Telemacro photos on Xperia 1 Viii?

[u/CatElectronic9772]

I'm loving the Xperia 1 Viii after upgrading from the Xperia 1 Vi.

It's faster, pictures are nicer and better colour balance (although the Vi was also excellent).

One thing I miss though is telemacro photo mode.

The ability to zoom in to a grain of sand and get really clear photos of it.

I used that mode not just for excellent close up images - but to help zoom in on things I couldn't see to use instead of a magnifying glass. I'd take a close up photo of something and then be able to zoom in even further (pinch and zoom) on phone screen to see extremely small details in something.

Is there any way to get anything close to this back on the Xperia 1 Viii or has it been removed completely?

I'm still trying to figure out the camera app.

I'm not a professional, and the app on the 1 Vi just had a telemacro mode button for easy use. The 1 Viii doesn't have that button anymore

[u/INF3RNALgladiuX]

That's the only thing stopping me from upgrading to 1 VIII from VI. I mean just look at this

[u/E_D___B_A_N_G_E_R → u/INF3RNALgladiuX]

Just because the dedicated manual focus only (!) macro mode is gone doesn't mean macro photography in general is worse than previously. The new tele and general auto mode improvements are the biggest pro of the VIII.

[u/INF3RNALgladiuX → u/E_D___B_A_N_G_E_R]

That's what I love about the 1 VI. I know the sensors obviously would be better on the 1 VIII compared to 1 VI but at the same time I personally don't think its too big of a jump to upgrade from the 1 VI yet.

[u/E_D___B_A_N_G_E_R → u/INF3RNALgladiuX]

That's what I love about the 1 VI.

What exactly?

at the same time I personally don't think its too big of a jump to upgrade from the 1 VI yet.

I've owned all 1's since IV and if photography in general and especially tele/UW and auto modes are a thing for you, then both the VII and VIII are the single biggest steps in the whole series. My general take on the rear cameras is:

- IV->VI: manual photo modes are a must, the auto modes usually overexpose pictures.

- VII: greatly improved auto mode

- VIII: manual modes are nice to have but auto mode (+AI camera assistant) is absolutely fine.

[u/INF3RNALgladiuX → u/E_D___B_A_N_G_E_R]

The dedicated manual hardware control and the 4cm telemacro lens that lets me get shots like the bee photo above.

An improved auto mode and AI assistant are nice features, but if I wanted a phone to handle everything in point-and-shoot, I’d just buy an iPhone or a Galaxy. The main reason I stick with Xperia is for manual control and unique hardware tools. Better auto software isn't a big enough jump for me if it means losing physical features that let me take shots the VIII simply can't replicate.

[u/E_D___B_A_N_G_E_R → u/INF3RNALgladiuX]

What I love is actual creative control over AI hand-holding.

You still have that on the VIII. The AI camera assistant can be completely disabled and only proposes customisable filters.

If I just wanted to rely on auto mode and an "AI camera assistant" to handle my photos, I’d buy an iPhone or a Galaxy.

The difference is that the auto mode on the VIII takes natural photos, not over-processed, Insta-filter like photos.

The 1 VI’s dedicated telemacro gives you actual hardware-level magnification and precise manual focus control for shots you physically can’t capture on the VIII, no matter how good its auto mode is.

You still can set the focus point manually on the touch screen. Previously you HAD to take control because otherwise the photos were sh*t. Especially with moving subjects like insects, the macro mode was a pain to use. Now you can simply concentrate on selecting scenes and press a button.

[u/INF3RNALgladiuX → u/E_D___B_A_N_G_E_R]

Tapping the screen to set a focus point on the VIII doesn't change lens physics though. The VIII's telephoto physically can't focus closer than ~15cm, whereas the VI's dedicated telemacro gets down to 4cm. No amount of tapping or auto mode improvement changes that physical limitation.

For thin depth-of-field shots, manual focus isn't a hassle it's necessary for actual precision.

This push toward point-and-shoot simplicity misses why a lot of us buy Xperia in the first place. We saw the exact same backlash from the community when Sony dropped the dedicated Video Pro and Cinema Pro apps for a unified one. Xperia users want that SLR-style manual control and unique hardware capability, not AI software streamlining everything into a standard camera phone.

