iPhone 12 Pro Max Camera Review: ‘Massive Jump In Imaging Capability,’ Travel Photographer Says

Travel photographer Austin Mann tested the new iPhone 12 Pro Max’s rear camera capabilities and said it and the smaller iPhone 12 Pro both had “a massive jump in imaging capability.”

Mann, who also reviewed last year’s iPhone 11 Pro’s mobile photography capabilities, took the new iPhone 12 Pro Max on a trip to see how it will do when used to capture photos in varying locations, times of day, and light settings.

Here are some of the things Mann said about the new 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max’s rear camera:

“We can now capture photos of the Milky Way with an iPhone — crazy!”

The photographer said he took photos of the night sky immediately after he got his hands on an iPhone 12 Pro Max, and the results were amazing.

One of the images featured on his website shows the Milky Way as a backdrop behind a play of lights on the lower-left corner of the photo. The lower-left portion of the photo is painted with a vivid red glow, above rocks that are colored red and black in the darkness. Behind all of this is a starry night sky, with the planet Venus “shining brighter than all the others.” Everything is filled with sharp detail.

“Less time for camera shake and subject movement”

He also discovered that the iPhone 12 Pro Max takes less time to process images captured in low light compared to the iPhone 12 Pro. While the smaller device takes 2 seconds to process one photo in certain situations, the larger model only takes only 1 second – yet it can produce a better image with more accuracy and sharpness.

“More freedom to see and capture scenes differently”

The iPhone 12 Pro Max’s new lenses also allow users to experiment with the kinds of photos they can take. The ultra-wide lens, for example, “reveals context” while the 2.5x Telephoto lens can “highlight specific details from afar.”

“The ideal camera for The Narrows”

Mann took the iPhone 12 Pro Max on a hiking trip to The Narrows, a popular hiking spot in Zion National Park, Utah. He passed through narrow paths and waded through rivers for miles – and the iPhone was there to document his trek.

The photographer noted how the device was able to capture “golden clouds” in “super dark” environments. He also said Smart HDR3 “can really shine” when taking photos of environments with “extremely diverse lighting,” like that of dark canyons with bright, blue skies behind them.

Overall

Despite these comments, Mann noted that the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro seem to be on par with each other in terms of photography. The only major factor to consider when choosing between them, he said, is the size. If the consumer doesn't mind holding a huge device to capture photos, they will like the iPhone 12 Pro Max.