iPhones have always been top-notch (or about) when it comes to the camera department. But with the launch of the iPhone 11 Series, Apple has taken the game even further, cutting back on competitors like the Pixel 4. The dual camera on the budget-friendly iPhone 11 and the triple-lens camera on the 11. The Pro and 11 Pro Max break new ground in many ways in smartphone photography/videography. Ever since the 2019 iPhones landed on Beebom, I’ve been testing the camera on both standard and pro models. And I can’t help but share some of the best iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max camera tips and tricks that can go a long way in capturing great photos and videos.
Best Camera Tips for iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max
Apple overhauled the Camera app for a more simplified and intuitive experience. And in typical iPhone fashion, the tech giant has added a few cool tweaks to the mix to boost performance. While the introduction of Slofie seemed to start a new trend, the arrival of Night mode turned the spotlight on the iPhone, at least for now. Besides those big highlights, there are a few tweaks hidden under the overlay. With that said, let’s explore them all!
1. Make the Most of the Ultra Wide Camera
While most flagship smartphones have been flaunting the ultra-wide camera for a while, iPhones have been lagging behind in the race. Now! As Apple finally embraced the ultra-wide-angle lens, iPhones are back in the game with aplomb. All you have to do to get started is just swipe left at the bottom of the viewfinder and tap the 0.5x button, or tap the 1x button and select 0.5x to switch to the ultra wide-angle camera.
You can then make the most of the significantly wider field of view to capture images from the subject at very close range. It is extremely useful when you are in small areas such as narrow streets as it allows you to take a full picture even after being very close to the subject. AThree 2019 iPhone 11s have ultra-wide-angle cameras on the back. The 12-megapixel (f/2.2) camera is on par with the 13mm DSLR lens. What’s more, it has a 120-degree field of view, which can get plenty of views in one shot.
2. Switch Between Ultra-Wide, Wide, and Telephoto Lenses
The next tip in line is the way to switch between the three cameras. There are a few things worth noting, if not wiser. Depending on the type of shot you want to take, Switch between wide, ultra-wide and telephoto lenses by simply tapping the numbered buttons on the viewfinder and then selecting the preferred option:
.5: New ultra-wide lens
1x: Standard wide lens
2: Telephoto lens
Note that these lens modes are not fixed options. So you can swipe up on any of these buttons (between 0.5x and 2x) to reveal a zoom wheel. You can then use the zoom wheel to find a seamless transition from one camera to the next through a series of smooth transitions. You’ll also find the 35mm equivalent focal length of each lens-sensor combination right next to the wheel. After selecting a custom focal length, the wheel will disappear. To return to the standard focal length, all you have to do is tap the center lens button.
If you want your shot to capture more than just the subject (see tip 1), a wide or ultra-wide camera is the way to go. However, if you want to show the subject closer to the camera or emphasize the subject by blurring the background, the telephoto lens should be your first choice. The best part about it is that you can switch between lenses even while recording video. The lens switch is natural and gives you an additional parameter to improve your video recording.
Apple has decided to use the telephoto lens only on high-end iPhones (11 Pro and 11 Pro Max). relatively, The telephoto lens on flagship iPhones is much better than that found on the iPhone X, Xs or Xs Max. It takes more detailed, sharper and clearer photos.
3. Capture Ultra-Wide Panoramas
I have always loved panoramic photography as it is a genre. It takes wide-angle photos by stitching together several frames. This is the main reason why it is the best bet for taking pictures of landscapes, architecture and wildlife. So, I’m really glad to learn that Even the ultra-wide-angle camera on iPhone 11 Series devices supports panorama. As I understand it, it will be very useful for landscape and architectural photographers who always prefer to have an ultra-wide perspective. To use ultra-wide panorama shots, first select Pano mode and then tap the lens selection button (“.5“) and tap on it.
4. Capture 4K Video from Selfie Camera
While iPhones have always been top notch when it comes to video recording, the iPhone 11 Series set the bar even higher. All three flagship models are equipped with a 4K front camera (12 megapixels). So, if you’re someone who usually likes to take a selfie video, this is your thing. Note that to record 4K video on your iPhone 11, 11 Pro or 11 Pro Max, you have to slightly change the camera settings. To do this, just go to: Settings app > Camera > Record Video. Then you have the option to choose the preferred resolution and frame replay rate.
- 4K (movie style) at 24fps
- 4K (higher resolution) at 30fps
- 4K at 60fps (higher resolution is smoother
The smaller the frame rate, the less space your 4K video will take up (135MB, 170MB and 400MB per minute, respectively). So, choose your preferred option and you are ready to go live.
