September 21, 2023 – In a recent interview with Nicolas Lellouche of Numerama, Jon McCormack, the Vice President of Camera Software Engineering at Apple, shed light on the intriguing technology behind the camera module of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This exclusive four-prism lens system on the iPhone 15 Pro Max takes optical zoom to the next level, offering a 5x optical zoom and an astonishing 25x maximum zoom capability.
McCormack revealed that the long-focal-length lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is a culmination of optical image stabilization and a 3D sensor shift module, making it the most advanced camera stabilization system Apple has ever produced.
When discussing the choice to prioritize a 5x optical zoom over a 10x zoom, McCormack emphasized Apple’s commitment to capturing stable and blur-free photos. He remarked, “We believe that 5x zoom is currently the optimal solution for ensuring photo stability. Observing 10x zoom, it becomes quite challenging to use unless you have the steadiest hands in the world or a tripod.”
Maxime Veron, Senior Director of Product Marketing for iPhone at Apple, also highlighted that the 5x long-focal-length lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts an f/2.8 aperture, in contrast to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 10x lens with an f/4.9 aperture. This larger aperture allows the iPhone 15 Pro Max to capture more light, making it particularly valuable for capturing nighttime scenes and low-light photography.
