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Smartphones do this for maximum compatibility and to keep the file sizes down.
Pros shoot in RAW for maximum image control.
Canon EOS RP vs iPhone 16 Pro Max steps(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
They want all the detail at least 300ppi, 8,000 x 4,000-pixel imagery can give them.
Shooting in RAW is akin to shooting video in4Kor even8Kinstead of the typical 1920x1080 resolution.
What would I see?
Canon EOS RP vs iPhone 16 Pro Max steps(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Would I be disappointed, pleasantly surprised, or something in between?
I cut across smartphone categories because I was looking for up-to-date main sensors in the 50MP range.
I understand that smartphone companies are not building these sensors.
Canon EOS RP vs iPhone 16 Pro Max steps(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Samsung may be using the Isocell GNJ.
Most believe the Pixel 9 Pro fold is using the Sony IMX858.
Canon makes its own sensor.
Canon EOS RP vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 pumpkin bouquet(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Your smartphones are not natively set up to shoot in RAW format.
Now like my Canon, the Pixel saves a RAW and JPEG of every image.
I started by opening Camera under controls and turning on “ProRAW & Resolution Control.”
Canon EOS RP vs Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold bouquet(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
On the 15 Pro Max, I didn’t have the additional “PRORAW FORMAT” options.
The only other wrinkle was getting the photos to my Mac for analysis.
What I found
Before we dig into my findings, I need to prepare you.
Canon EOS RP vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 pumpkin stem(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Below are some image comparisons.
They are not the original RAW images because it’s impossible to show those on a highly compressed website.
I didn’t do anything to adjust exposure or focus.
Canon EOS RP vs iPhone 16 Pro Max flower detail(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
When I opened the RAW images on my MacBook Air’s screen, they all looked good.
For my analysis, though, I made each image at 100% so I could examine details.
In each case, this revealed the strengths and weaknesses of their RAW image capture capabilities.
Canon EOS RP vs iPhone 16 Pro Max pumpkin detail(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
I still prefer Apple’s approach here over the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.
The colors lean way too hard into a vibrancy that is not true to life.
On the Samsung, the shift from sunlit to shadow is handled poorly and ends up looking surreal.
Canon EOS RP vs iPhone 16 Pro Max trumpet flower(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold trails behind.
That the Canon EOS RP bested all the smartphones should come as no surprise.
It also means smartphones still have a way to go before they can match DSLR RAW image capture capabilities.
Canon EOS RP vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 trumpet flower(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
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iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold trumpet flower(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold pumpkin stem(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
