How to Fix iPhone 16 Pro Max Camera Focus Issue

I can never get a fully clear picture. Only a small portion of the photo I’m trying to take will be in focus while the rest is blurry. I’ve turned macro lens on and off testing if that’s the issue, but it doesn’t change the problem. It’s been like this since I got it on 9/24.



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 16 Pro Max, iOS 18

Posted on Oct 5, 2024 8:52 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 13, 2024 1:15 AM

I've had an iPhone 16 Pro for a month or so. Everything with the 5x camera, photo, macro and video is soft focus. This is very disappointing.

247 replies

Dec 11, 2024 6:57 PM in response to WasAppleTillToday

Here’s your image and specs.


Object = 10 ¾ inches X 18 ¼ in


Distance from lens to subject = 24 inches


Lens 1X = camera choose 13mm .5X Why???

Follow this path,

iPhone > Settings > Camera > Macro Control > enabled > forces camera to .5X for and 13mm ultra wide.



Settings = 12 mega pixel, ISO 64, 1/99 sec shutter speed


———————————————————————


Here’s your image and specs.


Object = 10 ¾ inches X 18 ¼ in


Distance from lens to subject = 22 inches


Lens 1X = camera choose 24mm 1X

Follow this path,


Lens 1X = camera choose 24mm 1X Why???

Follow this path,

iPhone > Settings > Camera > Macro Control > disabled > camera stays at 24mm/1X



Above image resized to meet 5mb website restriction ,



Image reduced from 75MB to 3 MB file size, 8064 x 6048 reduced to 2048 x 1536, resolution reduced 48MP to 12MP


Dec 12, 2024 8:41 PM in response to WasAppleTillToday

AND NOW!!!


Here is the same shot taken with my iPhone 13 Pro, i have also circle /markup / draw in red where i think there is smudgy / blurry text on the same A4 Pamphlet shot at 1x zoom 12MP obviously not 24MP because its an iPhone 13 PRO. NOT macro, NOT 0.5x zoom, NOT 2x zoom, NOT 5x zoom, NOT 1.3x, NOT 1.5x, Just the plain old simple 1x zoom.


Oh wait, I didn't need to circle /markup / draw anything on it because the text is sharp all around :), but here is the same pamphlet anyways from the iPhone 13 PRO below:


Dec 13, 2024 7:37 AM in response to jerin_jerry_

They also don’t know they just keep trying like we do; they may have some knowledge but they are definitely not qualified technicians to know the problem; even when we tried the iPhone X which takes a more clear photo that the IP 16 pro max, they still try to persuade you it is normal. So I guess we just have to keep trying until the result is satisfactory - I will share two photos side buy side - the best image comes out with the 13mm ultra wide camera as you can see. The images a bit darker as I just screenshot them from my phone so you have to zoom in to see.

Jan 1, 2025 11:15 AM in response to Jeff Donald

Jeff Donald wrote:

"No, my experience will speak for itself. His review was worthless in troubleshooting a focus issue. How many 16X20 images do have hanging on your walls of resolution test charts? I have none. Pixel Peepers and gear heads are concerned with test charts and 1:1 images."


I think Mr. Jeff was referencing my earlier referenced Tony Northrop video about the 16 Pro Max camera review on utube


FOCUS LENS TEST CHARTS



since Mr Jeff brings up professional lens test charts -- charts are a useful tool to have available -- I personally would not be so quick to deem them them worthless in troubleshooting lens issues


getting your subject in proper focus is goal number one -- and knowing how to run a quick test to troubleshoot a focus defect (or lens personality) is invaluable -- regardless of the approach


each lens will have its own personality -- what counts is the look you get out of it -- much like the sound a musician gets out of their instrument


I doubt if every musician has or needs a metronome or tonometer, but if someone is having issues maintaining time or tone they may be helpful if they don't have the experience or natural instincts to produce the sound they are after... or adjusting them in the software

Jan 1, 2025 3:21 PM in response to -g

>>getting your subject in proper focus is goal number one -- and knowing how to run a quick test to troubleshoot a focus defect (or lens personality) is invaluable -- regardless of the approach<<


For one, a lens test only shows a limited set of information. Your assumption that proper focus is goal number one is just not correct.


Let’s look at several rodeo photos from the Madison Square Garden Rodeo.






Ernst Haas (March 2, 1921 – September 12, 1986) was an Austrian-American photojournalist and color photographer. During his 40-year career Haas trod the line between photojournalism and art photography. In addition to his coverage of events around the globe after World War IIHaas was an early innovator in color photography. His images were carried by magazines like Life and Vogue and, in 1962, were the subject of the first single-artist exhibition of color photography at New York's Museum of Modern Art. He served as president of the cooperative Magnum Photos. His book of volcanophotographs, The Creation(1971), remains one of the most successful photography books ever published, selling more than 350,000 copies.[1]


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Haas


Of course there’s always Ansel Adams and here’s what he had to say.


There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.


Henri Cartier-Bresson, considered by many to ge the greatest photographer of the 20th century, had this to say,


“Sharpness is a bourgeois concept”





Sharpness isn’t everything. But I agree it’s a fact that there are occasions when tack sharp photos are not only desirable, but are mandatory.


Just saying your photos aren’t sharp means nothing. If you want to talk sharpness, we need to establish standards as far as the image to shoot, lens to test, distance to subject, lighting levels etc.


Seems like a lot of work and I agree. But the one universal is comparing a $200 (at most) to a $2000 Sony lens is an effort in futility.

How to Fix iPhone 16 Pro Max Camera Focus Issue

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.