Photo Comparison: iPhone 5 vs. iPhone 4S

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Posted September 13, 2012 at 3:48pm by iClarified

DPReview product manager Scott Everett has taken a photo nearly identical to one of the iPhone 5 sample photos posted by Apple making for a good comparison.

Comparing the EXIF data of these two images supports the idea that the iPhone 5 does have a different sensor to the 4S. The 4S selected ISO 64, while the iPhone 5 has been able to drop to ISO 50. For images taken in such bright light, this strongly suggests the newer model has a lower minimum sensitivity.

Looking at the EXIF data of the images confirms Apple's assertion that this is a new sensor, despite the pixel count remaining the same. Close examination shows the iPhone 5 is using a 4.1mm lens to give a 33mm equivalent field of view, rather than the 4S's 4.3mm lens, which gave a 35mm equivalent view. This means the new sensor is a tiny fraction larger. The iPhone 5 has also selected ISO 50, 1/3EV below the 4S's minimum sensitivity of ISO 64.

Take a look at the photos below or click here for more sample photos actually taken with the iPhone 5.

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iPhone 5

iPhone 4S

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Ramtam - September 14, 2012 at 11:18am

Is it just different time of day or not even the same time of the year?

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996ea06 - September 13, 2012 at 10:26pm

There's a ridge on the left side in the top one and not in the bottom one but all other angles appear to be the same. Photoshop?

billy - September 14, 2012 at 10:37am

They were taken at different times of the day knob head

935e0de - September 14, 2012 at 11:26am

So that causes the geography to change?

55b92ea - September 14, 2012 at 12:33pm

So throughout the day the geography changes? Mmmmmmkay?

KVP - September 13, 2012 at 9:11pm

Why you guys worry about iPhone 5? why don't you discuss about why Mr. Steve Jobs sold his country to China by shipping most Apple jobs to oversea to rib off hard working people over there and bring the product back here to rib off his own people again and look at what happening now. Have you guys notice that how many fake iPhone product exist now in China and around the world ? Let discuss about those thing for better next generation guys. Thank you

myaapple - September 13, 2012 at 6:42pm

This is bs I want better iphone not same.

Mrinal - September 13, 2012 at 6:40pm

5 looks better due to rich color

AJ - September 13, 2012 at 6:31pm

Different time of day. Different angle. Different overall view. Comparison and data fairly worthless. Almost as if one was trying to sell the 5 as being better.

NoGoodNick - September 13, 2012 at 5:21pm

Are you serious? You're now trying to claim that Apple "copied" Samsung's ripped off device? Have you looked at the devices in question? Do you think Samsung could have made the inroads it did without stealing virtually every innovation that Apple has invented? While I can understand you're liking alternatives, and wanting to support someone other than the giant in the room, claiming that Samsung was the innovator or the technology used by Apple is just... insane! Hopefully Samsung can now compete on it's own, and offer new innovation, but so far, it hasn't made a lot of inroads of it's own. As for "no one taking a pic of scenery with th[eir] shitty camera phones", you'd be surprised. The majority of pictures now on most photo sites are being taken with iPhones!

NoGoodNick - September 13, 2012 at 5:16pm

Now THAT's useful information. As a bit of a photo nut, I'm not impressed by statements of 'the new camera, while similar, is actually better'. However, knowing HOW it's better makes a big difference. With a continual shrinking form factor, I can't picture the image sensor every reaching 'pro levels', it's till nice knowing the camera is a little bit better than that of the 4S.

Al - September 13, 2012 at 4:23pm

not much of difference. Btw this pic was taken at Big Sur.

IKAROS - September 13, 2012 at 4:12pm

Different times of the day on each photo (look at angle of the shadows). Comparison is mostly useless.

menezes - September 13, 2012 at 4:10pm

4s looks better