Megapixels Aren’t All Equal But the iPhone’s Camera is Still Impressive

A person wearing a light pink outfit stands on a dark, sandy beach with patches of tall grass. In the background, there are dramatic, rugged mountains and a cloudy sky. The person looks to the side, with the landscape stretching out behind them.

In a recent video about the iPhone 16 Pro, specifically its camera specifications and features, photography Tony Northrup of the popular YouTube channel Tony & Chelsea Northrup called the iPhone 16 Pro camera "disappointing and misleading," opening a complex can of worms concerning megapixels, resolution, image sensor designs, and image quality at large.

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro / Pro Max Review for Photographers

A person holds up an iPhone with a triple camera system in front of colorful surfboards. The back of the phone with the Apple logo is prominently visible. The image has a text overlay "PetaPixel Reviews" in the bottom right corner.

After Apple concluded its keynote featuring the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, I dove into my review of this new smartphone as a photographic and videographic tool in the sunshine of California. Jordan Drake shot our entire video review on the iPhone 16 Pro and I scoured the area around Monterey and Santa Cruz to take pictures with the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

A man immersed in water grips a katana sword and appears determined. He is surrounded by a complex set of camera equipment partially covered in plastic to protect it from the water.

Inside Shōgun’s Emmy Award-Winning Cinematography

The smash hit FX show Shōgun, based on a book of the same name, impressed viewers with dazzling visuals when it debuted earlier this year. The show earned 18 Emmy Awards this year, setting a new record, including one for "Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (One Hour)."