In an interview with Numerama reporter Nicolas Lellouche, Jon McCormack, Apple's vice president of camera software engineering, explained why the iPhone 15 Pro Max's four-prism lens system is limited to 5x optical zoom instead of the 10x of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
access:
Apple Online Store (China)
Apple said that the telephoto lens of iPhone 15 Pro Max uses the company’s most advanced camera anti-shake system to date, which combines optical anti-shake and autofocus 3D sensor offset modules. McCormack said the iPhone's 5x zoom lens is "unbelievably good" at stabilizing compared to the 10x lens.
"The anti-shake effect of a 5x zoom lens is unbelievable," McCormack said in an interview. "But if you switch to a 10x zoom lens, unless you have the most stable hands or a tripod in the world, it's really difficult to use."
Maxime Veron, Apple's senior director of iPhone product marketing, was also interviewed, adding that the iPhone 15 Pro Max's 5x lens opens at ƒ/2.8, which allows for "excellent light management." In comparison, the Galaxy S23 Ultra's 10x lens has an aperture of ƒ/4.9. The smaller the aperture, the more light the camera sensor captures, which is especially beneficial when taking night mode photos.
McCormack and Veron discussed the latest camera innovations for all iPhone 15 models in more detail in their interview with Numerama:
https://www.numerama.com/tech/1503972-pourquoi-liphone-15-a-un-zoom-x5-plutot-que-x10-apple-livre-ses-secrets-photographiques.html
The devices will be available this Friday.