5. Catch a Slofie
If you think selfie days aren’t exciting anymore, turn to slofie. And I bet you’ll love every bit of it. Again, getting a slofie on the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro max is pretty straightforward. all you have to do just slide the slider (just above the shutter button) and select SLO-MO. Then press the shutter button and you’re ready to go. Note that iPhone’s TrueDepth camera will always record at 120fps in slow motion. I state this explicitly because the rear cameras can record slow motion videos at 240fps.
6. Take Better Selfies
may seem a little strange to many, The 12-megapixel front camera doesn’t always provide 12-megapixels for every selfie. For example, when you hold your device vertically, the image sensor will zoom in to capture a 7-megapixel selfie. Next, you’ll have to tap the expand button on the screen to zoom out to take a 12-megapixel picture. It’s pretty simple but worth considering, especially when you want your selfie to stand out or send a social media post for an instant lightning strike!
When you hold your smartphone in landscape mode, the camera automatically zooms out, allowing you to take a cool 12-megapixel selfie so you can fit more people or backgrounds. But if you want to take a 7-megapixel selfie, zoom back in.
7. Turn On Night Mode
Arguably, the biggest feature of the 2019 iPhones is the “Night Mode”. While this popular camera mode has been available on nearly all flagship smartphones, including the Pixel and Galaxy S/Note Series, for a while now, Apple has finally decided to join us – but in typical Apple fashion as always.
Night Mode using computational software draws in as much light as possible to brighten photos taken in dark light. But unlike Samsung or Google’s Night Mode, which illuminates everything and sacrifices detail, Apple’s offering puts more emphasis on capturing natural-looking shots with plenty of detail.
So, how do you enable Night Mode on your iPhone 11 Series devices? well, he The camera app automatically takes action when it detects a low-light environment. Therefore, you cannot open it whenever you want. Note that it does not work with the ultra-wide sensor.
With night mode on, you can: Check the icon at the top of the screen. The icon turns yellow when the feature is running. After that, you can tap the shutter button and then make sure to hold your device steady while the photo is taken. Depending on how dark the scene is, iPhone may take the picture quickly or increase the shutter time by a few seconds. Next to the night mode icon, you can see the number showing how long it will take to take the picture.
Depending on the lighting around you, Night mode automatically adjusts the effect needed to take a photo. However, you have the option to manually change the level of the Night mode effect. To do this, simply tap the Night mode icon (looks like a crescent moon) in the top left corner of the screen (when it appears in dimly lit environment) and then slide the timer dial right or left choose between Auto and Max. 5 seconds is automatic (default option), while the maximum is 28/30 seconds. When you take a Night mode photo, the slider automatically turns into a timer that counts down until the end of the exposure. And you should keep your iPhone steady until the photo is taken.
Also, if you have a tripod with you, the iPhone 11 has another trick up its sleeve. You can use up to 30 seconds long exposure for astrophotography. This means you can take beautiful pictures of stars and celestial objects in the night sky.
8. Record Video While Taking Photos
If you’ve tried your hands on Snapchat, you’ll find this feature pretty similar. Using this all new iOS 13 feature, you can start recording videos. Touch and hold the shutter button. The best part about it is that the video stays in the same frame as the photo. To record the video for a longer time, just swipe right on the shutter button to lock it in normal video recording mode.
9. Easily Change Aspect Ratio to 16.9
Previously we had the option to choose between two aspect ratios, 4:3 (rectangular) and 1:1 (square), and each had its own shooting mode. Now, with the introduction of the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, the camera app, grouped the aspect ratio settings in one mode. Also, it has Added a new 16:9 aspect ratio. You can swipe up to reveal a new row of camera settings and then choose your preferred aspect ratio.
10. The New Way to Take Burst Photographs
There’s a whole new way of taking burst photos. Simply, swipe left and hold the shutter button to take a series of photos. While it’s not as simple as when you have to press the shutter button to take several photos at once, it gets the job done with ease. Note that you can no longer take a burst of photos by pressing and holding the volume up/down button as this will start a QuickTake video.
My colleague Rupesh practiced with the iPhone 11 Pro camera. If you want to go deeper, watch the video:
SEE ALSO: How to Edit Videos Using the Photos App in iOS 13 and iPadOS 13
Get the Most Out of the Great iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max Cameras
Here are super useful iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro tips and tricks for 2019 iPhone cameras. I guess now you can easily take control of the new features and tweaks coming to the stock camera app. In the meantime, let us know your favorite features coming to the app. Did Apple miss out on something you were expecting? Feel free to tell us about it too in the comments below.
