On an iPhone, the 0.5x zoom level, which uses the ultra-wide camera, is typically not available in the following camera modes:
- Portrait Mode: This mode generally uses the wide (1x) or telephoto (2x, 2.5x, or 3x depending on the iPhone model) lens to achieve the depth effect required for portrait shots.
- Night Mode (on older models): Initially, Night Mode was only available on the wide (1x) camera. However, newer models may support Night Mode on the ultra-wide camera.
- Macro Mode: If available, this mode typically uses a specific camera (often the ultra-wide lens in macro mode, but at a different focal length, not the 0.5x setting) to capture close-up shots.
- Cinematic Mode: This mode, introduced on the iPhone 13 series, focuses on creating a shallow depth-of-field video recording and usually uses the wide or telephoto lens.
- Time-Lapse and Slo-Mo (on some models): These modes might not support the ultra-wide lens for certain resolutions or frame rates.
- ProRAW and ProRes (iPhione 15 Plus): These advanced photography and videography modes might restrict the use of the ultra-wide (0.5x) lens depending on the resolution and frame rate settings.
It's important to note that camera features and capabilities can vary across different iPhone models and software updates, so the availability of the 0.5x zoom level might differ accordingly.
You are trying for 0.5 in which mode?
One of the following camera modes:
- Video: Record a video; see Record a video.
- Time-lapse: Create a time‑lapse video of motion over a period of time; see Record a time-lapse video.
- Slo-mo: Record a video with a slow-motion effect; see Record a slow-motion video.
- Pano: Capture a panoramic landscape or other scene; see Take a panoramic photo.
- Portrait: Apply a depth-of-field effect to your photos; see Take a portrait in Portrait mode.
- Cinematic: Apply a depth-of-field effect to your videos (on supported models); see Record Cinematic videos.
- Spatial: Take spatial photos and videos to relive in 3D on Apple Vision Pro; see Take spatial photos and record spatial videos for Apple Vision Pro.
- Square: Take photos with a square ratio. On iPhone 11 and later, tap
, then tap 4:3 to choose between Square, 4:3, or 16:9 aspect ratios.
To set a mode other than Photo as the default mode when you open Camera, see Save camera settings on iPhone.
