EOS R5 Mk II with RF 100-300mm F2.8L vs iPhone 15 Pro Max.

[Dennis]

A Boobook Owl in Toohey forest this morning.

Canon EOS R5 Mk II with RF 100-300mm F2.8L and iPhone 15 Pro Max comparison.

Almost acceptable results for the iPhone at x25 digital magnification.

Dennis.

 

[Mike_d]

iPhone shot looks like stained glass.

 

[Dennis]

Here is the x1 view from the iPhone, showing the overall scene.

Although the iPhone cannot compare in terms of IQ, I was surprised at how well it held up in terms of using it to ID birds when you didn’t have your main gear with you.

Dennis.

 

[PinholeR5]

Nice post.

I wouldn't call the iPhone 15 Pro Max image almost acceptable, but it does get to the point of allowing identification as you put it. Also, the R5II + 100-300mm image appears to have no effort in processing whearas the iPhone image is all computation .

The gap is narrowing, for sure, and the usability of the phone with the its size and always present feature is really compelling! That said, the sensor will always be smaller and the optics worse, so there will always be a considerable gap. But, will it always be large enough to justify lugging around all the gear (not to mention the expense...).

I don't have an iPhone, but instead have the Goole Pixel 10 Pro XL with an up to 100x "Pro Res Zoom", which is what Google calls their computationally enhanced digital zoom feature. The phone does have a 128mm equivalent f/2.8 telephoto lens. I'll try a few comparison shots when I have some time.

 

[Mike_d]

the usability of the phone with the its size and always present feature is really compelling!

That's how I feel about phones in general. Their big trick is simply being small enough to fit in a pocket and being always connected. But for actually doing a task, whether it's taking a photo, looking at a map, looking at photos or videos, reading or especially entering text, a computer with a large screen and a physical keyboard and pointing device is so much better. But hey, the phone fits in a pocket.