I got my Apple iPhone 7 plus about 3 weeks after they came out. It was a replacement for my iPhone 6S that I had for just under a year. The camera for the 7 plus is a system unlike any I have used before. If combines two separate cameras, one a wide angle with about a 28 mm equivalent lens with f1.8, and a second camera with about a 56mm equivalent lens with f2.8. And these two cameras are tied together with very sophisticated Apple software in the phone to give you many extra capabilities. In addition, the phone camera is designed to work well with Apple’s own “Photos” app on the phone, iPad, Mac or other Apple device.
This camera system using the standard (And very good) Apple camera app takes still pictures in wide or square format. Plus it takes video in up to 4K. In addition, to those usual modes the 7 Plus also can take Apple “live” photos, time lapse, slo mo, and excellent pano shots. And, “portrait” photos which have software that adds bokeh when used properly.
The Apple iPhone 7+ system for zoom is brilliant. It is a different level of performance from any other smartphone camera I have used and is likely far better than any other smartphone camera currently sold. I am fully away that lots of you tubes and other ratings people, and camera magazines test this system and say that several other smartphones are better, but in my opinion that is in the lab and not the field. My ratings system is based on the images or video I get and not lab test. If you actually want to get great work out of your smartphone this is the one to get.
I started to realize how amazing this camera system was the first few times I shot zooms where I went well beyond the optical zoom. The first few times I looked at the result and though, “wow that looks really good for digital zoom”. I don’t know how Apple does it but their “secret sauce” software amazingly lets you use the two cameras to zoom a lot closer than the optics of the 56mm lens and get great keepers.
The above shot was at sunset at about 8x zoom, which is about 4x the optical capability. And it is shot in low light into the sun. The result is frigging astonishingly good for ANY camera much less one that was included with a multi use portable computer.
Then there is the pano capability.
The image above was taken at the Painted Desert National Park in AZ a few months ago. It was very simple to take and what you see here is about 180 degrees, maybe a little more. The Apple software stitched the whole thing together and then made it very easy to edit in Apple Photos even though it is a lot of mega pixels. I basically just cropped it a little and hit the enhance button.
Then there is the bokeh software. I tried this a couple years ago with an Android phone and google’s system at the time and it did not work very well. I am sure google has improved it but the Apple system has to be the one to beat at this point. The Apple “portrait” mode works extremely well when you use it right.
The Apple iPhone 7 plus is very compatible with the Apple Photos app on the phone, and iPad, or a Mac. For most photos the Apple app is all you need. I use both the Apple Photos app and Lightroom. I have the monthly charge Adobe Lightroom CC which gives you both the latest version of LR and also Photoshop. In my opinion this is a bargain. The Adobe software is big, complex, and takes quite a bit of effort to learn it. Plus many things are not intuitive. But after using it a while LR becomes relatively easy. I have tried organizing my photos with LR and really prefer to let Apple’s system do it. Plus I always have my master set arranged in chronological order in a standard file set up. I also like using the Apple system because it sends slide shows to my Apple TV so I can see my latest photos on the big screen. Generally when I edit I use my MacBook Pro 13″, but like it much better when it is hooked up to my large Apple display. That said, both Apple and Lightroom have very good iPad and iPhone editing apps. The LR one is far more capable, but for most photos the Apple one works fine. One other significant advantage of using Lightroom is that you can take RAW photos with the iPhone. If you want the most detailed image LR RAW is the way to go. Plus when you need to make adjustments having a RAW file allows far greater latitude than a jpeg.
I don’t take a lot of videos. When I do I almost always use the iPhone instead of my Nikon. Why, the results from the iPhone are usually better and a lot easier. I do not use 4K. The files get too big. For editing video I use the standard iMovie app that comes with the Mac. It works well and for the amount of videos I take it is good enough.
I have and use regularly a Nikon mid range DSLR. If used right it does give superior results on still photos than the iPhone 7 +. Having a viewfinder is very helpful in the sun. Plus for quick action shots the Nikon is very fast. When you want to shoot sea gulls flying overhead the Nikon is the way to go. It freezes the sea gulls in flight even when hand held and not in perfect light. Plus you do get more details. As good as the iPhone 7 plus is for longer range tele shots a Nikon with a tele lens is better. Plus you can put filters like polarizing ones on. I use a polarizing filter all the time when taking flower pictures. It cuts down on unwanted reflections. You cannot do that with the iPhone. So no the 7 plus as good as it is does not replace an SLR or DSLR, but the two together make a great combo. And when you are walking the dog you will likely have your smartphone and not your DSLR.
Waiting for the next iPhone? No, get the iPhone 7+ now. It is that good. If you think the next iPhone will be amazing you may be right. So get the Apple plan that lets you upgrade in a year. That’s what I did. But so far I have heard of nothing in the rumor posts about any feature that is completely a have-to-get item for me. I have already had a couple of phones with OLED and while I think OLED is great for a TV, I am very happy with the excellent screen on the 7+. Full glass covering? Who cares. I use a case any way. BTW, I have both the leather and rubber case for my phone and the rubber one is better for pictures. Easier to grip when you want a shot. The leather one looks better though. So what is my rating on the iPhone 7+ on a 1-10 scale with 10 being the highest, it is a 10. The best compact camera you can buy.
Bob Nuttmann 