Recognition: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
Panorama modes are a staple for smartphone camera apps that allow users to pan their device to take a composite photo. This means you get a wider field of view than with a traditional main phone camera.
We feel like the ultra-wide camera has replaced the panorama mode for at least some users. When was the last time you used panorama mode on your phone? Let us know by taking the survey below.
Ultra-wide cameras offer several advantages over panorama modes, starting with lightness. With ultra-wide cameras, users don’t have to stand still while gently panning their phones left or right. All you have to do is press the shutter button and you have a photo with a wide field of view.
Another reason why some people prefer ultra-wide photos is that panoramas rely on stitching algorithms to create the final image. And sewing is still not perfect for many phones in 2021, resulting in scenes potentially looking very shaky. Finally, ultra-wide cameras can also record video, and you cannot record video in panorama mode.
However, some people may prefer panoramic modes in certain situations. Ultra-wide cameras on many phones tend to lag behind the main camera at night, hence panoramas on some phones Makes look better at night than ultra-wide shots. Fisheye distortion can still be an issue on some extremely long range phones, and panorama modes generally don’t suffer from this problem when shooting with the main camera. Then there is the broader perspective that you can also have with panoramas.