{ "batch": "26-camera-phone", "articles": [ { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_portrait_onscreen_warnings", "category": "Studio", "title": "Portrait mode / computational depth: Documented distance and light limits", "summary": "Apple states the iPhone Camera app itself tells you when you are too close, too far away, or in too little light for Portrait mode to work.", "body": "Apple states the iPhone Camera app itself tells you when you are too close, too far away, or in too little light for Portrait mode to work.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Support) actually says:\n\n“The Camera app lets you know when you're too close, too far away, or if the area is too dark.”\n\nNote: Apple does not publish the numeric distance thresholds on this page; only the fact that the app enforces them.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/102398", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Support)", "evidence_quote": "The Camera app lets you know when you're too close, too far away, or if the area is too dark.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Portrait mode / computational depth", "topic": "Documented distance and light limits", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "iPhone models that support Portrait mode", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_portrait_requires_face", "category": "Studio", "title": "Portrait mode / computational depth: Subject requirement: a detected human face", "summary": "On single-rear-camera iPhones (XR, SE 2nd gen and later, 16e) Portrait mode will not fire at all unless the rear camera detects a person's face.", "body": "On single-rear-camera iPhones (XR, SE 2nd gen and later, 16e) Portrait mode will not fire at all unless the rear camera detects a person's face.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Support) actually says:\n\n“With iPhone XR, iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later, and iPhone 16e, the rear-facing camera must detect a person's face to take a Portrait mode photo.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/102398", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Support)", "evidence_quote": "With iPhone XR, iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later, and iPhone 16e, the rear-facing camera must detect a person's face to take a Portrait mode photo.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Portrait mode / computational depth", "topic": "Subject requirement: a detected human face", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Directly relevant to self-shooting: no face in frame (back turned, face occluded, hands over face) means no Portrait cap", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_portrait_model_availability", "category": "Studio", "title": "Portrait mode / computational depth: Model availability", "summary": "Apple lists Portrait mode as available on iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later, iPhone X and later, and iPhone 7 Plus / 8 Plus.", "body": "Apple lists Portrait mode as available on iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later, iPhone X and later, and iPhone 7 Plus / 8 Plus.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Support) actually says:\n\n“Portrait mode is available on iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later, iPhone X and later, as well as iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 Plus.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/102398", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Support)", "evidence_quote": "Portrait mode is available on iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later, iPhone X and later, as well as iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 Plus.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Portrait mode / computational depth", "topic": "Model availability", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_depthmap_resolution_hair", "category": "Studio", "title": "Portrait mode / computational depth: Why fine detail such as hair breaks", "summary": "Apple documents that the depth maps behind Portrait effects are far lower resolution than the photo, and states outright that fine detail such as hair is hard to preserve at that resolution.", "body": "Apple documents that the depth maps behind Portrait effects are far lower resolution than the photo, and states outright that fine detail such as hair is hard to preserve at that resolution.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation) actually says:\n\n“These depth maps are low-resolution compared to the full-resolution RGB image. As such, the depth effects you can render are limited by the resolution and accuracy of the maps. Fine detail, such as hair, is challenging to preserve faithfully at the resolution of these depth maps.”\n\nNote: Resolution figures come from the table printed on the same page. This is the clearest manufacturer statement found that hair specifically defeats computational depth.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://developer.apple.com/documentation/avfoundation/avportraiteffectsmatte.md", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation)", "evidence_quote": "These depth maps are low-resolution compared to the full-resolution RGB image. As such, the depth effects you can render are limited by the resolution and accuracy of the maps. Fine detail, such as hair, is challenging to preserve faithfully at the resolution of these depth maps.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Portrait mode / computational depth", "topic": "Why fine detail such as hair breaks", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Depth map on the front TrueDepth camera is 640x480 — roughly 0.3 MP driving the cut-out of a 7 MP image.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_portrait_matte_is_people_segmentation", "category": "Studio", "title": "The cut-out is a people-detector, not a depth measurement", "summary": "Apple states the portrait effects matte is a people-focused segmentation mask from a neural network trained to detect people, and is not intended to faithfully preserve depth.", "body": "Apple states the portrait effects matte is a people-focused segmentation mask from a neural network trained to detect people, and is not intended to faithfully preserve depth.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation) actually says:\n\n“Unlike the depth map, the portrait effects matte isn't intended to faithfully preserve all gradations of depth in the scene. It's a depth-guided, people-focused segmentation mask generated from a proprietary Apple neural network trained to detect people.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://developer.apple.com/documentation/avfoundation/avportraiteffectsmatte.md", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation)", "evidence_quote": "Unlike the depth map, the portrait effects matte isn't intended to faithfully preserve all gradations of depth in the scene. It's a depth-guided, people-focused segmentation mask generated from a proprietary Apple neural network trained to detect people.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Portrait mode / computational depth", "topic": "The cut-out is a people-detector, not a depth measurement", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Implication for self-shooting: anything the people-detector does not read as a person (props, held objects, hands away f", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_semantic_mattes_hair_skin_teeth_glasses", "category": "Studio", "title": "Portrait mode / computational depth: Which body features get their own separate matte", "summary": "Apple ships four separate semantic segmentation mattes — hair, skin, teeth and glasses — indicating those are the features the general depth map cannot handle on its own.", "body": "Apple ships four separate semantic segmentation mattes — hair, skin, teeth and glasses — indicating those are the features the general depth map cannot handle on its own.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation) actually says:\n\n“A matting image that segments eyeglasses and sunglasses from all people in the visible field of view of an image.”\n\nNote: The quote is the documentation for the 'glasses' matte type; the page lists hair, skin, teeth and glasses as the four available types. Apple does not on this page say Portrait mode fails on glasses — only that glasses are segmented separately.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://developer.apple.com/documentation/avfoundation/avsemanticsegmentationmatte/mattetype-swift.struct.md", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation)", "evidence_quote": "A matting image that segments eyeglasses and sunglasses from all people in the visible field of view of an image.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Portrait mode / computational depth", "topic": "Which body features get their own separate matte", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Eyeglasses and sunglasses are explicitly named as needing their own matte.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_depthdata_not_metric", "category": "Studio", "title": "Depth maps are a rendering proxy, not measurement", "summary": "Apple states a captured depth map is non-rectilinear and usable as a proxy for depth when rendering effects, but not for correlating points in 3D space.", "body": "Apple states a captured depth map is non-rectilinear and usable as a proxy for depth when rendering effects, but not for correlating points in 3D space.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation) actually says:\n\n“Because a depth data map is nonrectilinear, you can use an AVDepthData map as a proxy for depth when rendering effects to its accompanying image, but not to correlate points in 3D space.”\n\nNote: Symbol name written as 'AVDepthData' in the quote; the source renders it as a documentation link.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://developer.apple.com/documentation/avfoundation/avdepthdata.md", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation)", "evidence_quote": "Because a depth data map is nonrectilinear, you can use an AVDepthData map as a proxy for depth when rendering effects to its accompanying image, but not to correlate points in 3D space.