iPhone X vs DSLR Long Exposure Photography

In this video I head down to Rutledge Falls to test out the new long exposure mode on iOS 11 with the new iPhone X.

How does Apple's latest attempt at using software to overcome hardware limitations compare with a professional DSLR camera? Let's find out together!

The images from the iPhone X do not have any post-processing applied to them aside from using the long exposure mode. The DSLR shots were processed using Lightroom/Photoshop. Slow motion footage was also shot on the iPhone X in the new 240fps/1080 mode.

These are some of the shots with the DSLR:

Canon 5D MKIII | 70-200 f/2.8L IS II @ 80mm | f/11 | 61 seconds | ISO L(50) | Hoya 77mm NDx400 HMC | Hoya Circular Polarizer MRC

Canon 5D MKIII | 70-200 f/2.8L IS II @ 100mm | f/9 | 10 seconds | ISO L(50) | Hoya 77mm NDx400 HMC | Hoya Circular Polarizer MRC

Canon 5D MKIII | 70-200 f/2.8L IS II @ 145mm | f/11 | 30 seconds | ISO L(50) | Hoya 77mm NDx400 HMC | Hoya Circular Polarizer MRC

Setting up the camera to shoot some waterfall details at beautiful Rutledge Falls.

Canon 5D MKIII | 70-200 f/2.8L IS II @ 200mm | f/11 | 20 seconds | ISO L(50) | Hoya 77mm NDx400 HMC | Hoya Circular Polarizer MRC

Canon 5D MKIII | 16-35 f/2.8L III @ 20mm | f/11 | 30 seconds | ISO L(50) | B+W 82mm F-PRO ND 3.0-1,000X MRC ND filter | Quantaray 82mm Circular Polarizer

Canon 5D MKIII | 70-200 f/2.8L IS II @ 120mm | f/9 | 131 seconds | ISO L(50) | Hoya 77mm NDx400 HMC | Hoya Circular Polarizer MRC

These before/after images were taken with the iPhone X with a tripod in the default camera app. No post-processing was done to them aside from using the Long Exposure mode.

A few things on using this mode:

1. You can shoot with HDR enabled with live photos, but it will not work when you use the Long Exposure mode. This can result in blown out highlights depending on your subject matter.

2. Even if you shoot with a tripod the Long Exposure effect will still slightly crop your image. I assume this is part of the software auto-aligning the duration of the live photo to process the long shutter effect.

3. Just like with the portrait mode, the masks that iOS creates for objects is not perfect. Upon close inspection of things like the rocks in these photos you can see some artifacts appearing where the effect was erroneously applied to areas that were not moving.

These links will take you to Amazon where you can read more. Full disclosure: If you choose to purchase anything from the links I will receive a small commission from Amazon. I will only link to equipment that I use, trust, and would recommend to a friend!

Cameras:

Canon 5D MKIII - http://amzn.to/2plH8zw

Canon 7D MKII - http://amzn.to/2pyzXEI

GoPro HERO5 Black - http://amzn.to/2rnRwst

iPhone X

Glass:

Canon 16-35 f/2.8L III - http://amzn.to/2tgyWDj

Canon 35mm f/1.4L II - http://amzn.to/2pw6f0S

Canon 50 f/1.2L - http://amzn.to/2plOwed

Canon 24-105 f/4L IS - http://amzn.to/2pySdNZ

Canon 135 f/2L - http://amzn.to/2pytWYD

Canon 70-200 f/2.8L II IS - http://amzn.to/2plP97l

Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS - http://amzn.to/2quirOR

Filters:

B+W 72mm F-PRO ND 0.9-8X MRC - http://amzn.to/2oZDjNR

B+W 72mm F-PRO ND 1.8-64X MRC - http://amzn.to/2pyHTFG

Hoya 77mm NDx400 HMC - http://amzn.to/2plMRoI

B+W 77mm F-PRO ND 0.9-8X MRC - http://amzn.to/2pyBdYj

B+W 82mm F-PRO ND 3.0-1,000X MRC - http://amzn.to/2oZLyJA

B+W 77mm Circular Polarizer MRC - http://amzn.to/2plJmyT

Quantaray 82mm Circular Polarizer - http://amzn.to/2oZDjgB

Tripods:

Really Right Stuff TVC-34L Tripod

Really Right Stuff B5D3-L Bracket

JOBY GorillaPod SLR Zoom - http://amzn.to/2qnslCC

Power:

Battery Grip 7D MKII BG-E16 - http://amzn.to/2pyMNTn

Battery Grip 5D MKIII BG-E11 - http://amzn.to/2pyFafD

Canon Battery Pack CP-E4N - http://amzn.to/2pNm3iF

Canon LP-E6N Battery - http://amzn.to/2pyFU4p

Panasonic Eneloop Pro AA - http://amzn.to/2pNowtJ

Panasonic Eneloop Pro AAA - http://amzn.to/2oZqOSo

Lighting:

Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT - http://amzn.to/2qufuhg

Canon ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmitter - http://amzn.to/2plNSxk

Storage:

SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB CF - http://amzn.to/2pNlPIo

SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB SD - http://amzn.to/2plLdUm

SanDisk Extreme Pro 32GB MicroSD - http://amzn.to/2pyUCbt

OWC ThunderBay 4 RAID 5 Edition - http://amzn.to/2plLZkk

Bags:

MindShift Gear BackLight 26L Backpack - http://amzn.to/2q3d7lS

MindShift Gear Filter Nest - http://amzn.to/2rBNHgy

ThinkTank Photo Digital Holster 20 v2.0 - http://amzn.to/2oWGlBJ

ThinkTank Photo Lens Changer 35 v2.0 - http://amzn.to/2qnFX0N

ThinkTank Photo Pee Wee Pixel Pocket Rocket - http://amzn.to/2oZsRpr

ThinkTank Photo DSLR Battery Holder 2 - http://amzn.to/2pyMcAR

Other Accessories:

Kenko Extension Tubes - http://amzn.to/2qnK2Cm

Vello FreeWave Plus Wireless Shutter Release - http://amzn.to/2oWVAu9

Giottos Rocket Blower Large - http://amzn.to/2pyALcD

Audio:

Zoom H1 - http://amzn.to/2plHKVV

Rode smartLav - http://amzn.to/2oWGtB2

Rode SC3 3.5mm TRRS to TRS - http://amzn.to/2pyAvKM

Outdoor Apparel:

Tilley Airflo Hat - http://amzn.to/2qnCUWj

Columbia Tamiami II Long Sleeve Shirts - http://amzn.to/2r2uKqh

5.11 TacLite Pro Pants - http://amzn.to/2pyt9Xu

Asolo TPS 520 GV Boots - http://amzn.to/2plXQ1L

Editing & Post-Processing:

Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Photoshop

Monitor Calibration Datacolor Spyder5Pro - http://amzn.to/2qnG3FM

Camping:

North Face Terra 65 Backpack - http://amzn.to/2qukPVN

REI Quarter Dome 1 Tent (2017 edition)

Northrup Falls

My wife and I spent part of our Saturday afternoon hiking down to a waterfall in Colditz Cove State Natural Area that I had wanted to visit for some time.

Once I had found my composition there were only a few intermittent clouds in the sky. I had just a few moments of cloud cover to take the main shot of the falls. The cloud cover created beautifully soft light to make what I believe is a more pleasing image in this case.

Canon 5D MKIII | 16-35 f/2.8L III @ 30mm | f/16 | 1 second | ISO L(50) | Quantaray 82mm Circular Polarizer

With my wide shot of the entire 63' waterfall in the can it was time to hike down to the base of the falls for a few detail shots. The spray was intense and made it difficult to capture a clean shot. I would usually go a little longer on shutter duration to smooth out the water even more, but I found that the 4 second shutter I chose was pushing the limits before the front of the lens was completely coated with water. This is one of the primary reasons I stick to my weather sealed lenses when shooting this type of work. My best weather sealed glass is the 16-35 f/2.8L III and the 70-200 f/2.8L II IS (both of which were used in this trip). I also brought but did not use my 24-105 f/4L IS. That lens is not as well sealed as the ones that due to the construction of the lens where the barrel pushes out when zooming. Not used on this trip, but another fantastically sealed lens worthy of mention is my beloved 35 f/1.4L II. 

