Macro mode with smartphone compared to full-sized cameras

I used my iPhone to photograph the grasshopper (note:  he was missing one leg).

I have done a lot of macro work over the years.  This includes work with macro lenses, bellows, reverse-mounted primes, extension tubes, macro filters, and even a number of microscopes (I once worked with a professor developing prints from his electron microscope - that was pretty cool).  I have been using my smartphones, both Android and iPhone, to explore how their macro feature compares to full-frame and APS-C crop sensor cameras.  This is what I found.

Side view of the same grasshopper, 3x macro - this was the full image.

If you are interested in getting a close-up of something just for a record, or perhaps to show a friend, a cell phone with a macro feature will manage.  How much of an enlargement you can get depends on the phone and OS.  For example, my Android has a macro mode, but it creates only a 5mp image and you have to use the 0.5x lens.  My iPhone 15 pro can do macro in all 3 configurations (1x, 2x, and 3x), each one creating a 12 mp image.  The amount of detail that can be obtained in fairly close quarters is good.  

With the lack of an aperture, the depth of field is fixed and somewhat limited in most cellphones.  Having said that, the low focal length allows for a decent amount of focus.  I did not find any of the images particularly sharp, even though I used an HEIF format (lossless compression).  It did not matter which magnification I used.  I get the same result in both Android and IOS.

There is another factor that is important to note.  You have to be very close to your subject in order to obtain any degree of magnification.  This typically results in unwanted shadows from your phone and risks scaring any living creature away.  In this case, the grasshopper was photographed in cold weather and he had very little ambition to move.  I picked it up easily and placed him in a position with lots of light.  

Macro systems on digital and film cameras often provide significant working distance, and you can buy macro flash systems to illuminate your subject.  This allows you to shoot at small apertures providing excellent sharpness and detail.  The great downside to this though is the size, inconvenience, cost, and required working knowledge involved in operating them.  The images are better, to be sure, but few people are interested in the expense and time required to get an image that they will not likely get much use of.

Smartphone cameras are capable of producing fairly good macro images, depending upon what you want to do with them.  For the average person, your camera will work just fine.  You can always augment the camera's ability by using a close-up filter that clips on.  This is a useful accessory for my Android device as I can use the 2x camera and get a 12 mp image.  If you want a cellphone that has good macro performance, carefully examine the specifications before you buy.

Stonefly nymph taken with bellows & reversed 50mm lens on digital camera.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com