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Portrait mode / computational depth", "topic": "Depth maps are a rendering proxy, not measurement", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Relevant to any pipeline that tries to reuse phone depth data for 3D face work.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_google_portrait_minimum_20cm", "category": "Studio", "title": "Minimum subject distance for depth", "summary": "Google states that on Pixel 4, depth from dual cameras and dual pixels only engages when the camera is at least 20 cm from the subject.", "body": "Google states that on Pixel 4, depth from dual cameras and dual pixels only engages when the camera is at least 20 cm from the subject.\n\nWhat Google Research Blog actually says:\n\n“Depth from dual-cameras and dual-pixels only kicks in when the camera is at least 20 cm from the subject, i.e. the minimum focus distance of the secondary telephoto camera.”\n\nNote: Model-specific (Pixel 4 generation).", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://research.google/blog/improvements-to-portrait-mode-on-the-google-pixel-4-and-pixel-4-xl/", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Google Research Blog", "evidence_quote": "Depth from dual-cameras and dual-pixels only kicks in when the camera is at least 20 cm from the subject, i.e. the minimum focus distance of the secondary telephoto camera.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Portrait mode / computational depth", "topic": "Minimum subject distance for depth", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "A phone held at arm's length for a selfie is well beyond this; a phone propped close for a tight head-and-shoulders shot", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_google_dualpixel_baseline_sub1mm", "category": "Studio", "title": "Why single-camera depth fails at distance", "summary": "Google states the dual-pixel stereo baseline is less than 1 mm because both views come from inside one lens, which is why depth of far scenes is hard to estimate.", "body": "Google states the dual-pixel stereo baseline is less than 1 mm because both views come from inside one lens, which is why depth of far scenes is hard to estimate.\n\nWhat Google Research Blog actually says:\n\n“less than 1mm, because they are contained inside a single camera's lens, which is why it's hard to estimate the depth of far scenes”\n\nNote: PARTIAL SENTENCE: the fetch tool returned this as a clause; the surrounding sentence introduces it as the dual-pixel baseline. The same page states 'Because parallax decreases with object distance, it is easier to estimate depth for near objects like the bulb.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://research.google/blog/improvements-to-portrait-mode-on-the-google-pixel-4-and-pixel-4-xl/", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Google Research Blog", "evidence_quote": "less than 1mm, because they are contained inside a single camera's lens, which is why it's hard to estimate the depth of far scenes", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Portrait mode / computational depth", "topic": "Why single-camera depth fails at distance", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Parallax decreases with object distance, so a sub-millimetre baseline runs out of signal quickly.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_google_dualcamera_baseline_13mm", "category": "Studio", "title": "Portrait mode / computational depth: Two-camera baseline versus dual-pixel baseline", "summary": "Google states the Pixel 4's wide and telephoto cameras are 13 mm apart, giving far larger parallax than the sub-millimetre dual-pixel baseline.", "body": "Google states the Pixel 4's wide and telephoto cameras are 13 mm apart, giving far larger parallax than the sub-millimetre dual-pixel baseline.\n\nWhat Google Research Blog actually says:\n\n“The Pixel 4's wide and telephoto cameras are 13 mm apart, much greater than the dual-pixel baseline, and so the larger parallax makes it easier to estimate the depth of far objects.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://research.google/blog/improvements-to-portrait-mode-on-the-google-pixel-4-and-pixel-4-xl/", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Google Research Blog", "evidence_quote": "The Pixel 4's wide and telephoto cameras are 13 mm apart, much greater than the dual-pixel baseline, and so the larger parallax makes it easier to estimate the depth of far objects.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Portrait mode / computational depth", "topic": "Two-camera baseline versus dual-pixel baseline", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_google_stereo_aperture_problem", "category": "Studio", "title": "Documented failure mode: lines parallel to the baseline", "summary": "Google documents that all stereo depth techniques suffer the aperture problem, and shows horizontal lines behind a person being wrongly kept sharp at the person's depth.", "body": "Google documents that all stereo depth techniques suffer the aperture problem, and shows horizontal lines behind a person being wrongly kept sharp at the person's depth.\n\nWhat Google Research Blog actually says:\n\n“in the traditional stereo result, many of the horizontal lines behind the man are incorrectly estimated to be at the same depth as the man and are kept sharp”\n\nNote: PARTIAL SENTENCE as returned by the fetch tool. The same page states: 'Finding these correspondences in PDAF images (a method called depth from stereo) is extremely challenging because scene points barely move between the views.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://research.google/blog/learning-to-predict-depth-on-the-pixel-3-phones/", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Google Research Blog", "evidence_quote": "in the traditional stereo result, many of the horizontal lines behind the man are incorrectly estimated to be at the same depth as the man and are kept sharp", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Portrait mode / computational depth", "topic": "Documented failure mode: lines parallel to the baseline", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "In a small room this is a real risk: shelves, skirting boards, door frames and blinds behind the subject are exactly suc", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_google_pdaf_correspondence_hard", "category": "Studio", "title": "Why phone stereo depth is intrinsically noisy", "summary": "Google states that finding stereo correspondences in PDAF (dual-pixel) images is extremely challenging because scene points barely move between the two views.", "body": "Google states that finding stereo correspondences in PDAF (dual-pixel) images is extremely challenging because scene points barely move between the two views.\n\nWhat Google Research Blog actually says:\n\n“Finding these correspondences in PDAF images (a method called depth from stereo) is extremely challenging because scene points barely move between the views.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://research.google/blog/learning-to-predict-depth-on-the-pixel-3-phones/", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Google Research Blog", "evidence_quote": "Finding these correspondences in PDAF images (a method called depth from stereo) is extremely challenging because scene points barely move between the views.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Portrait mode / computational depth", "topic": "Why phone stereo depth is intrinsically noisy", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_focus_modes_locked", "category": "Studio", "title": "What locking focus actually does", "summary": "Apple's capture framework defines three focus modes: one that locks focus outright, one that autofocuses once then locks, and one that continuously refocuses.", "body": "Apple's capture framework defines three focus modes: one that locks focus outright, one that autofocuses once then locks, and one that continuously refocuses.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation) actually says:\n\n“A mode that automatically adjusts the focus one time, and then locks focus.”\n\nNote: Quote is the documentation for AVCaptureFocusModeAutoFocus. The mapping to the consumer 'AE/AF Lock' control is my inference — Apple's user-facing guide page could not be fetched (see could_not_verify).", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://developer.apple.com/documentation/avfoundation/avcapturedevice/focusmode-swift.enum.md", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation)", "evidence_quote": "A mode that automatically adjusts the focus one time, and then locks focus.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Focus and exposure lock", "topic": "What locking focus actually does", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "The stock Camera app's AE/AF Lock corresponds to the locked behaviour; the default is continuous, which is what re-hunts", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_exposure_modes_locked", "category": "Studio", "title": "What locking exposure actually does", "summary": "Apple's capture framework defines exposure modes that lock exposure, auto-expose once then lock, continuously auto-expose, or take manual duration and ISO.", "body": "Apple's capture framework defines exposure modes that lock exposure, auto-expose once then lock, continuously auto-expose, or take manual duration and ISO.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation) actually says:\n\n“A mode where an app manually sets the exposure duration and ISO values.”\n\nNote: Quote is the documentation for AVCaptureDevice.ExposureMode.custom. Note that Apple's manual mode names duration and ISO only — two of the three legs of the exposure triangle.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://developer.apple.com/documentation/avfoundation/avcapturedevice/exposuremode-swift.enum.md", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation)", "evidence_quote": "A mode where an app manually sets the exposure duration and ISO values.