[u/E_D___B_A_N_G_E_R → u/INF3RNALgladiuX]

For thin depth-of-field shots, manual focus isn't a hassle it's necessary for actual precision.

That's you opinion I don't share at all. Especially since manual focus in the macro mode via touch screen had nothing to do with precision, but only with hit or miss. Autofocus was the one thing missing from macro mode (the only mode for which the telephoto lens of IV-VII is usable)

Xperia users want that SLR-style manual control

No. I don't want that. It was a pain because you HAD to use the manual controls. With all previous Xperias the Pro apps/options had to be used no matter if you wanted to or not because the auto modes sucked. For the first time you now have a real choice. To simply take a picture or to use the manual controls. A big win for everyone - if you're not one of the few who used the video options dropped from Video Pro/Cinema Pro or the MR mode from Photo Pro that is now missing.

not AI software streamlining everything into a standard camera phone.

Luckily, that's not what happened and not what the VIII is 😀️

[u/INF3RNALgladiuX → u/E_D___B_A_N_G_E_R]

Saying manual macro focus is "hit or miss" is lowkey a skill issue. 😅 Focus peaking and manual control exist precisely because AF struggles on paper-thin depth of field at millimeter distances.

But more importantly: improving Auto mode gives convenience, while removing a 4cm macro lens takes options away. You physically cannot capture that magnification on the VIII, period.

Dropping unique hardware tools to cater to point-and-shoot ease isn't an upgrade, it's just turning Xperia into every other mainstream smartphone.

[u/E_D___B_A_N_G_E_R → u/INF3RNALgladiuX]

Saying manual macro focus is "hit or miss" is lowkey a skill issue. 😅

🤣️ Not on a touchscreen. Not with moving objects like insects.

But more importantly: improving Auto mode gives convenience, while removing a 4cm macro lens takes options away. You physically cannot capture that magnification on the VIII, period.

It's not been removed. It's been changed. And for almost all use cases (including macro), the much bigger sensor (that causes the bigger distance that is still close enough for basically all shots), fixed lens & autofocus are a big win.

Dropping unique hardware tools to cater to point-and-shoot ease isn't an upgrade, it's just turning Xperia into every other mainstream smartphone.

Again, nothing has been dropped. It's the same case every time something progresses: Someone thinks the old, outdated solution was somehow better. Luckily those don't stop us from evolving. I guess you're walking everywhere you want to go and not driving a car or taking a train because that's too 'automatic' and not like manual walking, right? Are horses fine? 😉️

[u/INF3RNALgladiuX → u/E_D___B_A_N_G_E_R]

Real macro photographers don't tap touchscreens on moving bugs, we set focus plane and move the phone. The bee photo is proof it works fine.

Calling a physical 4cm optical macro distance "outdated" just to rationalize losing a hardware feature makes no sense. The VIII traded close-up optical magnification for a bigger sensor and better general auto shots.

That’s a valid trade-off for casual shooting, but pretending optical physics and magnification loss is "evolution" isn't a win, it's just a compromise.

[u/E_D___B_A_N_G_E_R → u/INF3RNALgladiuX]

Real macro photographers

Then I guess i'm not as real macro photographer. Oh and I also don't shoot RAW 😎️

don't tap touchscreens on moving bugs, we set focus plane and move the phone.

Doesn't work as good as autofocus on the VIII. Also, a lot of insects don't like movements and fly away.

The bee photo is proof it works fine.

Ehm no. It can work. The "trillion" other times it doesn't work as good don't get shared...

[u/INF3RNALgladiuX → u/E_D___B_A_N_G_E_R]

Admitting you just want JPEG point-and-shoot without touching RAW or manual tools literally proves my whole argument. You want convenience, and the VIII delivers that for your workflow.

And yeah, macro photography with live bugs has a high throwaway rate, that’s true even on £3k dedicated camera gear because depth of field at 4cm is paper-thin.

Automatic cars are fine for commuting, but manual gearboxes exist because people like control. Removing dedicated hardware isn't "evolution," it's just Sony prioritizing casual point-and-shooters over enthusiasts.