Both Apple and Samsung have included macro modes on their latest flagships, the iPhone 13 Pro and Galaxy S21 Ultra, respectively. A macro is another way of describing a super close-up photograph of a tiny object, such as a coin, an insect, or an eye. The critical detail that is often lacking when coming within a few inches of the subject is that the camera app might not be able to focus. A smartphone with a macro camera or macro mode allows extreme, close-range photos.
Historically, getting close enough to take a macro photo with a smartphone was simply not possible, even though several budget smartphones in recent years have included a macro camera as a second or third option. Unfortunately, the quality is usually disappointing, having a resolution in the 2 to 5-megapixel range and keeping only a small portion of the photo in focus with a very narrow depth of field. This isn't to say there aren't any decent macro options on smartphones, it's just rare.
Both Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra and Apple's iPhone 13 Pro have very good macro modes and each activates automatically when the camera gets close enough to the subject. These two smartphones stand out from the rest due to their use of 12-megapixel sensors and higher quality lenses. Close-up photography is very demanding and every bit of the camera system needs to have good quality to produce a nice result. Unsurprisingly, a DSLR with a dedicated macro lens will produce much better photos, as shown in the YouTube video by NO limits ON. However, smartphones have some advantages beyond the ability to fit in a pocket.
Are Smartphone Macros Good?
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra generally exceeds the quality of the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max for extreme close-up photos, having good sharpness and quality with a softer focus fall-off and a cleaner look around the edges. While the center of the iPhone 13 Pro's macro photo is sharp and detailed, the outer portion has a stretched, blurry look, possibly requiring cropping for the best result. A couple of excellent examples of what is possible with these smartphones can be found on Reddit. Apple's iPhone 13 makes a good showing in a macro photo by user u/b0rde of a Clean Factory replica watch based on a Rolex Submariner, revealing a wide dynamic range in exposure and very low noise. The shot below, captured with the Galaxy S21 Ultra by user u/adriasanchezig, highlights remarkable detail in the iris and the reflections of the eyelashes.
Compared with a DSLR camera outfitted for macro photography, the cameras on these smartphones are tiny and capture a greater depth of field. That's a double-edged sword, however, making it harder to capture dramatic macros that have a beautiful background blur and a smooth focus transition throughout. Smartphones tend to make it easier to get more of a subject in focus and are much more portable. Photographers that enjoy taking close-ups of flowers or insects will appreciate having a smartphone like the iPhone 13 Pro or Galaxy S21 Ultra in addition to their professional macro DSLR. Anyone that owns a flagship smartphone with the ability to focus within an inch should explore what is possible. It's fascinating to see tiny features in such fine detail and with Apple entering the game, the trend of better macro photography for smartphones is likely to only continue to improve.
Source: NO limits ON/YouTube, u/b0rde/Reddit, u/adriasanchezig/Reddit