Canon 5D MKIII | 16-35 f/2.8L III @ 24mm | f/16 | 4 seconds | ISO L(50) | Quantaray 82mm Circular Polarizer

I wanted one more shot of the falls before hiking back out and was going for something more abstract. I think that the higher volume of water through the falls makes for a superior wide shot, but can make detail shots more difficult. Too much water and not enough rock can make the shot lack contrast. Contrast not just in tonality, but also between the juxtaposition of smooth water and the sharp textures of the rocks underneath.

The greater working distance of the longer and more compressed focal length still did not help much with the spray coming off the falls, especially when the wind kicked up. I was able to push my exposure up to 5 seconds, but still had to wipe the polarizer down on the front of the lens after every shot.

Canon 5D MKIII | 70-200 f/2.8L IS II @ 102mm | f/16 | 5 seconds | ISO L(50) | B+W 77mm Circular Polarizer MRC

Many thanks to my incredibly supportive and loving wife Emily. She means the world to me and I love it when she comes out on these hiking adventures! Thank you for stopping by and reading the blog today. Until next time, good luck and happy shooting.

These links will take you to Amazon where you can read more. Full disclosure: If you choose to purchase anything from the links I will receive a small commission from Amazon. I will only link to equipment that I use, trust, and would recommend to a friend!

Cameras:

Canon 5D MKIII - http://amzn.to/2plH8zw

Canon 7D MKII - http://amzn.to/2pyzXEI

GoPro HERO5 Black - http://amzn.to/2rnRwst

iPhone 7S Plus

Glass:

Canon 16-35 f/2.8L III -  http://amzn.to/2tgyWDj

Canon 35mm f/1.4L II - http://amzn.to/2pw6f0S

Canon 50 f/1.2L - http://amzn.to/2plOwed

Canon 24-105 f/4L IS - http://amzn.to/2pySdNZ

Canon 135 f/2L - http://amzn.to/2pytWYD

Canon 70-200 f/2.8L II IS - http://amzn.to/2plP97l

Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS - http://amzn.to/2quirOR

Filters:

B+W 72mm F-PRO ND 0.9-8X MRC - http://amzn.to/2oZDjNR

B+W 72mm F-PRO ND 1.8-64X MRC - http://amzn.to/2pyHTFG

Hoya 77mm NDx400 HMC - http://amzn.to/2plMRoI

B+W 77mm F-PRO ND 0.9-8X MRC - http://amzn.to/2pyBdYj

B+W 82mm F-PRO ND 3.0-1,000X MRC - http://amzn.to/2oZLyJA

B+W 77mm Circular Polarizer MRC - http://amzn.to/2plJmyT

Quantaray 82mm Circular Polarizer - http://amzn.to/2oZDjgB

Tripods:

Really Right Stuff TVC-34L Tripod

Really Right Stuff B5D3-L Bracket

JOBY GorillaPod SLR Zoom - http://amzn.to/2qnslCC

Power:

Battery Grip 7D MKII BG-E16 - http://amzn.to/2pyMNTn

Battery Grip 5D MKIII BG-E11 - http://amzn.to/2pyFafD

Canon Battery Pack CP-E4N - http://amzn.to/2pNm3iF

Canon LP-E6N Battery - http://amzn.to/2pyFU4p

Panasonic Eneloop Pro AA - http://amzn.to/2pNowtJ

Panasonic Eneloop Pro AAA - http://amzn.to/2oZqOSo

Lighting:

Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT - http://amzn.to/2qufuhg

Canon ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmitter - http://amzn.to/2plNSxk

Storage:

SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB CF - http://amzn.to/2pNlPIo

SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB SD - http://amzn.to/2plLdUm

