Mobile

Smartphone cameras have become one of the main ways everyday people capture photos and document life, and even professional photographers may use phones to shoot paid work. PetaPixel covers the latest news and information on how smartphones are transforming the way photographs are made.

The OnePlus 8 Pro’s Infrared Camera Can See Through Plastic and More

The new OnePlus 8 Pro is a great Android phone for lots of reasons. It's got a 120Hz display, Snapdragon 865, and a quad-camera system with not one, but two 48MP Sony sensors inside. But that's not why it's making headlines. It's making headlines because of its 5MP infrared camera, which can actually see through some materials.

American Idol is Being Shot on iPhone Rigs During Lockdown

As photo/video production crews and their high-end equipment are locked down in the COVID-19 pandemic, companies are getting creative with getting the shots they need. Supermodel Naomi Campbell recently shot her own portrait for a magazine cover with an iPhone, and now it has come to light that American Idol has gone that same route.

Shooting a Professional Timelapse on a Smartphone

Hi! My name is Patrick Poh, I’m from Singapore, and I have been playing with timelapse photography for a few years. I recently completed the above timelapse video using a 3-year old phone (Sony XZ Premium) and a phone gimbal (Zhiyun Smooth Q), and I want to share about how it was done.

iPhone SE: Seeing Depth with a Single Eye

After four years, we have a new budget-conscious iPhone. Like previous SE, it reaches that price point by sticking to components from previous generations. iFixit found the the camera sensor interchangeable with that of an iPhone 8.

Capturing Newborn Portraits with a Smartphone: Tips for New Parents

Recently we’ve had to close our doors to portraits because of COVID-19, and it’s been heartbreaking. The most heartbreaking thing is having to say no to clients who want newborn portraits. Babies change so quickly, so I wanted to put together some tips on how to capture your newborn portraits with your iPhone (or Android phone) so you don’t miss out on those photos.

I Tried Printing iPhone Photos Really Big

I am a landscape photographer and I love printing my photos. For me the print is the realization of all the effort I have put into capturing the image. It is something tangible that you can hold in your hands and admire.

Using an iPhone to Document Climate Change in Antarctica

Portrait and documentary photographer Manfredi Gioacchini recently embarked on an expedition to cover as much of Antarctica as possible, documenting its beauty and raising awareness about the impacts of climate change on the White Continent. And he's doing much of it with an iPhone.

iPhone 11 Pro’s Night Mode Isn’t What You Might Think

After PetaPixel shared a story I shot with the new iPhone in Russia’s Arctic North, the response was enormous. One email that I received pointed out a technical detail I think deserves more attention. It turns out that the “Night Mode” doesn’t actually work with the iPhone’s telephoto lens, yet the phone goes out of its way to look like it does.

Anker Unveils First Ever ‘Made for iPhone’ Certified External Flash

Less than a week after reports indicated that "Made for iPhone" certified strobes were on the way, we have our first official product. Made by Anker—better known for their battery packs—the cube-shaped LED flash is compatible with the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro models, and will be available to purchase next month for a reported $50.

Apple May Put Sensor-Based IBIS in the Next iPhone: Report

A fresh report citing "industry observers" claims that Apple has a big change in store for next year's iPhones. Certain 5G models of the 2020 iPhone, claims the report, will come with sensor-shift stabilization instead of the lens-based OIS that's currently being used.

The Most Unfair Camera Comparison Ever: iPhone vs $250K TV Camera

You'd have to look long and hard to find a more absurd camera comparison than this. After putting together a very useful video that explains why broadcast TV cameras are so huge and expensive, YouTuber Zebra Zone pit this $250,000 setup against its most obvious rival... the iPhone 11 Pro.

Photographers: Should You Buy an iPhone 11 Pro?

Should you buy an iPhone 11 Pro? That’s a big question many people have had on their minds since Apple recently released their latest flagship smartphone that contains 3 different rear-facing cameras. However, a thorough answer to that question isn’t cut and dry.

Massive Android Exploit Lets Hackers Control Your Camera, Affects ‘Hundreds of Millions’ of Users

A security firm has discovered a major Android exploit that would allow hackers to take control of your smartphone's camera in the background and use it to take pictures or record video while the phone is locked. The security report reveals that the exploit affects Google and Samsung smartphones, bringing the tally of affected users into the "hundreds of millions."

How to Double the Resolution of Your Smartphone Photos

"Super-resolution" and "pixel-shift" photography isn't just possible if you have a fancy camera that can move the sensor 1 pixel between shots. As Usman Dawood of Sonder Creative demonstrates in this video, you can even do it with your run-of-the-mill smartphone, shooting hand-held.