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Apple released iOS 10.1 beta last week with a new "Portrait" mode on iPhone 7 Plus. The depth-of-field feature uses the smartphone's dual cameras and advanced machine learning to make the subject in the foreground sharp while creating an out-of-focus blur in the background, known as the bokeh effect.


Since then, several MacRumors readers have shared beautiful shallow depth of field photos shot with iPhone 7 Plus. Many of the photos look like they were captured with a higher-end DSLR camera, which is impressive given how small the iPhone's cameras are. In many ways, the best camera truly is becoming the one you carry in your pocket.

MacRumors reader Bryan, for example, shared some photos he shot at the ArtPrize international art competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan this week. Each photo beautifully demonstrates Apple's artificial bokeh effect, achieved by combining two images from the wide-angle and telephoto lenses to create a depth map.

portrait-mode-pic-1.jpg

The crowdsourced iPhone 7 Plus Photography topic in the MacRumors discussion forums has dozens of other great examples of both regular and shallow depth of field photos, including this swimming pool portrait shared by reader erwheezy. Make sure to click the link ahead to read the full article with more examples.

Click here to read rest of article...

Article Link: MacRumors Readers Share Beautiful Depth-of-Field Photos Shot With iPhone 7 Plus
 

samcraig

macrumors P6
Jun 22, 2009
16,779
41,982
USA
Ok - just looked at the images in that thread. The normal shots are very nice. However using the depth function results in very fake looking photos if you look around the subject and the background. So much so that I wonder if they had been photoshopped before they were posted. I'm guessing not - but the edges on the foreground are pretty wacky. If I upgraded, I would just shoot normal pictures. And any shots I wanted depth of field, I would use my dSLR and my nifty 50.
 

samcraig

macrumors P6
Jun 22, 2009
16,779
41,982
USA
People...it's a PHONE..not a SLR!

Hooray, now we'll have a thread full of photography snobs talking about how their DSLR is sooooo much better and how these photos look terrible by comparison. :rolleyes:

We know that. But it still isn't very impressive (the final result). The photos look photoshopped. I guess it's impressive that you don't have to have photoshop to get this effect on your phone. But I wouldn't call it a good alternative to a dSLR nor the effect close to a real DoF image. That's not snobbery. It's just fact.
 

AppleFan91

macrumors 68000
Sep 11, 2012
1,792
3,719
Indy, US
There's plenty of people that think they don't need a camera because they have a phone.

For professional photography? Not sure who. But for taking random shots of their kids playing soccer? The best camera is the one you have with you and unless you carry a DSLR around everywhere, which if you do then cool, but unless you do then this camera is the best most people own.
[doublepost=1475106685][/doublepost]One thing to remember and consider, these photos are taken using beta software.
 

DotCom2

macrumors 603
Feb 22, 2009
6,167
5,437
We know that. But it still isn't very impressive (the final result). The photos look photoshopped. I guess it's impressive that you don't have to have photoshop to get this effect on your phone. But I wouldn't call it a good alternative to a dSLR nor the effect close to a real DoF image. That's not snobbery. It's just fact.
Well I think it is VERY impressive that a tiny camera on a phone can even do this!
 

WRChris

macrumors 6502a
Aug 17, 2016
680
949
Indiana
Ok - just looked at the images in that thread. The normal shots are very nice. However using the depth function results in very fake looking photos if you look around the subject and the background. So much so that I wonder if they had been photoshopped before they were posted. I'm guessing not - but the edges on the foreground are pretty wacky. If I upgraded, I would just shoot normal pictures. And any shots I wanted depth of field, I would use my dSLR and my nifty 50.

You carry an iPhone and a high end camera everywhere? I'd say most people don't have/carry both, but personally I think the possibilities of this bokeh effect are nothing but a good thing. Also, it's in beta, it won't get worse
 
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