SanDisk Extreme Pro 32GB MicroSD - http://amzn.to/2pyUCbt

OWC ThunderBay 4 RAID 5 Edition - http://amzn.to/2plLZkk

Bags:

MindShift Gear BackLight 26L Backpack - http://amzn.to/2q3d7lS

MindShift Gear Filter Nest - http://amzn.to/2rBNHgy

ThinkTank Photo Digital Holster 20 v2.0 - http://amzn.to/2oWGlBJ

ThinkTank Photo Lens Changer 35 v2.0 - http://amzn.to/2qnFX0N

ThinkTank Photo Pee Wee Pixel Pocket Rocket - http://amzn.to/2oZsRpr

ThinkTank Photo DSLR Battery Holder 2 - http://amzn.to/2pyMcAR

Other Accessories:

Kenko Extension Tubes - http://amzn.to/2qnK2Cm

Vello FreeWave Plus Wireless Shutter Release - http://amzn.to/2oWVAu9

Giottos Rocket Blower Large - http://amzn.to/2pyALcD

Audio:

Zoom H1 - http://amzn.to/2plHKVV

Rode smartLav - http://amzn.to/2oWGtB2

Rode SC3 3.5mm TRRS to TRS - http://amzn.to/2pyAvKM

Outdoor Apparel:

Tilley Airflo Hat - http://amzn.to/2qnCUWj

Columbia Tamiami II Long Sleeve Shirts - http://amzn.to/2r2uKqh

5.11 TacLite Pro Pants - http://amzn.to/2pyt9Xu

Asolo TPS 520 GV Boots - http://amzn.to/2plXQ1L

Editing & Post-Processing:

Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Photoshop

Monitor Calibration Datacolor Spyder5Pro - http://amzn.to/2qnG3FM

Harpeth River State Park

I decided on Saturday to escape the hustle and bustle of Nashville and do a day hike at the historic Harpeth River State Park. The specific area is called the Narrows of the Harpeth. I wasn't expecting much, especially since the park closes an hour before sunset making it impossible to do a shoot at magic hour. Nonetheless, it was a nice way to get out of the city for a few hours.

My first stop is a tunnel that was carved by hand in 1818 by workers of Montgomery Bell who was a local industrialist. This provided water to power an iron forge that he had nearby and was considered to be a significant feat of engineering for the time.

Canon 5D MKIII | 70-200 f/2.8L IS II @ 102mm | f/16 | 25 & 90 seconds | ISO L(50) | Hoya 77mm NDx400 HMC | B+W 77mm Circular Polarizer MRC

Multiple lighting conditions with foreground and background focus stacked.

It's unfortunate that so many people breaking the state park rules can take a peaceful day hike and turn it into an annoying day at the community pool. People littering, playing loud music, swimming where they were not supposed to be swimming, climbing all over things, drinking where they were not supposed to be drinking, dogs no on a leash, screaming children, etc. After about an hour of waiting out at the waterfall, I decided to pack it up and hike up to the top of the bluff for a view of the surrounding area.

Canon 5D MKIII | 16-35 f/2.8L III @ 25mm | f/16 | 1/4 second | ISO L(50) | Quantaray 82mm Circular Polarizer

Overall, I think the lighting is decent, but not particularly compelling. The sunrises would be ideal here, as it would be coming up in the top right of the frame according to my SunSeeker app. This was one of the only shots I was able to get before a small group of people hiked up and sat on the rock outcropping in the foreground until the park closed to chain smoke cigarettes and throw the butts off the bluff.

I spoke to a few local photographers that said the crowding by unruly folks has made it a frustrating endeavor for them to shoot here anymore. I wouldn't have thought people would hike up there and sit right in the shot at dawn, but apparently it happens. I still wouldn't mind giving it a go at some point, when I feel like waking up at 3:00am to get over to the Narrows of the Harpeth in time for that.

These links will take you to Amazon where you can read more. Full disclosure: If you choose to purchase anything from the links I will receive a small commission from Amazon. I will only link to equipment that I use, trust, and would recommend to a friend!

