Pro photographer tests iPhone 7 Plus cameras at US Open, finds they perform 'exceedingly well'

Apple and ESPN equipped photographer Landon Nordeman with an unreleased iPhone 7 Plus for this weekend's U.S. Open tennis tournament, resulting in a series of photos showcasing the new dual-lens system for the phone, set to launch on Friday.

"Working with the new two-camera system on the iPhone 7 Plus encouraged Nordeman to react instinctively and quickly to the moments he discovered around the grounds while looking like another fan," ESPN wrote in a feature detailing Nordeman's shots. "The autofocus and exposure performed exceedingly well in various lighting conditions — so that even with one hand, he could get the shot.

"Nordeman was able to execute his signature style — surprising moments from unique perspectives, using color and composition without distracting his subjects — in a fresh way by using the phone instead of a big camera lens and flash."

Via ESPN.

While many of the photos featured bright outdoor lighting on a hot New York day, some of the shots featured stark contrasts with shadows cast as the day went on, showcasing the lower light performance of the iPhone 7 Plus.

Other shots captured up close details, and shallow depth of field. Nordeman's shots were captured from all over Aruthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, from on the court to the nosebleeds.

Via ESPN.

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook highlighted the photos via his Twitter account, and Nordeman himself responded with glowing praise for the iPhone 7 Plus: "I love it!"

Weekend sporting events proved a natural fit for Apple to showcase the power of the iPhone 7 Plus camera ahead of this Friday's launch. The company also equipped Sports Illustrated photographers to shoot National Football League games on Sunday.

In addition to dual 12-megapixel lenses, the iPhone 7 Plus also features a quad-LED True Tone flash, and a new Apple-designed high-speed image sensor with a wide color gamut. Paired with a new wide color display, the iPhone 7 series promises photographers a more faithful color reproduction than ever before.

38 Comments

larz2112 291 comments · 16 Years

About 8 years ago

Haha! It's funny to see what people consider "professional photography" these days. "Nordeman was able to execute his signature style -- surprising moments from unique perspectives" That's a pretty common "style", even for many amateurs. Nothing unique about it. I guess if you have ever received payment for even one photo you are considered a "professional photographer", even if you have no clue what an f-stop is. Regarding the new camera, I don't really see much depth of field in the sample photos. I was hoping it would be a little more prominent. I'm waiting until next year to upgrade my 5S, so hopefully the camera will be even better in a year.

nhughes 768 comments · 15 Years

About 8 years ago

larz2112 said:

Haha! It's funny to see what people consider "professional photography" these days. "Nordeman was able to execute his signature style -- surprising moments from unique perspectives" That's a pretty common "style", even for many amateurs. Nothing unique about it. I guess if you have ever received payment for even one photo you are considered a "professional photographer", even if you have no clue what an f-stop is. Regarding the new camera, I don't really see much depth of field in the sample photos. I was hoping it would be a little more prominent. I'm waiting until next year to upgrade my 5S, so hopefully the camera will be even better in a year.

Nordeman has shot for ESPN, Time, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair and Vogue, to name a few. Are you really suggesting that he shouldn't be called a professional photographer? Get real.

larz2112 291 comments · 16 Years

About 8 years ago

nhughes said:

larz2112 said:

Haha! It's funny to see what people consider "professional photography" these days. "Nordeman was able to execute his signature style -- surprising moments from unique perspectives" That's a pretty common "style", even for many amateurs. Nothing unique about it. I guess if you have ever received payment for even one photo you are considered a "professional photographer", even if you have no clue what an f-stop is. Regarding the new camera, I don't really see much depth of field in the sample photos. I was hoping it would be a little more prominent. I'm waiting until next year to upgrade my 5S, so hopefully the camera will be even better in a year.

Nordeman has shot for ESPN, Time, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair and Vogue, to name a few. Are you really suggesting that he shouldn't be called a professional photographer? Get real.

Yes, my OPINION is that the quality and composition of his photography (not just here but in his portfolio) is more in line with an amateur. As I stated in my original comment, it seems the benchmark these days for being considered "professional" is if you have sold your work, and not on the quality of the content. There are now apps that let any schmuck sell a picture to their local news station or as a stock photo. So I guess whoever does that is a "professional photographer".

Sorry if my opinion runs counter to yours.

zroger73 787 comments · 13 Years

About 8 years ago

larz2112 said:

Haha! It's funny to see what people consider "professional photography" these days. "Nordeman was able to execute his signature style -- surprising moments from unique perspectives" That's a pretty common "style", even for many amateurs. Nothing unique about it. I guess if you have ever received payment for even one photo you are considered a "professional photographer", even if you have no clue what an f-stop is. Regarding the new camera, I don't really see much depth of field in the sample photos. I was hoping it would be a little more prominent. I'm waiting until next year to upgrade my 5S, so hopefully the camera will be even better in a year.

If you're aware of what an f-stop is, then you should also realize you're not going to get a very shallow depth of field out of the lilliputiann optics in smartphone or point-and-shoot camera. Apple are having to simulate the effects of a shallow depth of field using two tiny cameras and a software update that won't be available until later this year.