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Focus and exposure lock", "topic": "What locking exposure actually does", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "The 'custom' mode is the only place a phone exposes shutter duration and ISO directly — aperture is absent from this lis", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_subject_area_change_refocus", "category": "Studio", "title": "Why focus and exposure move when you leave and re-enter frame", "summary": "Apple documents that a capture device can monitor the subject area for changes such as lighting changes and substantial movement, and notify the app so it can refocus and re-expose.", "body": "Apple documents that a capture device can monitor the subject area for changes such as lighting changes and substantial movement, and notify the app so it can refocus and re-expose.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation) actually says:\n\n“The value of this property indicates whether the device monitors the video subject area for changes, such as lighting changes, substantial movement, and so on. If you enable subject area change monitoring, the capture device object sends an subjectAreaDidChangeNotification whenever it detects a change to the subject area. You can observe this notification and take action such as focusing, adjusting exposure, and so on.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://developer.apple.com/documentation/avfoundation/avcapturedevice/issubjectareachangemonitoringenabled.md", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation)", "evidence_quote": "The value of this property indicates whether the device monitors the video subject area for changes, such as lighting changes, substantial movement, and so on. If you enable subject area change monitoring, the capture device object sends an subjectAreaDidChangeNotification whenever it detects a change to the subject area. You can observe this notification and take action such as focusing, adjusting exposure, and so on.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Focus and exposure lock", "topic": "Why focus and exposure move when you leave and re-enter frame", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Directly explains the self-shooter's problem: walking out of and back into frame is 'substantial movement' and is exactl", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_minimum_focus_distance_mm", "category": "Studio", "title": "Minimum focus distance is a documented per-device property", "summary": "Apple exposes a per-camera minimum focus distance in millimetres, and for virtual multi-camera devices reports the smallest minimum focus distance among the autofocus-capable cameras it sources.", "body": "Apple exposes a per-camera minimum focus distance in millimetres, and for virtual multi-camera devices reports the smallest minimum focus distance among the autofocus-capable cameras it sources.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation) actually says:\n\n“The capture device's minimum focus distance in millimeters.”\n\nNote: Page also states: 'This value is -1 if the distance is unknown.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://developer.apple.com/documentation/avfoundation/avcapturedevice/minimumfocusdistance.md", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation)", "evidence_quote": "The capture device's minimum focus distance in millimeters.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Focus", "topic": "Minimum focus distance is a documented per-device property", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Apple does not publish the value for any specific model on this page; it is read from the device at runtime.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_stabilization_lowlatency_reduced_fov", "category": "Studio", "title": "Electronic stabilisation costs field of view", "summary": "Apple documents that its low-latency video stabilisation mode has a reduced field of view.", "body": "Apple documents that its low-latency video stabilisation mode has a reduced field of view.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation) actually says:\n\n“Indicates that video should be stabilized using the low latency stabilization algorithm. Low Latency stabilization has a reduced field of view. Enabling low latency stabilization introduces no additional latency into the video capture pipeline.”\n\nNote: Apple's descriptions of the other modes (off, standard, cinematic, cinematicExtended, previewOptimized, cinematicExtendedEnhanced, auto) do not state their crop.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://developer.apple.com/documentation/avfoundation/avcapturevideostabilizationmode.md", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation)", "evidence_quote": "Indicates that video should be stabilized using the low latency stabilization algorithm. Low Latency stabilization has a reduced field of view. Enabling low latency stabilization introduces no additional latency into the video capture pipeline.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Stabilisation", "topic": "Electronic stabilisation costs field of view", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "The clearest manufacturer statement found that stabilisation crops. Apple does not publish the crop percentage.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_stabilization_latency_memory_cost", "category": "Studio", "title": "Other documented costs of stabilisation", "summary": "Apple states that enabling video stabilisation introduces additional latency into the capture pipeline, may consume more system memory, and that stabilisation-capable devices may support only a subset of source formats.", "body": "Apple states that enabling video stabilisation introduces additional latency into the capture pipeline, may consume more system memory, and that stabilisation-capable devices may support only a subset of source formats.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation) actually says:\n\n“Video stabilization introduces additional latency into the video capture pipeline and may consume more system memory, depending on the stabilization mode and format.”\n\nNote: Same page adds the note: 'Devices with a video stabilization feature may only support a subset of available source formats.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://developer.apple.com/documentation/avfoundation/avcaptureconnection/preferredvideostabilizationmode.md", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Developer Documentation, AVFoundation)", "evidence_quote": "Video stabilization introduces additional latency into the video capture pipeline and may consume more system memory, depending on the stabilization mode and format.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Stabilisation", "topic": "Other documented costs of stabilisation", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "The format restriction is why turning stabilisation on can silently limit the resolution/frame-rate combinations availab", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_android_preview_stabilization_wysiwyg", "category": "Studio", "title": "Preview stabilisation on Android", "summary": "From Android 13 the camera framework supports video stabilisation on the preview stream and other non-RAW streams, so what the preview shows matches what is recorded.", "body": "From Android 13 the camera framework supports video stabilisation on the preview stream and other non-RAW streams, so what the preview shows matches what is recorded.\n\nWhat Google (Android Open Source Project) actually says:\n\n“For devices running Android 13 or higher, the camera framework provides support for video stabilization on the preview stream and other non-RAW streams in camera capture sessions.”\n\nNote: Page references CTS/ITS tests for 'field of view and stabilization quality' but gives no crop numbers.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://source.android.com/docs/core/camera/camera-preview-stabilization", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Google (Android Open Source Project)", "evidence_quote": "For devices running Android 13 or higher, the camera framework provides support for video stabilization on the preview stream and other non-RAW streams in camera capture sessions.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Stabilisation", "topic": "Preview stabilisation on Android", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Before this, a stabilised recording did not match the unstabilised preview — a framing hazard when you are setting up a ", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_nikon_ois_mechanism", "category": "Studio", "title": "How optical stabilisation works", "summary": "Nikon states that camera shake is detected in real time by gyro and acceleration sensors, and countered by physically moving the lens and the image sensor.", "body": "Nikon states that camera shake is detected in real time by gyro and acceleration sensors, and countered by physically moving the lens and the image sensor.\n\nWhat Nikon Corporation actually says:\n\n“Image blur caused by camera shake is effectively reduced by moving the lens and image sensor to counteract the detected movement (shake).”\n\nNote: Same page: 'Camera movement (shake) is detected in real time using a gyro sensor, acceleration sensor, etc.' OIS addresses camera shake, not subject movement.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.nikon.com/company/technology/technology_fields/software_and_systems/image_stabilization/", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Nikon Corporation", "evidence_quote": "Image blur caused by camera shake is effectively reduced by moving the lens and image sensor to counteract the detected movement (shake).", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Stabilisation", "topic": "How optical stabilisation works", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "This is the mechanism behind the 'sensor-shift optical image stabilization' Apple lists on iPhone Pro main and telephoto", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_canon_camera_shake_three_types", "category": "Studio", "title": "The kinds of shake stabilisation corrects", "summary": "Canon distinguishes three kinds of camera shake — angular, shift and roll — describing what each looks like.", "body": "Canon distinguishes three kinds of camera shake — angular, shift and roll — describing what each looks like.