Hey guys! Today, we're diving deep into a camera comparison between two awesome iPhones: the iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12. Both phones boast incredible camera capabilities, but there are some key differences that might sway your decision depending on what you're looking for in a smartphone camera. So, let's get started and break down everything you need to know to make the right choice!

Key Camera Specs: A Quick Overview

Before we get into the nitty-gritty details, let's take a quick look at the camera specs of both phones.

• iPhone 12:
  • Dual 12MP rear cameras (Wide and Ultra Wide)
  • 12MP front camera
  • Sensor-shift optical image stabilization (OIS) on the Wide camera
  • Night mode on all cameras
  • Deep Fusion on all cameras
  • Smart HDR 3 for photos
  • 4K video recording at up to 60 fps
• iPhone 12 Pro:
  • Triple 12MP rear cameras (Wide, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto)
  • 12MP front camera
  • Sensor-shift optical image stabilization (OIS) on the Wide camera
  • LiDAR Scanner for improved AR and low-light focusing
  • Night mode on all cameras, including Portrait Mode
  • Apple ProRAW
  • Deep Fusion on all cameras
  • Smart HDR 3 for photos
  • 4K video recording at up to 60 fps

The most obvious difference here is the third telephoto lens on the iPhone 12 Pro. This lens gives the Pro model an edge when it comes to zooming capabilities and portrait photography. Also, the inclusion of a LiDAR Scanner significantly enhances low-light focusing and enables Night Mode portraits, a feature not available on the standard iPhone 12. But is that all? Absolutely not! Let's keep digging.

Image Quality in Daylight

In good lighting conditions, both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro take stunning photos. Colors are vibrant and accurate, dynamic range is excellent, and details are crisp. You'll be hard-pressed to notice significant differences in image quality between the two phones in broad daylight when using the primary wide lens. Both phones utilize Smart HDR 3, which intelligently balances highlights and shadows to create well-exposed images, even in challenging lighting situations.

However, subtle differences do exist. The iPhone 12 Pro sometimes exhibits slightly better dynamic range, pulling out a bit more detail in the shadows and highlights. This is partly due to the Pro's image processing algorithms, which are tweaked to take advantage of the additional sensor data available. Additionally, some users have reported that the iPhone 12 Pro produces slightly more natural-looking colors, while the iPhone 12 can sometimes lean towards being a tad more saturated. But honestly, these differences are pretty minimal and often depend on the specific scene and lighting conditions.

Regarding the ultrawide lens, both phones perform admirably in daylight. The images are generally sharp and well-exposed, although you might notice a slight drop in detail compared to the primary wide lens. The ultrawide lens is fantastic for capturing expansive landscapes or squeezing more into a shot when you're in a tight space. Keep in mind that the ultrawide lens on both phones is fixed-focus, so it's not ideal for close-up shots.

Low-Light Performance

When the lights go down, the differences between the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro become more apparent. Both phones have Night mode, which automatically kicks in when the camera detects low-light conditions. Night mode brightens up the image, reduces noise, and brings out details that would otherwise be lost in the shadows. It works on both the wide and ultrawide lenses on both phones, which is a massive improvement over previous iPhone models.

The iPhone 12 Pro, however, has a significant advantage thanks to its LiDAR Scanner. This scanner uses lasers to measure the distance to objects in the scene, allowing the camera to focus much faster and more accurately in low light. This results in sharper images with less motion blur. The LiDAR Scanner also enables Night mode portraits, a feature that's exclusive to the Pro models. With Night mode portraits, you can take stunning portrait photos in dimly lit environments with a beautifully blurred background.

In extremely low-light situations, the iPhone 12 Pro generally produces brighter and more detailed images than the iPhone 12. The LiDAR Scanner helps to gather more light and reduce noise, resulting in a cleaner and more usable image. While the iPhone 12 still performs admirably in low light, the iPhone 12 Pro definitely has the edge in challenging lighting conditions.

Zoom Capabilities

This is where the iPhone 12 Pro truly shines. The telephoto lens gives it a significant advantage when it comes to zooming. The iPhone 12 Pro has a 2x optical zoom, which allows you to get closer to your subject without sacrificing image quality. The iPhone 12, on the other hand, relies on digital zoom, which can result in a loss of detail and sharpness as you zoom in.

