5 iPhone camera features for perfect New Year's photos and videos

For owners of the latest iPhone models, the New Year holidays offer the perfect opportunity to try out the spatial video recording feature. This feature is available on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models. It allows you to record videos in 3D format, adding depth and realism to your holiday memories.

Although full enjoyment of spatial video requires a device like the Apple Vision Pro or Meta Quest 3, this should not stop users from experimenting with the new feature.

Spatial video allows you to build a library of captivating videos now, even if you don’t yet have a headset. Moreover, other devices can play spatial videos in regular 2D format.

The spatial video recording technology uses the main and ultra-wide cameras on the iPhone. During recording, the iPhone automatically combines data from both cameras, creating a single video file that contains a 3D perspective.

This is achieved through complex computational filming methods that intelligently scale the ultra-wide camera’s field of view to match the main camera’s perspective.

As a result, the video remains technically 2D but contains depth information, allowing compatible devices to create a 3D effect during playback.

The added spatial component creates a sense of immersion and presence, significantly surpassing traditional video. It lets the viewer feel part of the recorded moment. However, it’s worth noting that the spatial video recording feature works best with good lighting.

The New Year holidays are the perfect time to take advantage of the often-overlooked ultra-wide camera. This lens, available on most iPhone models starting from the iPhone 11, has unique advantages that are especially useful during the holiday season.

The ultra-wide lens captures photos in tight spaces that are difficult to cover fully with a standard wide-angle lens. One of the main benefits of the ultra-wide lens is the ability to fit more subjects into the frame without needing to step back.

In the iPhone camera app, the ultra-wide camera’s image is displayed beyond the frame of the wide-angle lens by default. This is particularly useful during family gatherings when you want to capture a large group of people in a single photo.

The ultra-wide camera received a significant upgrade in the iPhone 16 Pro, resolving 48 megapixels, matching that of the main camera. This has allowed for much sharper, higher-quality images and improved low-light performance.

Christmas and New Year are a perfect time for iPhone 13 and newer users to try out Cinematic Mode, which adds a depth-of-field effect to videos.

This mode uses advanced computational algorithms to automatically focus on subjects while artistically blurring the background, creating an effect typical of professional cinematography.

Cinematic Mode allows users to creatively highlight details by smoothly shifting focus from one object to another. It also simplifies the filming process by automatically adjusting the focus when people enter or exit the frame or when the main subject of the video changes the direction of their gaze.

Cinematic mode (photo: MacRumors)

Photographic styles, introduced with the iPhone 13 series, offer a personalized approach to photography that can enhance your New Year photos.

This feature allows users to select and adjust a shooting style that is automatically applied to their photos, ensuring that the desired aesthetic is reflected in every shot.

Photographic Styles are not universal filters. They are intelligent adjustments that selectively affect different parts of the image, such as skin tones and the sky. The styles adapt to lighting conditions to preserve natural textures and skin tones.

Users can choose from preset styles like Rich Contrast, Vibrant, Warm, and Cool, each of which gives the image a unique look. During the holiday season, you can pick a style that best highlights the festive atmosphere, adding a special mood to your photos.

With the iPhone 16 lineup, Apple has completely revamped photographic styles, making them more specialized and rich. The new styles adjust specific colors in different areas of the shot, creating a deeper and more refined aesthetic.

The first five styles are tailored to different skin undertones: Cool Rose, Neutral, Amber, Rose Gold, and Gold. The Cool Rose style emphasizes cool pink tones, while Neutral neutralizes the warm undertone. Amber, Rose Gold, and Gold accentuate these specific tones. The effect can be subtle, depending on the selected settings.

Other styles resemble filters more closely, adding dramatic effects that change the mood of the photo. In the iPhone 16, Photographic Styles can be added and edited retrospectively.

Photographic styles (photo: MacRumors)

The iPhone 15 lineup introduced significant improvements to Portrait Mode. Now, users can adjust the focus of the image or add background blur after the photo has been taken, even if Portrait Mode was not initially selected.

The ability to edit photos post-shooting allows users to experiment with different focal points, ensuring that each portrait looks as attractive and engaging as possible. This is especially useful for spontaneous photos of family members and pets during the holiday season.

The Portrait Mode on the iPhone 15 has also been improved for better performance in low-light conditions.

As a reminder, the upcoming iPhone 17 may receive a complete camera redesign.