\n\nWhat Canon U.S.A., Inc. actually says:\n\n“Angular shake occurs when the camera lens wobbles up and down, like a person nodding their head, or side to side, like a person shaking their head. Shift shake occurs when the camera moves parallel to the subject in either the vertical or horizontal direction. Finally, roll shake occurs when the camera is rotated around the center of the lens.”\n\nNote: Page does not state stops of correction and does not discuss subject movement.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.usa.canon.com/pro/rf-lens-world/features/image-stabilization", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Canon U.S.A., Inc.", "evidence_quote": "Angular shake occurs when the camera lens wobbles up and down, like a person nodding their head, or side to side, like a person shaking their head. Shift shake occurs when the camera moves parallel to the subject in either the vertical or horizontal direction. Finally, roll shake occurs when the camera is rotated around the center of the lens.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Stabilisation", "topic": "The kinds of shake stabilisation corrects", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Shift shake (camera moving parallel to the subject) is the type that matters most at close subject distances.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_google_ois_limit_eighth_second", "category": "Studio", "title": "Stabilisation: The documented ceiling on what OIS buys you", "summary": "Google states that OIS reduces handshake for moderate exposure times up to about 1/8 second, but does not help with longer exposures or with moving objects.", "body": "Google states that OIS reduces handshake for moderate exposure times up to about 1/8 second, but does not help with longer exposures or with moving objects.\n\nWhat Google Research Blog actually says:\n\n“Optical image stabilization (OIS)...reduces handshake for moderate exposure times (up to about 1/8 second), but doesn't help with longer exposures or with moving objects.”\n\nNote: Ellipsis is present in the text as returned by the fetch tool; the elided clause described what OIS is.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://research.google/blog/night-sight-seeing-in-the-dark-on-pixel-phones/", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Google Research Blog", "evidence_quote": "Optical image stabilization (OIS)...reduces handshake for moderate exposure times (up to about 1/8 second), but doesn't help with longer exposures or with moving objects.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Stabilisation", "topic": "The documented ceiling on what OIS buys you", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Stated in the context of Pixel phones and Night Sight.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_google_smartphone_shot_noise", "category": "Studio", "title": "Sensor size and low light: Why small phone sensors are noisy", "summary": "Google states that for smartphone cameras, which have small lenses and sensors, a major source of noise is shot noise — the natural variation in the number of photons entering the lens.", "body": "Google states that for smartphone cameras, which have small lenses and sensors, a major source of noise is shot noise — the natural variation in the number of photons entering the lens.\n\nWhat Google Research Blog actually says:\n\n“For smartphone cameras, which have small lenses and sensors, a major source of noise is the natural variation of the number of photons entering the lens, called shot noise.”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://research.google/blog/night-sight-seeing-in-the-dark-on-pixel-phones/", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Google Research Blog", "evidence_quote": "For smartphone cameras, which have small lenses and sensors, a major source of noise is the natural variation of the number of photons entering the lens, called shot noise.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Sensor size and low light", "topic": "Why small phone sensors are noisy", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Physical, not fixable by settings; it is why a small-sensor phone in a dim room is noisy at any ISO.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_photometrics_shot_noise_sqrt", "category": "Studio", "title": "Sensor size and low light: The mathematics of photon noise", "summary": "Photoelectrons follow a Poisson distribution, so noise scales as the square root of signal — meaning signal-to-noise improves only with the square root of collected light.", "body": "Photoelectrons follow a Poisson distribution, so noise scales as the square root of signal — meaning signal-to-noise improves only with the square root of collected light.\n\nWhat Teledyne Photometrics actually says:\n\n“Photoelectrons collected by a CCD exhibit a Poisson distribution and have a square root relationship between signal and noise.”\n\nNote: Scientific-camera vendor learning resource; page also names dark noise and read noise and describes the read-noise-limited to photon-limited transition.", "source_type": "research", "source_link": "https://photometrics.com/learn/imaging-topics/signal-to-noise-ratio", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "B", "source_publisher": "Teledyne Photometrics", "evidence_quote": "Photoelectrons collected by a CCD exhibit a Poisson distribution and have a square root relationship between signal and noise.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Sensor size and low light", "topic": "The mathematics of photon noise", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Doubling SNR requires four times the light — which is why one extra stop of light in a room matters more than any proces", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_google_small_lens_small_pixels", "category": "Studio", "title": "Sensor size and low light: Small pixels limit dynamic range", "summary": "Google states that a smartphone's small lens does not gather much light and its small sensor pixels limit the camera's dynamic range.", "body": "Google states that a smartphone's small lens does not gather much light and its small sensor pixels limit the camera's dynamic range.\n\nWhat Google Research Blog actually says:\n\n“Their sensor chips have small pixels. This limits the camera's dynamic range, which refers to the span between the brightest highlight that doesn't blow out (turn white) and the darkest shadow that doesn't look black.”\n\nNote: Same page: 'The camera on a smartphone has a small lens, meaning that it doesn't gather much light.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://research.google/blog/hdr-low-light-and-high-dynamic-range-photography-in-the-google-camera-app/", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Google Research Blog", "evidence_quote": "Their sensor chips have small pixels. This limits the camera's dynamic range, which refers to the span between the brightest highlight that doesn't blow out (turn white) and the darkest shadow that doesn't look black.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Sensor size and low light", "topic": "Small pixels limit dynamic range", "applies_to_country": "*", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_google_hdrplus_exposure_caps", "category": "Studio", "title": "Sensor size and low light: Per-frame exposure caps on a phone", "summary": "Google caps HDR+ exposures at 66 ms per frame to keep the viewfinder at 15 fps or better, and Night Sight raises this to up to 333 ms when there is little motion.", "body": "Google caps HDR+ exposures at 66 ms per frame to keep the viewfinder at 15 fps or better, and Night Sight raises this to up to 333 ms when there is little motion.\n\nWhat Google Research Blog actually says:\n\n“HDR+ limits exposures to at most 66ms no matter how dim the scene is, allowing our viewfinder to keep up a display rate of at least 15 frames per second.”\n\nNote: The 333 ms figure and burst duration come from the same page and from the HDR+ page respectively; both were quoted by the fetch: 'up to 333ms if there isn't much motion' and 'Capturing a burst in HDR+ mode takes between 1/3 second and 1 second, depending on how dark the scene is.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://research.google/blog/night-sight-seeing-in-the-dark-on-pixel-phones/", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Google Research Blog", "evidence_quote": "HDR+ limits exposures to at most 66ms no matter how dim the scene is, allowing our viewfinder to keep up a display rate of at least 15 frames per second.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Sensor size and low light", "topic": "Per-frame exposure caps on a phone", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Pixel phones. A person who moves while a night-mode burst runs will smear.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_cambridgeincolour_sensorsize_dof", "category": "Studio", "title": "Sensor size versus depth of field and noise", "summary": "For a given aperture and equivalent framing, depth of field decreases as sensor size increases — so a small phone sensor gives deep depth of field, and larger pixels receive more photons for the same exposure.", "body": "For a given aperture and equivalent framing, depth of field decreases as sensor size increases — so a small phone sensor gives deep depth of field, and larger pixels receive more photons for the same exposure.\n\nWhat Cambridge in Colour actually says:\n\n“As sensor size increases, the depth of field will decrease for a given aperture (when filling the frame with a subject of the same size and distance).”