The telephoto lens is not just for zooming in on distant objects; it's also great for portrait photography. The 2x zoom allows you to create a more flattering perspective with less distortion. When shooting portraits with the iPhone 12 Pro, the telephoto lens helps to isolate your subject from the background, creating a more professional-looking image. While you can still take decent portraits with the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 Pro's telephoto lens gives you more flexibility and control.

Beyond the 2x optical zoom, both phones offer digital zoom capabilities. However, it's important to remember that digital zoom is essentially just cropping into the image, which can lead to a loss of detail and sharpness. In general, it's best to avoid using digital zoom unless absolutely necessary. If you need to zoom in on a subject, it's always better to physically move closer if possible.

Portrait Mode

Both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro offer excellent Portrait mode capabilities, creating photos with a shallow depth of field that blurs the background and emphasizes the subject. However, the iPhone 12 Pro has a few advantages here, thanks to its telephoto lens and LiDAR Scanner.

The telephoto lens on the iPhone 12 Pro allows for a more natural-looking perspective in portraits, as mentioned earlier. It also helps to create a more pleasing background blur. The LiDAR Scanner, on the other hand, improves the accuracy of the depth mapping, resulting in a more precise separation between the subject and the background. This is especially noticeable around tricky areas like hair and glasses.

As we talked about earlier, the iPhone 12 Pro can take Night mode portraits, and the standard iPhone 12 cannot. This is a game-changer for low-light portrait photography, allowing you to capture stunning portraits in dimly lit environments. The LiDAR Scanner enables the iPhone 12 Pro to focus accurately in low light and create a realistic background blur, even when there's not much light available.

Video Recording

When it comes to video recording, both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are capable of capturing stunning footage. Both phones can record in 4K resolution at up to 60 frames per second, and they both offer excellent dynamic range and color accuracy. They also both have sensor-shift optical image stabilization (OIS) on the primary wide lens, which helps to keep your videos smooth and steady.

However, there are a few subtle differences to note. The iPhone 12 Pro has slightly better video stabilization, thanks to its more advanced image processing algorithms. This can be especially noticeable when shooting handheld footage while walking or running. Additionally, the iPhone 12 Pro offers 10-bit HDR video recording, which captures a wider range of colors and dynamic range. This can result in more vibrant and realistic-looking videos, especially when viewed on a compatible display.

Both phones also support Dolby Vision HDR video recording, which is a fantastic feature for creating cinematic-looking videos. Dolby Vision HDR enhances the contrast and color of your videos, making them look more vibrant and engaging. However, it's important to note that Dolby Vision HDR videos take up more storage space than standard videos.

Other Features and Considerations

Beyond the core camera features, there are a few other things to consider when comparing the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro.

• Apple ProRAW: The iPhone 12 Pro supports Apple ProRAW, which is a new image format that combines the benefits of RAW and computational photography. ProRAW images retain all of the data captured by the sensor, giving you more flexibility when editing your photos. However, ProRAW files are significantly larger than standard JPEG files.
• LiDAR Scanner for AR: The LiDAR Scanner on the iPhone 12 Pro also enhances augmented reality (AR) experiences. It allows AR apps to more accurately map the environment around you, creating more realistic and immersive AR experiences.
• Price: The iPhone 12 Pro is more expensive than the iPhone 12. If you're on a tight budget, the iPhone 12 might be a better option.
• Storage: The iPhone 12 Pro starts with more internal storage than the iPhone 12. If you take a lot of photos and videos, you might want to consider the iPhone 12 Pro for its larger storage options.

Final Verdict: Which Camera is Right for You?

So, which camera is right for you? The answer depends on your individual needs and priorities. If you're a casual user who primarily takes photos in good lighting conditions, the iPhone 12 will likely be more than adequate. It has an excellent camera system that can capture stunning photos and videos.

However, if you're a photography enthusiast who wants the best possible image quality and the most advanced features, the iPhone 12 Pro is the better choice. Its telephoto lens, LiDAR Scanner, and Apple ProRAW support give it a significant edge in terms of versatility and creative control. It truly excels in low-light conditions and offers enhanced portrait mode capabilities.

Ultimately, both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro have fantastic cameras. You really can't go wrong with either one. Just carefully consider your needs and priorities before making a decision.