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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It useless, no one does macro shots, if they do that person would be called photographer and he would be using some proper camera brick for it :)

    I mean, I personally think everyone should just use Huawei's approach that they used on the P60 Pro. The 3.5× telephoto can focus in really close and basically does the best macro shots in the market. I think ultrawides are wholly unsuitable for macro shots. My sister's Samsung Galaxy A52s takes better macro shots from her 5 MP macro camera than my Google Pixel 7 Pro's 12 MP ultrawide.

      rosesarerosie, 25 Jun 2023I prefer the telephoto macro shots, like the Xiaomid 13 Pro... moreEven Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G has it (5MP one).

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • BiP
        • 25 Jun 2023

        Better than useless extra macro lens that manufacture use to add extra lens for the sake of marketing

          • b
          • blue
          • nrH
          • 25 Jun 2023

          True macro lens for a camera would not fit into a phone. Stop calling these fake-blurred photos macro.

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • Ids
            • 25 Jun 2023

            I'm not a camera expert but I'm sure no any camera is useless.

              Telephoto macro shots should be the next logical step for macro photography. P60 Pro macro shots are beautiful

                I prefer the telephoto macro shots, like the Xiaomid 13 Pro and the Hawaii P60 Pro

                  • s
                  • syam7863
                  • K1L
                  • 25 Jun 2023

                  I think macro lenses, or UW with AF (which enables macro mode) is important for labels which were printed specifically for ants or water bears.
                  I use them mostly to read the expiry dates of some tablets, or ingredients of some sugary treats as I am too old to read them with my bare eyes.

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

                    Look at first pic. If this was macro, the hole in the middle of flower would take easily huge portion of frame.

                    Staff needs to stop calling this macro.

                      YUKI93, 25 Jun 2023I literally don't see the need for a dedicated macro c... moreThe P60 Pro can also do it.

                        Yes, one of the most useful features on any phone.

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                          • Anonymous
                          • 0p}
                          • 25 Jun 2023

                          This is not macro photography, just background blur.

                            • F
                            • Fatal1ty
                            • GRN
                            • 25 Jun 2023

                            Nothing can beat what Xiaomi did with 5MP - 50MM telephoto macro. I don't know why they are not developing it and making a proper 12MP sensor with 50MP telephoto macro in their flagships rather than making a regular ultra wide macro capabilities.

                              • J
                              • Just walking
                              • tDS
                              • 25 Jun 2023

                              I think ist usefull, depends on what u doing. Extra option is nice to have.

                                I have the Xiaomi 12 which has a dedicated telemacro cam...and it takes fantastic shots. But yeah, a telemacro is different than a simple macro cam ig

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • 7v0
                                  • 25 Jun 2023

                                  So macro photos from 13pro is not distorted like from 13ultra?

                                    Yes! Honestly It's a useful feature to me and other photographers who are interested in making little details well see and for snapping the beauty of miniature insects. It's worth to have it in both a premium and a midrange device.

                                      I literally don't see the need for a dedicated macro camera when you can have it on both wide and ultrawide cameras. What we need is more smartphones with macro-enabled telephoto cameras. Currently, only Huawei does it with the Mate 50 RS Porsche Design.