\n\nNote: Established photographic technical reference. Same page: 'Furthermore, larger pixels receive a greater flux of photons during a given exposure time (at the same f-stop), so their light signal is much stronger.'", "source_type": "research", "source_link": "https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/digital-camera-sensor-size.htm", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "B", "source_publisher": "Cambridge in Colour", "evidence_quote": "As sensor size increases, the depth of field will decrease for a given aperture (when filling the frame with a subject of the same size and distance).", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Sensor size and depth of field", "topic": "Sensor size versus depth of field and noise", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Explains both why a phone cannot produce optical background separation in a small room and why it must fake it computati", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_canon_aperture_fnumber_dof", "category": "Studio", "title": "Exposure triangle: What aperture does", "summary": "Canon states aperture controls the amount of light entering the lens and sets how much of the image is in focus: smaller f-number, smaller in-focus area.", "body": "Canon states aperture controls the amount of light entering the lens and sets how much of the image is in focus: smaller f-number, smaller in-focus area.\n\nWhat Canon (SNAPSHOT, Canon South & Southeast Asia) actually says:\n\n“The smaller the f-number, the smaller the image area in focus. Conversely, the larger the f-number, the larger the image area in focus.”\n\nNote: Same page: 'The aperture allows us to control the amount of light entering the lens.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://snapshot.asia.canon/en/article/camera-basics-1-aperture", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Canon (SNAPSHOT, Canon South & Southeast Asia)", "evidence_quote": "The smaller the f-number, the smaller the image area in focus. Conversely, the larger the f-number, the larger the image area in focus.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Exposure triangle", "topic": "What aperture does", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "On a phone this leg of the triangle is not user-adjustable; the tech-spec f-number is fixed per camera module.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_canon_shutter_speed_definition", "category": "Studio", "title": "Exposure triangle: What shutter speed does", "summary": "Canon defines shutter speed as the length of time the shutter is open, and states motion blur occurs when the subject's movement is faster than the shutter speed.", "body": "Canon defines shutter speed as the length of time the shutter is open, and states motion blur occurs when the subject's movement is faster than the shutter speed.\n\nWhat Canon (SNAPSHOT, Canon South & Southeast Asia) actually says:\n\n“The shutter speed (also: exposure time) is the length of time when the shutter is open and light can enter the image sensor inside the camera.”\n\nNote: Same page: 'Motion blur occurs when the movement of the subject is faster than the shutter speed.' and 'Camera shake occurs when the hand that is holding the camera shakes as the shutter is released, causing the entire image to be blurred.' The page contains no shutter-speed-versus-focal-length rule.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://snapshot.asia.canon/en/article/camera-basics-2-shutter-speed", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Canon (SNAPSHOT, Canon South & Southeast Asia)", "evidence_quote": "The shutter speed (also: exposure time) is the length of time when the shutter is open and light can enter the image sensor inside the camera.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Exposure triangle", "topic": "What shutter speed does", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Also distinguishes camera shake (whole image blurred) from subject motion blur.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_canon_iso_noise", "category": "Studio", "title": "Exposure triangle: What ISO does", "summary": "Canon defines ISO speed as the sensor's capability to sense light expressed as a number, and states that the higher the ISO, the more noise and the grainier the image.", "body": "Canon defines ISO speed as the sensor's capability to sense light expressed as a number, and states that the higher the ISO, the more noise and the grainier the image.\n\nWhat Canon (SNAPSHOT, Canon South & Southeast Asia) actually says:\n\n“The higher the ISO speed, the more noise it generates. The overall image comes up grainy.”\n\nNote: Same page: 'If aperture is the width of the light ray passing through and shutter speed is the time taken for the light ray to pass through, then ISO speed describes the image sensor's capability in sensing light.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://snapshot.asia.canon/en/article/camera-basics-5-iso-speed", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Canon (SNAPSHOT, Canon South & Southeast Asia)", "evidence_quote": "The higher the ISO speed, the more noise it generates. The overall image comes up grainy.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Exposure triangle", "topic": "What ISO does", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "On a phone with fixed aperture, ISO and shutter duration are the only two exposure levers left.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_canon_bokeh_four_conditions", "category": "Studio", "title": "Depth of field in a small room: The four things that control background blur", "summary": "Canon lists four conditions that strengthen background blur: larger aperture, longer focal length, nearer subject, and a further-away background.", "body": "Canon lists four conditions that strengthen background blur: larger aperture, longer focal length, nearer subject, and a further-away background.\n\nWhat Canon (SNAPSHOT, Canon India) actually says:\n\n“The further away the background, the stronger the bokeh effect.”\n\nNote: All four condition sentences are quoted verbatim in the value object.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://snapshot.asia.canon/in/en/article/lens-basics-3-creating-bokeh", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Canon (SNAPSHOT, Canon India)", "evidence_quote": "The further away the background, the stronger the bokeh effect.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Depth of field in a small room", "topic": "The four things that control background blur", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "In a small room the fourth condition is the one you lose: a wall close behind you cannot be blurred optically, which is ", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_optics_perspective_is_distance_not_lens", "category": "Studio", "title": "Perspective distortion is a function of subject distance", "summary": "Linear perspective changes are caused by camera-to-subject distance, not by the lens: two shots of the same scene from the same distance have identical perspective geometry regardless of focal length.", "body": "Linear perspective changes are caused by camera-to-subject distance, not by the lens: two shots of the same scene from the same distance have identical perspective geometry regardless of focal length.\n\nWhat Wikipedia actually says:\n\n“Note that linear perspective changes are caused by distance, not by the lens per se – two shots of the same scene from the same distance will exhibit identical perspective geometry, regardless of lens used.”\n\nNote: Wikipedia is a tertiary source; recorded as B and flagged. A dedicated optics-textbook citation for the same statement could not be opened in this run (see could_not_verify).", "source_type": "research", "source_link": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspective_distortion", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "B", "source_publisher": "Wikipedia", "evidence_quote": "Note that linear perspective changes are caused by distance, not by the lens per se – two shots of the same scene from the same distance will exhibit identical perspective geometry, regardless of lens used.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Perspective and faces", "topic": "Perspective distortion is a function of subject distance", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Central for IMAGO: how a face is geometrically deformed depends on how far the phone is from the face, not on which lens", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_optics_wideangle_face_distortion", "category": "Studio", "title": "What close-distance perspective does to a face", "summary": "Perspective distortion is particularly noticeable in portraits taken at short camera-to-subject distances, making the nose appear too large relative to the rest of the face and distorting the facial expression.", "body": "Perspective distortion is particularly noticeable in portraits taken at short camera-to-subject distances, making the nose appear too large relative to the rest of the face and distorting the facial expression.\n\nWhat Wikipedia actually says:\n\n“Perspective distortion is particularly noticeable in portraits taken with wide-angle lenses at short camera-to-subject distances. They generally give an unpleasant impression, making the nose appear too large with respect to the rest of the face, and distorting the facial expression.”", "source_type": "research", "source_link": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspective_distortion", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "B", "source_publisher": "Wikipedia", "evidence_quote": "Perspective distortion is particularly noticeable in portraits taken with wide-angle lenses at short camera-to-subject distances. They generally give an unpleasant impression, making the nose appear too large with respect to the rest of the face, and distorting the facial expression.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Perspective and faces", "topic": "What close-distance perspective does to a face", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "This is the failure a phone held at arm's length or propped on a desk in a small room produces by default.