Apple released iOS 10.1 beta last week with a new "Portrait" mode on iPhone 7 Plus. The depth-of-field feature uses the smartphone's dual cameras and advanced machine learning to make the subject in the foreground sharp while creating an out-of-focus blur in the background, known as the bokeh effect.
Since then, several MacRumors readers have shared beautiful shallow depth of field photos shot with iPhone 7 Plus. Many of the photos look like they were captured with a higher-end DSLR camera, which is impressive given how small the iPhone's cameras are. In many ways, the best camera truly is becoming the one you carry in your pocket.
MacRumors reader Bryan, for example, shared some photos he shot at the ArtPrize international art competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan this week. Each photo beautifully demonstrates Apple's artificial bokeh effect, achieved by combining two images from the wide-angle and telephoto lenses to create a depth map.
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The crowdsourced iPhone 7 Plus Photography topic in the MacRumors discussion forums has dozens of other great examples of both regular and shallow depth of field photos, including this swimming pool portrait shared by reader erwheezy. Make sure to click the link ahead to read the full article with more examples.
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The depth-of-field effect requires iOS 10.1, currently in beta for developers and public testers. The update should be officially released in October.
Top Rated Comments
Fine, but stop the hype.
That it's an amazing camera for a phone? No one is comparing it to a DSLR except for random DSLR snobs that feel insecure for some random reason.It's good for a phone. But if you use a high-end DSLR and Lens, it's hard to not notice the flaws (they're everywhere...).
You carry an iPhone and a high end camera everywhere? I'd say most people don't have/carry both, but personally I think the possibilities of this bokeh effect are nothing but a good thing. Also, it's in beta, it won't get worse
No - not most places. But I personally don't think I would use this effect on my phone given the results. I would rather shoot it normally and do my own blur effects when/if I wanted to. Did you see the odd borders on the images in the thread mentioned. Maybe when reduced down to a mobile screen they look perfect - but not full size/desktop size. Also I'm not really sure you can call the effect in the photos I've seen bokeh. They simply look DoF blur.Here's an example of bokeh - it's not just about blur.
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This is good! The photos are lovely, the feature itself needs work.. I mean this is a great first step, but look at that roof in the first pic.. Ooouuuch. That's not the effect Apple are trying to emulate at all. That's not even remotely what it comes out like in real "out of focus".. Once they've figured out things like that though it's nice.. Seems to work best when there's lots of detail at all distances.
Exactly.