iPhone models that take great eBay listing photos
Summary: The discussion initiated by adamcartwright revolves around iPhone models and their suitability for taking great photos for eBay listings. adamcartwright discusses considering an upgrade due to connectivity issues compared to friends using the same carrier. theteamsetguy offers some insights, which are appreciated by adamcartwright. Later, jonathanbrightlight explains that they do not use a phone for photography and emphasizes that newer phone models may not necessarily improve product photography for eBay, suggesting that other factors should influence the decision to upgrade.
Thinking of upgrading my iPhone 11 to a later iPhone model -- but which one?
The major consideration is photo quality, as I use the phone for all my eBay photos.
Wondering which iPhone models you are happy with, in terms of photo quality?
I've pretty much ruled out the 16, based on so many complaints here.
I realize the Samsung is a really great phone, but it's gotta be an iPhone for connectivity reasons. Airdrop is too convenient.
goombaymama
·4 months agoDefinitely a pro version staring with 14. I bought a 15 pro off marketplace primarily for the camera ... and price 🙂 It's great for pics.
sportsfindsandmore
·4 months agoI hardly do any editing with my new iPhone 17e, after using the 14.
This forum won't link to my listings because my ID changed, so here's the direct link — https://www.ebay.com/usr/stevessportsfinds
tools*
·4 months agoThe Pro models have the best cameras.
gator08041971
·4 months agoAll of the photos in most of my listings were done with an older iPhone 6s. And they look just fine. I normally don't use iPhones myself, mostly use Android for my actual phone. These were old trade-ins that I just reset and use for photos or music playing.
I have an iPhone 10R that I used to use for taking pictures of car damage to write estimates for a shop. It did fine for that.
And with iPhones, make sure you don't use LIVE PHOTO. That will not work for listing pictures.
You don't need expensive fancy phones to take pictures. What you need is good lighting, a nice clean workplace to setup the subject, a steady hand or mount and proper distance from the subject and make sure the subject is in focus.
jonathanbrightlight
·4 months agoFunny thing is, we just upgraded to an iPhone 11 for photos. From I believe an iPhone 7 or 8, I don’t remember for sure. Picked it up used here on eBay.
adamcartwright
OP4 months ago@jonathanbrightlight
The only reason I'm thinking I need to upgrade is because I'll be places where my friends are connected, but I am not (on the same carrier).
jonathanbrightlight
·4 months agoVery reasonable, and in our case the phone we use for pictures isn’t being used as a phone. I wasn’t able to find any camera features added in later models that I thought would affect product photography for eBay, though, so I would base your decision on other considerations more.
tarotfindsandmore
·4 months agoI loved the 12 mini, but it's long gone. I hate, hate, hate my 16 (it's not a Pro Max, I'm not a fan of big phones), enough that I'm genuinely considering getting rid of it. I've kept every single iphone I've had until I had no choice but to replace them. All but the 12 died brutal deaths (the 2 shattered on the cobbles in London, the 4 drowned in sweat at the gym, the 6 took a swim in the toilet at work in the library, and the 8 bit the dust falling through the grate onto a concrete floor in the sort aisle at UPS), the 12 was just old to keep up with update requirements.
I'm looking forward to the replies, as I may be in the market here shortly myself. It will be the first time I've ever voluntarily given up a perfectly functional phone.
albertabrightalberta
·4 months agoAny camera can take good pictures of large items but it's the minute details that help ME determine whether a camera works for me.
I have an iPhone 13 mini and it takes great pictures. In my listings, I need to show clear and definitive closeups of small markings and they're as clear and well-focused as if taken with an expensive SLR.
A couple of examples:
ETA: Another benefit for me is that I list from my laptop. I've never used the app or listed from my phone. But with iCloud, pictures taken with my phone go to the cloud and I can upload pictures directly from my laptop without having to move them from phone to computer.
tarotfindsandmore
·4 months agoI wholeheartedly agree. I create my listings on my laptop, take my pics with my phone and upload them in the app, then clean them up with the laptop.
This is what I got from the beautiful little 12 mini (best camera I've used in 29 years)... (no doctoring)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/188435371821
This is the trash I'm getting from the 16 (doctored and still looking like absolute garbagio, I can't even lighten it up or all the detail just disappears)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/188435752208
or this...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/188435752209 (this one is utter tripe, but Tigger's face just turns into a blob if I try to clean up the background)
Note the difference in the tone and light, these pics were taken within minutes of each other in the exact same place with no changes to the lighting.
I may just look for a used, refurbished 12 (I traded mine in for this P.O.S. 16) to use for pics.
ETA: This half-inch heart pendant was also taken with the 12, with zero clean-up
adamcartwright
OP4 months ago@tarotfindsandmore
Wow, those Tigger photos from the 16 are pretty bad.
I think this must be why some buyers gush that the item looks even better in person -- yeah, because the camera is horrible.
Thx for the tip about the 12.
tarotfindsandmore
·4 months agoI know and I really tried to fix them! The item definitely looks better in person. I'm certainly setting very low expectations lol!
If I had any other camera, I'd redo them, but I'm stuck with this for the moment.
adamcartwright
OP4 months ago@albertabrightalberta
I don't use iCloud for my photos (by choice), but agree that is very convenient.
marnotom!
·4 months agoI’m an iPhone devotee, but I have to admit my wife’s Google Pixels take great pictures.
adamcartwright
OP4 months ago@marnotom!
But for the connectivity issues, I would go back to Samsung. A great product.
But I don't want to give up Airdrop.
jonathanbrightlight
·4 months agoI think AirDrop was rumored or planned to be made cross compatible with other similar features, but I don’t know if that’s confirmed or when it would show up. I could be mixing it up with a different feature, but I love AirDrop too.
theteamsetguy
·4 months ago@adamcartwright
I have a Iphone 16 Pro Max and it takes great pictures.
adamcartwright
OP4 months ago@theteamsetguy
Thanks so much for telling me that.
Will look into it.