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_plos_face_distance_social_judgment", "category": "Studio", "title": "Perspective and faces: Measured effect of shooting distance on how a face is judged", "summary": "A peer-reviewed study photographed faces from 45 cm and 135 cm and found the close-distance photographs drew lower investments in a trust game and lower ratings of trustworthiness, competence and attractiveness.", "body": "A peer-reviewed study photographed faces from 45 cm and 135 cm and found the close-distance photographs drew lower investments in a trust game and lower ratings of trustworthiness, competence and attractiveness.\n\nWhat PLOS ONE actually says:\n\n“elicit lower investments in an economic trust game, and lower ratings of social traits (such as trustworthiness, competence, and attractiveness), compared to photographs taken from a greater distance”\n\nNote: PARTIAL SENTENCE as returned by the fetch tool (the subject of the sentence was 'close-distance photographs'). Title: 'Perspective Distortion from Interpersonal Distance Is an Implicit Visual Cue for Social Judgments of Faces'. Sample sizes are the two the fetch surfaced, not the full set for every experiment.", "source_type": "research", "source_link": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0045301", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "B", "source_publisher": "PLOS ONE", "evidence_quote": "elicit lower investments in an economic trust game, and lower ratings of social traits (such as trustworthiness, competence, and attractiveness), compared to photographs taken from a greater distance", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Perspective and faces", "topic": "Measured effect of shooting distance on how a face is judged", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Directly load-bearing for IMAGO: the distance the source photo was shot at changes how the resulting face is read social", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_nikon_portrait_focal_length", "category": "Studio", "title": "Lens choice for faces: Manufacturer's portrait focal-length guidance", "summary": "Nikon recommends a standard to short-telephoto lens between 50 mm and 200 mm for portraits and states that a lens as wide as 17 mm will distort the subject's face unflatteringly.", "body": "Nikon recommends a standard to short-telephoto lens between 50 mm and 200 mm for portraits and states that a lens as wide as 17 mm will distort the subject's face unflatteringly.\n\nWhat Nikon Inc. (Nikon USA) actually says:\n\n“If the lens you choose is too wide, such as 17mm, it will distort your subject's face in an unflattering way.”\n\nNote: Same page: 'For a portrait, you want to use a standard to short-telephoto lens, between 50mm to 200mm.' and 'For a portrait, the eyes should be the sharpest part of the image.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.nikonusa.com/learn-and-explore/c/tips-and-techniques/quick-tips-for-taking-better-portraits", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Nikon Inc. (Nikon USA)", "evidence_quote": "If the lens you choose is too wide, such as 17mm, it will distort your subject's face in an unflattering way.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Lens choice for faces", "topic": "Manufacturer's portrait focal-length guidance", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "35 mm-equivalent figures for full-frame. A phone's main camera is typically around 24 mm equivalent (Apple lists 24 mm f", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_nikon_focal_length_angle_of_view", "category": "Studio", "title": "Lens choice for faces: What focal length controls", "summary": "Nikon states that focal length tells you the angle of view — how much of the scene is captured — and that longer focal length means a narrower angle of view and higher magnification.", "body": "Nikon states that focal length tells you the angle of view — how much of the scene is captured — and that longer focal length means a narrower angle of view and higher magnification.\n\nWhat Nikon Inc. (Nikon USA) actually says:\n\n“The longer the focal length, the narrower the angle of view and the higher the magnification.”\n\nNote: Same page: 'In the case of portraiture a telephoto allows the photographer to take the photo at a distance that does not intrude upon the subject.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.nikonusa.com/learn-and-explore/c/tips-and-techniques/understanding-focal-length", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Nikon Inc. (Nikon USA)", "evidence_quote": "The longer the focal length, the narrower the angle of view and the higher the magnification.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Lens choice for faces", "topic": "What focal length controls", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Read together with the distance record above: focal length sets framing, distance sets facial geometry.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_canon_camera_position_eye_level", "category": "Studio", "title": "Camera height (position) versus camera angle", "summary": "Canon distinguishes camera position (the height the camera is held at) from camera angle (which way it is tilted), and states that eye level, being the normal point of view, imparts a sense of stability.", "body": "Canon distinguishes camera position (the height the camera is held at) from camera angle (which way it is tilted), and states that eye level, being the normal point of view, imparts a sense of stability.\n\nWhat Canon (SNAPSHOT, Canon South & Southeast Asia) actually says:\n\n“Since eye level is the same as your normal point of view, it imparts a sense of stability to the photo.”\n\nNote: Canon does not on this page make a specific claim about faces at low angles.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://snapshot.asia.canon/en/article/camera-faq-7-what-is-the-difference-between-camera-position-level-and-camera-angle", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Canon (SNAPSHOT, Canon South & Southeast Asia)", "evidence_quote": "Since eye level is the same as your normal point of view, it imparts a sense of stability to the photo.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Framing and camera height", "topic": "Camera height (position) versus camera angle", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "A phone on a desk or low tripod is a low position pointed up — the configuration that combines close-distance perspectiv", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_iphone16pro_front_vs_rear", "category": "Studio", "title": "Front camera vs rear camera: Documented hardware gap on one model", "summary": "On iPhone 16 Pro, Apple specifies a 48 MP ƒ/1.78 main rear camera with second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilisation, against a 12 MP ƒ/1.9 front camera for which no optical stabilisation is listed.", "body": "On iPhone 16 Pro, Apple specifies a 48 MP ƒ/1.78 main rear camera with second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilisation, against a 12 MP ƒ/1.9 front camera for which no optical stabilisation is listed.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Support, Tech Specs) actually says:\n\n“48MP Fusion: 24 mm, ƒ/1.78 aperture, second‑generation sensor‑shift optical image stabilization”\n\nNote: The absence of an OIS mention on the front-camera line is an absence in the spec sheet, not an explicit Apple statement that the front camera lacks OIS.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/121031", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Support, Tech Specs)", "evidence_quote": "48MP Fusion: 24 mm, ƒ/1.78 aperture, second‑generation sensor‑shift optical image stabilization", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Front camera vs rear camera", "topic": "Documented hardware gap on one model", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "iPhone 16 Pro specifically. The front camera has autofocus but Apple's front-camera line lists no OIS and no alternative", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_iphone16pro_video_formats", "category": "Studio", "title": "Video on a phone: Resolution and frame-rate options, and what Action mode costs", "summary": "Apple specifies 4K Dolby Vision recording at 24/25/30/60/100/120 fps on iPhone 16 Pro, while Action mode is limited to 2.8K at 60 fps.", "body": "Apple specifies 4K Dolby Vision recording at 24/25/30/60/100/120 fps on iPhone 16 Pro, while Action mode is limited to 2.8K at 60 fps.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Support, Tech Specs) actually says:\n\n“Action mode up to 2.8K Dolby Vision at 60 fps”\n\nNote: The inference that the 2.8K ceiling reflects stabilisation crop is NOT stated by Apple and is flagged as inference.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/121031", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Support, Tech Specs)", "evidence_quote": "Action mode up to 2.8K Dolby Vision at 60 fps", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Video on a phone", "topic": "Resolution and frame-rate options, and what Action mode costs", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Action mode's ceiling of 2.8K against 4K elsewhere is consistent with electronic stabilisation consuming sensor area, th", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_pixel_front_vs_rear_specs", "category": "Studio", "title": "Front camera vs rear camera: Documented hardware gap on Pixel", "summary": "Google's Pixel hardware specification page lists the rear main camera with a stated sensor size and OIS, while the front camera is listed with a slower aperture, no sensor size and no OIS.", "body": "Google's Pixel hardware specification page lists the rear main camera with a stated sensor size and OIS, while the front camera is listed with a slower aperture, no sensor size and no OIS.\n\nWhat Google (Pixel Phone Help) actually says:\n\n“42 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus”\n\nNote: Model names and figures are as the page listed them on 2026-08-29; this page is revised with every hardware generation, hence high volatility. Sensor size and OIS are absent from the front-camera lines rather than explicitly denied.