Weekly poll: are macro-enabled ultra wide cameras useful or useless?

25 June 2023
2MP macro modules are almost universally hated, but how do you feel about shooting macro photos with a phone's ultra wide camera?

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While I'd rather have an UWA capable of AF more than anything, macro shots taken with an UWA always look a little weird because the focal length distorts the image. I feel that Xiaomi's telemacro lens is ultimately superior. You get no distortion and very nice background blur that emphasizes the subject which makes sense for macro photography

    Anonymous, 25 Jun 2023Only person on Earth to believe this. Yeah, because asking for a useful feature on a phone is actually a serious crime on this planet, am I right?

    I bet you'll change your opinion 180 degrees immediately if your favourite brand implements it.

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • p19
      • 25 Jun 2023

      Vegetaholic, 25 Jun 2023It useless, no one does macro shots, if they do that person... moreyou got no idea of how beatiful those smartphone macro images can be. you can't believe what pictures i have taken with my mate 20 pro, like the frozen grass in a winter morning or a bee sitting on a flower.

      shut up and try it before posting non-sense.

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • p19
        • 25 Jun 2023

        Nikojas, 25 Jun 2023What are you all taking macro shots of?flowers, insects, ice crystals etc. sometimes even to read extremely small letters on certain product packages.

          Ngl I do use macro often, phones that don't have macro sensor should put autofocus in their ultrawide cameras. Macro mode can make small objects look artistic.

            I would prefer to only have three cameras on the phone:
            A) Ultra-wide angle
            B) Wide angle
            C) Narrow angle (periscope)

            Here's a description:
            A) 120', x1 zoom, Regular Bayer, Medium Resolution (also used for Macro shots)
            B) 90', x2 zoom, Quad Bayer, High Resolution (also used for digital telephoto shots)
            C) 60', x10 zoom, Regular Bayer, Medium Resolution (also used for Grayscale shots)

            ....that would give you the best balance between Speed, Quality, Features.
            If I wanted something even more capable, I would then bring in the proper tools for that, which means a professional grade DSLR or Mirrorless. A smartphone should not try to compete with those, but instead be a competent Point'n'Shoot type of camera.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • 0p}
              • 25 Jun 2023

              Nick Tegrataker, 25 Jun 2023I sometimes use an UWA camera on my phone when I need to ta... moreOnly person on Earth to believe this.

                I like the implementation of macro shots from poco f2 pro. And it can take good videos too with 2x zoom. I always use it before when i had it, especially for checking faded receipts and insects, etc.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • S4%
                  • 25 Jun 2023

                  There's definitely a use case for macro modes on phone cameras, but slapping on a crappy 2MP sensor that takes pretty awful pictures is 100% just a move to stat pad the camera module and make the phone look more premium than it really is.

                    Vegetaholic, 25 Jun 2023It useless, no one does macro shots, if they do that person... morecalling macro as useless is bad idea. Don't you think if you take the photo with small objects, it will generate blur at the background by using macro. now its useful than you thought.

                    no matter if you don't like macro, then use photoshop to blur the background

                      • N
                      • Nikojas
                      • 3GZ
                      • 25 Jun 2023

                      Insetta, 25 Jun 2023I do take macros (not closeups that most journalist call ma... moreWhat are you all taking macro shots of?

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                        • Nikojas
                        • 3GZ
                        • 25 Jun 2023

                        Vegetaholic, 25 Jun 2023It useless, no one does macro shots, if they do that person... moreExactly this!

                          Anonymous, 25 Jun 2023This is not macro photography, just background blur. Where is the blurred background on the picture of the money?

                            Vegetaholic, 25 Jun 2023It useless, no one does macro shots, if they do that person... moreCongratulations, you played yourself.

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                              • Anonymous
                              • LiP
                              • 25 Jun 2023

                              If it was up to me, I'd remove macro camera and instead use money to get something better for the device.

                                . I bought oneplus 7t pro only for its macro capabilities. And its been very useful for me. Otherwise wouldn't have got a chinese phone... Thats how much i care for macro cams..

                                  This poll, lol, any camera can be great at macro, not to mention you get a different perspective each time.
                                  How many times I see such cameras in full size lenses.
                                  It's not a matter of being useful, it is.

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                                    • Bob
                                    • AAr
                                    • 25 Jun 2023

                                    i selected - i don't take em' and the none for type of cmos to use. i am only interested in a properly decent main cmos (standard wide 35mm equiv) the rest are gimmick trash to me. i take multi-shot main cmos pics for my panorama to put together because i get the best result and a bigger more detailed picture.

                                      I sometimes use an UWA camera on my phone when I need to take a photo of something very close, but the quality isn't that great and I vastly prefer using a telephoto lens capable of close-up shots over any UWA lens.

                                      P60 Pro's periscope module seems to have a relatively high magnification ratio for a phone camera, and I strongly believe that everyone else should copy it.

                                        Vegetaholic, 25 Jun 2023It useless, no one does macro shots, if they do that person... moreI do take macros (not closeups that most journalist call macro) and currently It's limiting my choice for a new phone, as I need it on the new one.

                                        I love the macros that my Mi Note 10's UW can produce with its 20MP Sony modul. The 5MP macro is just useless for it.

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