Cameras:

Canon 5D MKIII - http://amzn.to/2plH8zw

Canon 7D MKII - http://amzn.to/2pyzXEI

GoPro HERO5 Black - http://amzn.to/2rnRwst

iPhone 7S Plus

Glass:

Canon 16-35 f/2.8L III -  http://amzn.to/2tgyWDj

Canon 35mm f/1.4L II - http://amzn.to/2pw6f0S

Canon 50 f/1.2L - http://amzn.to/2plOwed

Canon 24-105 f/4L IS - http://amzn.to/2pySdNZ

Canon 135 f/2L - http://amzn.to/2pytWYD

Canon 70-200 f/2.8L II IS - http://amzn.to/2plP97l

Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS - http://amzn.to/2quirOR

Filters:

B+W 72mm F-PRO ND 0.9-8X MRC - http://amzn.to/2oZDjNR

B+W 72mm F-PRO ND 1.8-64X MRC - http://amzn.to/2pyHTFG

Hoya 77mm NDx400 HMC - http://amzn.to/2plMRoI

B+W 77mm F-PRO ND 0.9-8X MRC - http://amzn.to/2pyBdYj

B+W 82mm F-PRO ND 3.0-1,000X MRC - http://amzn.to/2oZLyJA

B+W 77mm Circular Polarizer MRC - http://amzn.to/2plJmyT

Quantaray 82mm Circular Polarizer - http://amzn.to/2oZDjgB

Tripods:

Really Right Stuff TVC-34L Tripod

Really Right Stuff B5D3-L Bracket

JOBY GorillaPod SLR Zoom - http://amzn.to/2qnslCC

Power:

Battery Grip 7D MKII BG-E16 - http://amzn.to/2pyMNTn

Battery Grip 5D MKIII BG-E11 - http://amzn.to/2pyFafD

Canon Battery Pack CP-E4N - http://amzn.to/2pNm3iF

Canon LP-E6N Battery - http://amzn.to/2pyFU4p

Panasonic Eneloop Pro AA - http://amzn.to/2pNowtJ

Panasonic Eneloop Pro AAA - http://amzn.to/2oZqOSo

Lighting:

Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT - http://amzn.to/2qufuhg

Canon ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmitter - http://amzn.to/2plNSxk

Storage:

SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB CF - http://amzn.to/2pNlPIo

SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB SD - http://amzn.to/2plLdUm

SanDisk Extreme Pro 32GB MicroSD - http://amzn.to/2pyUCbt

OWC ThunderBay 4 RAID 5 Edition - http://amzn.to/2plLZkk

Bags:

MindShift Gear BackLight 26L Backpack - http://amzn.to/2q3d7lS

MindShift Gear Filter Nest - http://amzn.to/2rBNHgy

ThinkTank Photo Digital Holster 20 v2.0 - http://amzn.to/2oWGlBJ

ThinkTank Photo Lens Changer 35 v2.0 - http://amzn.to/2qnFX0N

ThinkTank Photo Pee Wee Pixel Pocket Rocket - http://amzn.to/2oZsRpr

ThinkTank Photo DSLR Battery Holder 2 - http://amzn.to/2pyMcAR

Other Accessories:

Kenko Extension Tubes - http://amzn.to/2qnK2Cm

Vello FreeWave Plus Wireless Shutter Release - http://amzn.to/2oWVAu9

Giottos Rocket Blower Large - http://amzn.to/2pyALcD

Audio:

Zoom H1 - http://amzn.to/2plHKVV

Rode smartLav - http://amzn.to/2oWGtB2

Rode SC3 3.5mm TRRS to TRS - http://amzn.to/2pyAvKM

Outdoor Apparel:

Tilley Airflo Hat - http://amzn.to/2qnCUWj

Columbia Tamiami II Long Sleeve Shirts - http://amzn.to/2r2uKqh

5.11 TacLite Pro Pants - http://amzn.to/2pyt9Xu

Asolo TPS 520 GV Boots - http://amzn.to/2plXQ1L

Editing & Post-Processing:

Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Photoshop

Monitor Calibration Datacolor Spyder5Pro - http://amzn.to/2qnG3FM