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/7158570?hl=en", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Google (Pixel Phone Help)", "evidence_quote": "42 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Front camera vs rear camera", "topic": "Documented hardware gap on Pixel", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Front cameras across the listed models are ƒ/2.2 with wide (95°–103°) fields of view; the wide FOV is what forces you cl", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_proraw_size_and_format", "category": "Studio", "title": "RAW capture: What ProRAW costs in storage", "summary": "Apple states ProRAW files are 10 to 12 times larger than HEIF or JPEG files and use the DNG format.", "body": "Apple states ProRAW files are 10 to 12 times larger than HEIF or JPEG files and use the DNG format.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Support) actually says:\n\n“ProRAW files are 10 to 12 times larger than HEIF or JPEG files”\n\nNote: The 25 MB / 75 MB figures were quoted by the fetch as 'approximately 25 MB' and 'approximately 75 MB at 48 MP' but not as complete sentences, so they are recorded in notes rather than as the evidence quote.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/119916", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Support)", "evidence_quote": "ProRAW files are 10 to 12 times larger than HEIF or JPEG files", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "RAW capture", "topic": "What ProRAW costs in storage", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Apple's page also gives approximate sizes of about 25 MB at 12 MP and about 75 MB at 48 MP.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_proraw_mode_exclusions", "category": "Studio", "title": "RAW capture: What ProRAW cannot be combined with", "summary": "Apple states ProRAW cannot be used with Live Photos, in Portrait mode, or when shooting video, and that several cameras and modes cap ProRAW at 12 MP.", "body": "Apple states ProRAW cannot be used with Live Photos, in Portrait mode, or when shooting video, and that several cameras and modes cap ProRAW at 12 MP.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Support) actually says:\n\n“You can't use ProRAW with Live Photos, in Portrait mode, or when shooting video.”\n\nNote: Same page: 'Ultra Wide, Telephoto, Night mode, flash, and macro photos can only be saved at 12 MP'.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/119916", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Support)", "evidence_quote": "You can't use ProRAW with Live Photos, in Portrait mode, or when shooting video.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "RAW capture", "topic": "What ProRAW cannot be combined with", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Directly relevant: you cannot shoot a RAW self-portrait and get computational background blur in the same frame.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_prores_storage_cost", "category": "Studio", "title": "Video capture formats: What ProRes costs in storage", "summary": "Apple states ProRes files are up to 30 times larger than HEVC files, that at least 10 percent of device storage must be free to record ProRes, and that ProRes cannot be used with Cinematic mode, slo-mo or time-lapse.", "body": "Apple states ProRes files are up to 30 times larger than HEVC files, that at least 10 percent of device storage must be free to record ProRes, and that ProRes cannot be used with Cinematic mode, slo-mo or time-lapse.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Support) actually says:\n\n“ProRes files are up to 30 times larger than HEVC files.”\n\nNote: Same page: 'To record in ProRes, you need at least 10 percent of your device's storage to be free.' and 'You can't use ProRes with Cinematic mode, slo-mo mode, or time-lapse video.' Storage tier also gates resolution: 128 GB models are limited to 1080p ProRes.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/109041", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Support)", "evidence_quote": "ProRes files are up to 30 times larger than HEVC files.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Video capture formats", "topic": "What ProRes costs in storage", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "iPhone 13 Pro and later Pro models per the same page.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_samsung_expertraw_16bit_dng", "category": "Studio", "title": "What Expert RAW produces", "summary": "Samsung states Expert RAW saves both a JPEG and a 16-bit linear DNG RAW file, and gives direct control of ISO, shutter speed, white balance, exposure and focus.", "body": "Samsung states Expert RAW saves both a JPEG and a 16-bit linear DNG RAW file, and gives direct control of ISO, shutter speed, white balance, exposure and focus.\n\nWhat Samsung Electronics (Samsung UK Support) actually says:\n\n“Both JPEG files and RAW (Linear DNG 16-bit) files are saved”\n\nNote: Same page: 'It is possible to shoot more professionally by taking direct control of the camera's settings, such as ISO, shutter speed, white balance, exposure, and focus' and 'This feature is available on Galaxy S20 or later models'.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/professional-photography-with-galaxy-expert-raw-app/", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Samsung Electronics (Samsung UK Support)", "evidence_quote": "Both JPEG files and RAW (Linear DNG 16-bit) files are saved", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "RAW capture", "topic": "What Expert RAW produces", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Samsung Galaxy. This is the route by which a phone user gets a real shutter-speed and ISO control at all.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_samsung_expertraw_multiframe", "category": "Studio", "title": "Phone RAW is not a single sensor readout", "summary": "Samsung states Expert RAW uses multi-frame processing to reduce noise and expand dynamic range, distinguishing it from Pro mode's 12-bit single-frame RAW.", "body": "Samsung states Expert RAW uses multi-frame processing to reduce noise and expand dynamic range, distinguishing it from Pro mode's 12-bit single-frame RAW.\n\nWhat Samsung Electronics (Samsung Members, CamCyclopedia) actually says:\n\n“utilizes multi-frame processing techniques to reduce noise while enhancing sharpness and detail to expand the dynamic range and enable you to capture a greater amount of information”\n\nNote: PARTIAL SENTENCE as returned by the fetch tool. CamCyclopedia is Samsung's own camera-team publication hosted on Samsung Members, hence tier A.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://r2.community.samsung.com/t5/CamCyclopedia/Expert-RAW/ba-p/22441198", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Samsung Electronics (Samsung Members, CamCyclopedia)", "evidence_quote": "utilizes multi-frame processing techniques to reduce noise while enhancing sharpness and detail to expand the dynamic range and enable you to capture a greater amount of information", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "RAW capture", "topic": "Phone RAW is not a single sensor readout", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Meaning a phone 'RAW' file is already a computational composite, not an unprocessed sensor dump — a real caveat for anyo", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_red_shutter_angle_180", "category": "Studio", "title": "Video: shutter angle: The 180-degree convention, from camera documentation", "summary": "RED's camera documentation states the default shutter angle is 180 degrees, with a range of 0 to 360 degrees, and gives the conversion between shutter angle and shutter speed at a given frame rate.", "body": "RED's camera documentation states the default shutter angle is 180 degrees, with a range of 0 to 360 degrees, and gives the conversion between shutter angle and shutter speed at a given frame rate.\n\nWhat RED Digital Cinema (RED camera documentation) actually says:\n\n“The default shutter angle is 180°.”\n\nNote: The page also prints the conversion formulas and states 'Decreasing shutter speed increases...motion blur of moving objects. Increasing shutter speed decreases...motion blur.' The 25 fps and 30 fps figures in applies_to are arithmetic from RED's stated formula, not quoted from the page.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://docs.red.com/955-0196_v1.6/Content/4_Menus/Image_LUT/Shutter.htm", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "RED Digital Cinema (RED camera documentation)", "evidence_quote": "The default shutter angle is 180°.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Video: shutter angle", "topic": "The 180-degree convention, from camera documentation", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Gives the practical rule: shutter speed roughly double the frame rate. 180° at 25 fps is 1/50 s; at 30 fps, 1/60 s.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_sony_rolling_shutter_distortion", "category": "Studio", "title": "What rolling shutter does to moving subjects", "summary": "Sony states that rolling shutter causes distortion in images of fast-moving objects, whereas a global shutter captures the whole object at once without focal plane distortion.", "body": "Sony states that rolling shutter causes distortion in images of fast-moving objects, whereas a global shutter captures the whole object at once without focal plane distortion.\n\nWhat Sony Semiconductor Solutions Group actually says:\n\n“While the rolling shutter causes distortion in the images of fast-moving objects, the global shutter is able to capture a high-speed moving image without focal plane distortion by capturing the entire object before output.”\n\nNote: Written about industrial image sensors; the mechanism is the same in phone sensors. The claim that phone cameras use rolling shutter was not verified on a manufacturer page in this run.