iPhone 11's Built-In Ultra-Wide vs. Moment Wide 18mm Lens

We've been getting many questions regarding the compatibility between the iPhone's beloved iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro and Moment lenses. This holds remarkably faithful to the Moment Wide 18mm lens, as the iPhone 11 stealthily built in its version of an ultra-wide. So, one big question still prevails: Is there even a point to attaching a Moment Wide Lens to the 11 or 11 Pro? The short answer is yes. Yes, you do.

Within this article, I want to review all of this and more to exemplify Moment's capabilities. We'll dive deep into specs and show you the difference between how it looks on the native lens versus our own.

So, let's get to it.

Let’s Talk About the iPhone 11 Camera

Similar to the iPhone XS Max, the iPhone 11 Pro’s camera upgrades largely stem from the updated software Apple has integrated into their latest flagship models. While the technical specifications show only slight improvements, the significant enhancements in ISO capabilities enable intelligent shooting modes in the phone's native camera. Highly anticipated features like Smart HDR and Night Mode highlight the advanced computational photography that Apple, along with other brands like Pixel, is now known for. Regardless of the situation, Apple’s new software delivers more pleasing and realistic images, independent of the camera's megapixel count or aperture size.

But let's talk about sharpness!

There's no denying the incredible sharpness the camera now delivers. Although the primary camera still has a 12-megapixel sensor, every sensor feels brand new—and it shows. The standard wide camera’s ISO has increased by nearly 33%, and the telephoto camera’s aperture and ISO improvements have boosted its light sensitivity by 42%. This produces sharper photos with faster shutter speeds, reducing blur and graininess. In night photography, the software enhancements further improve image quality, making Night Mode shots crisp and clear.

Why Use Moment's Wide 18mm Lens Instead of the Built-in Ultra-Wide

The new built-in Ultra-Wide on the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro is a beautiful component of the latest build. It's incredibly fun for simple iPhone creatives and makes shooting easy with a quick focal length on the fly. However, if image quality is your number one concern for creating great imagery, that's where our lenses play in. The native f/2.4 aperture on the Ultra-Wide means significant light is lost in your photo or video, especially compared to the phone's primary wide camera at an f/1.8 aperture. When compared side-by-side, there is a noticeable visual difference in noise level between the two.

Therefore, throwing Moment's 18mm Wide Lens over the primary camera allows you to shoot in low light situations with a much better result at a similar focal length as the phone's built-in Ultra-Wide. If you want to go even more comprehensive, try using our Superfish 15mm lens, which improves the focal length significantly by an extra 3mm.

Night Mode Just Got Better...

The latest Night Mode upgrade is another massive benefit to using our Wide Lens. Apple's built-in Ultra-Wide lens does NOT allow users to shoot in Night Mode, which is perhaps one of the most significant features of this new phone! If you wish to use our Wide or Fisheye lens over the primary f/1.8 camera, you can still capture a beautiful night mode photo with a supremely wide field of view.

Shoot In RAW For Added Advantage

RAW is a particular image file that captures all data the camera's sensor records when the photographer takes an image. Alternatively, when shooting in a format like JPEG, the image information is compressed and lost, often resulting in lower-quality imagery. Because no information is compressed under RAW format, you can create better quality photographs and correct problem areas that would otherwise be unrecoverable if shot in JPEG.

This file format has become a prominent feature of mobile devices, allowing you to capture professional-level photos right from the camera you always keep in your pocket.

It's worth noting that the iPhone 11's Ultra-Wide lens does NOT support RAW. If you'd like to shoot in the Moment Pro Camera App and take advantage of RAW image processing to obtain the best possible image from your phone, you'll want to stick to the primary camera or the built-in 2x lens.

If your device supports RAW, then use it! You may take up more space than a standard photo, but you'll thank yourself later when editing.

In the Moment Pro Camera App, tap the JPG icon on the top of the screen to cycle to RAW format.