Earlier today, Apple officially released the Apple Pro via iOS 14.3. This new hybrid image format claims to give you the best of both worlds: AI-powered computational photography on the one hand, and the flexibility of a 12-bit Raw file on the other. But will it deliver the goods? In a word: Yes.
Last week, we tested Apple Pro in the latest beta of iOS 14.3, and you can capture all the sample images you see below using the iPhone 12 Pro Mac.
You can learn more about the Apple Pro and what it is and how to run it here, but as of this writing, remember that feature Only Available on iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max. This is a big deal, because after looking at the side comparisons we believe that Prora is the only way for iPhone users to shoot raw images.
Lateral (side to side) comparison
In the photos. Below is a series of images shot in all three available formats: HEIC, ProRAW DNG and “Simple” DNG (using the Lightroom app). For this comparison, the HEIC images remained unchanged, while the plain DNG and Apple Pro DNGs were slightly edited in the Lightroom CC to match the tones of the HEIC files.
Even without cropping, you could say that stacked HEIC and ProRAW images add extra detail and structure to Apple’s Smart HDR and Deep Fusion technology:
Upon closer inspection, the difference becomes even clearer. Prora DNGs capture significant detail more than plain DNGs shot with lightroom. This is not the result of sharpening or automatic variation adjustment, as you can see in HEICs, but of stacking multiple images using machine learning to improve detail and layout:
This is already a good start; However, the biggest difference appears when shooting in Night mode. For the first time, iPhone photographers can capture raw images in very low light Hand-held Thanks to Apple’s AI-powered image stacking technology. There is no competition between blank DNG and image stacked pro files if the lights are dimmed.
Here are some night time samples side by side:
Here are the same photos that were cut in the last 100%. In this magnification, the horrible noise and lack of detail in standard DNGs really stands out:
Finally, as a last test, we dragged the same low-light images into the lightroom and pushed the shadows to +100 to see how the files would work. HEIC files show minimal latitudes in the post, but they still respond well to the shadow slider, ProRAW files respond nicely and are clear Much See for yourself more data, and the typical DNGs… well பட filmed by the Lightroom app:
Judgment
No question: if you have a sticker for picture quality and shoot raw photos with your iPhone, you should definitely keep Prora on the drive at all times. There’s no reason to shoot regular DNGs using some third-party app, you just leave the performance on the table. Regardless of lighting conditions, we do not see any shooting or post-processing benefits when comparing plain TNGs with Prora TNG.
Under normal light conditions, the difference is subtle. Smart HDR and Deep Fusion certainly have an effect, but this is most noticeable only if you plant under certain conditions or close. The night mode, on the other hand, is in its own league. There is no comparison between a regular DNG shot using a high ISO system and a Prora DNG shot using the image stacking power of Night mode. I like to call this a game changer, but… well we all know what happens in the comments when I do it.
The main disadvantages of using the new design are the same as any other RAW file: storage space and processing. ProRAW DNGs are 10x to 20x larger than their HEIC counterparts, especially when shooting in Night mode and need to be replaced before sharing them on most social media. If you are already in the habit of shooting and editing RAW files, and storage space is not an issue then ProRAW is the best way to shoot RAW photos during an iPhone period.
Update: For those interested in seeing more pixel-eddy, you can download all the full res source files here. For the best experience, you will want to open Prora DNGs in an application like PixelMater, Raw Power or Affinity Photo. Lightroom CC will work (which we used) but Prora DNGs will explode first because Adobe has not yet dialed in the profile.
About the author: D.L. Gate An art, science and technology writer and former author of Petapixel. When he is not writing op-eds or reviewing the latest technology for creators, you may find him working at Vision Science at the University of Washington, publishing the weekly Triple Point newsletter, or sharing personal articles in the media.