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.sony-semicon.com/en/technology/industry/pregius.html", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Sony Semiconductor Solutions Group", "evidence_quote": "While the rolling shutter causes distortion in the images of fast-moving objects, the global shutter is able to capture a high-speed moving image without focal plane distortion by capturing the entire object before output.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Video: rolling shutter", "topic": "What rolling shutter does to moving subjects", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Phone cameras use rolling shutter; fast hand movement, a whipped head turn or a handheld pan will skew.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_pixel_video_stabilization_modes", "category": "Studio", "title": "Named stabilisation modes and video ceiling on Pixel", "summary": "Google documents Standard, Locked and Active stabilisation modes on Pixel and states recording is possible at 4K up to 60 fps.", "body": "Google documents Standard, Locked and Active stabilisation modes on Pixel and states recording is possible at 4K up to 60 fps.\n\nWhat Google (Pixel Camera Help) actually says:\n\n“You can record in 4K at up to 60 frames per second (FPS).”\n\nNote: Google does not state a crop figure for any of these modes on this page.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.google.com/pixelcamera/answer/7064897?hl=en", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Google (Pixel Camera Help)", "evidence_quote": "You can record in 4K at up to 60 frames per second (FPS).", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Video on a phone", "topic": "Named stabilisation modes and video ceiling on Pixel", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "'Locked' is the mode intended for a static shot — the relevant one for a phone on a tripod filming yourself.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_pixel_selfie_timer_and_mirror", "category": "Studio", "title": "Self-shooting mechanics: Timer, palm gesture, voice trigger and mirroring on Pixel", "summary": "Google documents 3-second and 10-second timers, a palm-raise gesture to start the countdown, a voice command trigger, and a setting controlling whether selfies are saved mirrored.", "body": "Google documents 3-second and 10-second timers, a palm-raise gesture to start the countdown, a voice command trigger, and a setting controlling whether selfies are saved mirrored.\n\nWhat Google (Pixel Camera Help) actually says:\n\n“You can save your selfies as mirrored or non-mirrored photos”", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.google.com/pixelcamera/answer/9937027?hl=en", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Google (Pixel Camera Help)", "evidence_quote": "You can save your selfies as mirrored or non-mirrored photos", "volatility": "high", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Self-shooting mechanics", "topic": "Timer, palm gesture, voice trigger and mirroring on Pixel", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Mirroring matters for IMAGO: a saved-as-previewed selfie is left-right flipped relative to how others see the face.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_watch_camera_remote", "category": "Studio", "title": "Self-shooting mechanics: Remote shutter with a live viewfinder", "summary": "Apple documents using an Apple Watch as a viewfinder for the iPhone camera and as a remote shutter, with a 3-second timer applied by default.", "body": "Apple documents using an Apple Watch as a viewfinder for the iPhone camera and as a remote shutter, with a 3-second timer applied by default.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Watch User Guide) actually says:\n\n“Use your Apple Watch as a viewfinder for your iPhone camera and take photos and videos from a distance.”\n\nNote: Same page: 'By default, the shot is taken with a 3-second timer.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.apple.com/guide/watch/camera-remote-apda6e61c287/watchos", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Watch User Guide)", "evidence_quote": "Use your Apple Watch as a viewfinder for your iPhone camera and take photos and videos from a distance.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Self-shooting mechanics", "topic": "Remote shutter with a live viewfinder", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "The one documented Apple route to seeing your own framing and firing the shutter while standing in frame away from the p", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_apple_continuity_camera_rear_facing", "category": "Studio", "title": "Self-shooting mechanics: Using the rear camera with a live monitor", "summary": "Apple documents using an iPhone as a Mac webcam with its rear cameras facing you, requiring the phone to be stable, locked, near the Mac and in landscape orientation for automatic selection.", "body": "Apple documents using an iPhone as a Mac webcam with its rear cameras facing you, requiring the phone to be stable, locked, near the Mac and in landscape orientation for automatic selection.\n\nWhat Apple Inc. (Apple Support) actually says:\n\n“Positioned with its rear cameras facing you and unobstructed”\n\nNote: Quote is a requirement bullet on the page.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/102546", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Apple Inc. (Apple Support)", "evidence_quote": "Positioned with its rear cameras facing you and unobstructed", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Self-shooting mechanics", "topic": "Using the rear camera with a live monitor", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "This is the documented way to shoot yourself on the good (rear) camera while watching a full-size preview.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_samsung_selfie_wide_angle_toggle", "category": "Studio", "title": "Self-shooting mechanics: Front-camera field-of-view toggle on Galaxy", "summary": "Samsung documents a control that switches the selfie camera's viewing angle between normal and wide.", "body": "Samsung documents a control that switches the selfie camera's viewing angle between normal and wide.\n\nWhat Samsung Electronics America (Samsung US Support) actually says:\n\n“You can change the viewing angle from normal to wide by selecting the icons (they look like people) at the bottom of the viewfinder.”\n\nNote: The second sentence in applies_to is inference from the perspective-distortion records, not a Samsung statement.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10002872/", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Samsung Electronics America (Samsung US Support)", "evidence_quote": "You can change the viewing angle from normal to wide by selecting the icons (they look like people) at the bottom of the viewfinder.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Self-shooting mechanics", "topic": "Front-camera field-of-view toggle on Galaxy", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "The wide setting increases the angle of view; it does not change how far the camera is from the face, so it does not fix", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_samsung_pro_mode_manual_controls", "category": "Studio", "title": "Which exposure controls a phone actually exposes", "summary": "Samsung's Pro mode is documented as allowing manual adjustment of ISO sensitivity, exposure value, white balance and colour tone — aperture is not among them.", "body": "Samsung's Pro mode is documented as allowing manual adjustment of ISO sensitivity, exposure value, white balance and colour tone — aperture is not among them.\n\nWhat Samsung Electronics America (Samsung US Support) actually says:\n\n“Manually adjust the ISO sensitivity, exposure value, white balance, and color tone while taking pictures.”\n\nNote: The absence of aperture is an absence in this list, not an explicit denial. The general claim that phone cameras have fixed apertures is logged as unverified.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10001353/", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Samsung Electronics America (Samsung US Support)", "evidence_quote": "Manually adjust the ISO sensitivity, exposure value, white balance, and color tone while taking pictures.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Exposure triangle on a phone", "topic": "Which exposure controls a phone actually exposes", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Consistent with a fixed-aperture phone camera module, though Samsung does not say so on this page.", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r26_camera_phone_samsung_dual_aperture_s9", "category": "Studio", "title": "The one widely-shipped variable-aperture phone camera", "summary": "Samsung marketed the Galaxy S9 with a Dual Aperture camera pairing an F1.5 lens with an F2.4 setting, which it described as the brightest aperture then available on a smartphone.", "body": "Samsung marketed the Galaxy S9 with a Dual Aperture camera pairing an F1.5 lens with an F2.4 setting, which it described as the brightest aperture then available on a smartphone.\n\nWhat Samsung Newsroom U.K. actually says:\n\n“This level of clarity is possible thanks to Samsung's pairing of a new F1.5 aperture lens, which is the brightest currently available on a smartphone, with an F2.4 lens.”\n\nNote: Marketing page from 2018; the 'brightest currently available' claim is time-bound and was not re-verified against later models.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://news.samsung.com/uk/in-depth-look-1-how-the-galaxy-s9-reimagines-the-smartphone-camera", "last_verified": "2026-08-29", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Samsung Newsroom U.K.", "evidence_quote": "This level of clarity is possible thanks to Samsung's pairing of a new F1.5 aperture lens, which is the brightest currently available on a smartphone, with an F2.4 lens.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "26-camera-phone", "subject": "Aperture on a phone", "topic": "The one widely-shipped variable-aperture phone camera", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Recorded because it is the exception that shows variable aperture is a feature worth announcing on a phone; it is not ev", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } } ] }