance.
Iphone Zoom Details
The only way to zoom for iPhone models without a telephoto lens is with digital zoom, and while that is better than it once was, the photos are typically not of the highest quality. When possible, it’s preferable to merely move closer to the subject rather than sharing a digital zoom image. Without a doubt, some zoom would be helpful when taking a digital photo of a bird in a tree. The only way to capture a wider view without an ultra-wide camera is with a panorama. It only takes a short while for the iPhone’s panorama mode to transform a slow pan across the scene into a very wide view.
The telephoto and ultra-wide lenses on the iPhone have smaller apertures than the main cameras, so if an iPhone has multiple rear cameras, there is also the option to have some control over the aperture. Smaller apertures tend to increase the depth of field while requiring a slower shutter speed, resulting in more of the scene being in focus at once but moving objects showing more motion blur. iPhone owners with multiple cameras have more control over not only zoom range but several other finer details as well.
Iphones With 3 Cameras
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
What Does The Third Camera Do?
On the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini, you have two lenses on the rear of the phone:
- 12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
- 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6″
And this setup is excellent; it will serve the majority of users well. You have a wide-angle lens for capturing landscapes and group shots, the images and video look fantastic, and the UX and usability are top-notch.
A third, additional lens has been added to the setup of the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, but otherwise it is the same. You can only get certain upgrades on the Pro Max, as you’ll see in the section below, which is exclusive to this model.
Iphone 12 Pro Camera Specs
- 12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
- 12 MP, f/2.0, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4″, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom
- 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6″
- TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
Iphone 12 Pro Max Camera Specs
- 12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift stabilization (IBIS)
- 12 MP, f/2.2, 65mm (telephoto), 1/3.4″, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2.5x optical zoom
- 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6″
- TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
As you can see, the Pro and Pro Max’s cameras have somewhat similar technology. But if you look closer, you’ll discover that the Pro Max outperforms the iPhone 12 Pro in almost every way.
It has much more advanced zoom capabilities as well as larger sensors and larger apertures. And all of these things will be observed by more seasoned and skilled camera users. Here’s what Apple said about the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s camera at launch:
The brand-new iPhone 12 Pro Max has the best camera system ever shipped in an iPhone, with a 120-degree Ultra Wide camera and a 65 mm Telephoto camera that boosts the total optical zoom range from 4x to 5x. With a faster ƒ/1.6 aperture, a 47 percent larger sensor, and larger 1.7μm pixels, the new Wide camera offers sensor-shift OIS, a first for smartphones, for even better image stabilization. This is the biggest improvement for iPhone ever in low-light performance for photos and videos, resulting in an 87 percent improvement. Inspiring computational photography features like Night mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3, HDR video capture with Dolby Vision,5, and the brand-new Apple ProRAW6 for creative control over color, detail, and dynamic range come to life when combined with A14 Bionic. And a new LiDAR Scanner delivers 6x faster autofocus in low light, unlocks Night mode portraits, and brings more realistic augmented reality (AR) experiences – Apple
Except for the battery and display size, everything else is the same. Once more, the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s is larger in both instances. If you can handle the price, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the one to go for: it delivers the best of everything and has the best camera by a considerable margin.
Conclusion
On iPhones with three cameras, everything that has to do with cameras is essentially the same. You would hardly notice a difference in the image quality unless you are a professional photographer.
However, if you want to purchase an iPhone with three cameras, it’s best to opt for the most recent model to keep up with the rapidly evolving state of technology.
