How to Fix iPhone 16 Pro Max Camera Focus Issue

Similar issue here only on iOS 18 (all versions) with my iPhone 16 Pro Max. Absolutely mind-blowing this issue persists.

Zero issues with my iPhone 15 Pro Max running iOS 17.

I put some time in this test comparing my iPhone 16 pro max capture to my Nikon D810 through a Nikkor Micro 2.8 lens -- the Nikon was locked down on a heavy professional bogen tripod and I was using a wireless remote shutter release.

the iPhone was hand held, I am quite practiced hand holding shutter releases, but that handholding the iPhone is a flaw to my results -- I do believe I got the leaf surface in focus -- if I used the iPhone processing it looks much sharper (but way over sharpened for my taste)

the iPhone was shot yesterday, I went back same time this morning with the Nikon

here is the iPhone full frame:

I shot Apple RAW format

Opened in Photoshop in ProPhotoRGB in 16-bit

I did minimum selective color (it could use some more minus yellow saturation)

did a little unsharp mask (sharpening)

converted to sRGB

Down scaled to 2000 pixels tall (hoping it fits forum size)

below is the Nikon version -- I shot the Nikon loose (4912x7360 pixel dimensions) and cropped in

I shot in RAW .nef

opened in Photoshop ProPhotoRGB 16-bit

I did minimum selective color

Slight Curve adjustment

and a little unsharp mask (sharpening)

converted to sRGB

Down scaled to 2000 pixels tall

you may notice the Nikon example below goes slightly soft at the bottom -- this does not ruin the image for me as the shot is in the fat part of the leaf (I shot this at f/8, I probably would have tried f/11, but the light didn't last long)

CONCLUSION:

these results are pretty much what I expected -- the Nikon has Nikkor glass and the ability to stop down, I am not sure if this Nikkor is a so-called Flat Field focus lens

here is the original scene -- you may be able to see what I saw when the sun backlight hits the leaf -- the magic happens...

if you want to bring these images into Photoshop -- sRGB would be the correct profile to Assign...

They said to wait for the iPhone 17 Pro Max to come out, then trade in your old phone.

No, the issue still persists in iOS 18.3

You need to all report this to Apple! Seems they are doing nothing about it!

spoke to Apple support today and they are useless. So get the feedback to Apple!

very disappointed with IPhone 16 pro max camera quality

Thank you. I made four photos:

A: 24 mm 0°

B: 24 mm 180°

C: 48 mm/crop

D: 13 mm/macro

A and B are both blurry at every corner, so decentering can be ruled out.

C and D are both sharp.

My (old and now my son’s) iPhone 13 Pro has no such issue. But I also noticed that the 13 Pro only switches to macro at very close distances.

This means that it’s standard camera can focus in much more closely than the 16 Pro’s, probably due to the smaller sensor.

Problem is that the photo distance for a normal A4-print is obviously too close for the 16 Pro’s standard camera but not close enough for the automatic switch to macro mode.

Or just trade it in full stop!

contact apple support and see how quick they get rid of you, the acknowledged they are fully aware of the issue but nothing is being done to fix it

You’re posting in the wrong thread. This thread is about 16 PM. You obviously didn’t read my entire post so I’ll share the image again big enough for you to see.

iPhone 16 PM about 20X with 120mm f/2.8 at ISO 50, 1/2000 SS,

What kind of proof do you expect? To clarify: The pictures I posted were taken at the normal distance necessary to photograph the whole page. Nothing special.

We use iPhones as they are supposed to be used - very simple. Previous models produced sharp photos under all normal circumstances without following complicated considerations. Now the latest and greatest flagship model developed by the biggest and most expensive smartphone producer does not.

This is my eighth iPhone since the 3G and for the first time the camera is worse than before. And this is unacceptable.

If I had to rate cameras (iPhones), my first choice for general photography, is as follows, iPhone 16 Pro models, iPhone 15 Pro and 13 Pro pretty much tied, but 48 MP gives 15 Pro the edge, followed 14 Pro and by 12 Pro Max, and lastly 11 Pro. 

Here’s a few examples of some closeups on a windy day and macros (almost cringe now to use those words in same breath) to end our discussion. 

Note, not meant to be a representative in this thread about A4 at 30cm. 😁

Your picture is way too abstract to show anything except a nice green hue.

We are talking about text here. Take a pic of a book page using the 1x instead and post the result.

No, I can take a 35mm lens and put it on my 4X5 (inches for those unfamiliar with large format). Think of focus as presenting a circle of sharp light (focused light) and the point of focus is exactly the same distance on the 35mm (full frame digital) as it is on the large format. Exactly the same. Point of focus on the film/sensor plane is same distance. 

A full frame dSLR 50mm macro will likely be 6 elements in 4 groups. I looked for a block diagram to show the relatively simple construction. Missing some essentials like flat field, only f/3.5 etc.Cost a few hundred dollars. 

Here’s a block diagram of Canon RF Macro and its fast, well constructed, and flat field for copy work or 2D art reproduction. Cost $599 USD

Not practical due to size , weight and cost but good to know the tool is available if you need it. Minimum focus for both lenses is about 25cm, same as iPhone 16 Pro 1X

I have the same problem, This problem lasts almost a half year.

Really disappoint about apple is doing nothing.

I was expecting to get a better photography from 16 pro max but it’s useless ,how to solve this problem