iPhones are arguably the most popular cameras in the world. During the holiday shopping season, Apple ran a series of ads highlighting the camera capabilities of its latest iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. In one of the ads, Apple claimed that the iPhone 7 Plus was as good as a movie camera. Now the tech giant has released stunning images taken by the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus users from around the world.
Life through the iPhone 7 lens
The ‘One night on iPhone 7’ campaign highlights the smartphone’s low-light photography capabilities. Photographers capture life from dusk to dawn using the new iPhone. All the photos were taken on the Bonefire Night (November 5, 2016) across Antarctica, Indonesia, Iceland, Shanghai, and South Africa. Apple said the photos would be showcased in 23 countries.
Some photographers went to extreme climates to capture the perfect shots, while others captured people and places in their own city. Reuben Wu went to Java, Indonesia to take photos of the 130 active volcanoes there using the iPhone 7 attached to a drone. Kristin Kelley from Illinois captured the night through the eyes of her kids. And Elsa Blenda took incredible images of artists in Johannesburg.
iPhone 7 is the gold standard
Both the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus come with optical image stabilization, a six-element lens, and an f/1.8 aperture. The larger aperture allows up to 50% more light on the camera sensor than the iPhone 6S. The OIS helps by reducing the blur from involuntary handshakes and motion. These features enhance the image quality, especially in low-light conditions.
The 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus also features a dual-camera system with 2x optical zoom. Apple has also added a new Portrait mode that allows you to take DSLR-like images with blurred background. It gives you a real-time preview of how the background is blurred as you capture images. Last month, Apple shared tips from professional photographers on how to capture the best possible images using the Portrait mode.
Smartphone cameras offer convenience
The iPhone 7 camera still has a long way to go before it can match the DSLR cameras. But smartphone cameras offer huge convenience. They are easy to carry around. You can upload photos and videos to social media faster than you can with a DSLR. Users can launch the camera app with just voice command. You can use the iPhone to take a still shot while shooting a video.
Though the iPhone 7 Plus costs more than its smaller sibling, consumers have shown a clear preference for the bigger phone. Cowen & Company analyst Tim Arcuri said in a research note that buyers are willing to pay more for cool features, which bodes well for Apple.
