The Amazing Xiaomi Ultra 13 is sadly not for me……..because the Xiaomi 12s Ultra still rocks my photography world!!

Who would have thought that in this world of fast-moving technologies, the blah blah uplifting reviews and videos on YouTube…that *gasp, I will end up still liking the older phone.

The 12S Ultra never launched internationally, unlike the Ultra 13 which is…..So whatever local apps that you need to use or like, you need to download them though APKs or download google play store yourself and get them apps on the 12s. Not perfect, as Xiaomi still forces you to use their proprietary stuff like certain Chinese browsers when you are trying to customize your shortcuts.

What got me to upgrade to the Ultra 13 was that. Its thus not China Rom and I don’t have to worry about compatibility or security, especially when I am using my banking apps. Just a word, do be extremely vigilant in not downloading APKs. The newspaper shows millions of dollars lost to such scams every day.

This post is not about the shortcomings of the Ultra series, neither the 12s or the 13 but a grunt on how I prefer to use the phone and how things changed.

Back to the phone. The Ultra 13 cameras have much higher DXO scores than the Ultra 12s. Comes with more optimization in its UI and has more tricks up its sleeve in the new camera. Better performance in the dark, shaper images, better zoom, superb colours etc etc…

And the company said they are creating Leica like experiences. In a way, they did it in the technical sense…..the photos whether it’s in Leica authentic mode or vibrant mode……all have that Leica “POP” on both devices.

And I was happy when they did not mimic the 70mm minimum focus distance like in the real thing with the 12S Ultra. I could now switch to portrait mode and start shooting my food pictures to achieve the bokehs that I like. The Leica M cannot achieve this without cropping and it’s a hit and miss because you cannot see so near what’s in the focusing screen with a 35mm lens. On the 12s Ultra, its so good and sexy.

Then comes the Ultra 13. For some reason, they decide to follow the real thing and changed the focusing distance to 70mm and maybe more. (I am sure they didn’t do it o purpose but an afterthought. Lol.) Gob smacked Bollocks ! Well, am in the UK, gotta use some British swear words……… Now, with the 13 Ultra, instead of being able to achieve the bokeh effect on food pictures, I now, have to get out of my seat, stand next to the table, spead my legs and then compose the shot.

Which means, I am perfectly intruding into the dining space of the beautiful couple next to me with my butt. I get sexy looks sometimes but on somedays, I just want to take my picture, I don’t want to chit chat with anyone either.

But “You can switch it to full body mode”, the 13 Ultra whispers to me. Yup, You can, but the wide angle makes all the viewing perspectives different. I don’t like it.

As time passes, I find myself accepting the above facts and am starting to get quite used to getting up and down my seat or using the full body mode in portrait for food shots.

Street photography is what I like most. The 12s Ultra did such a good job that I thought the 13 Ultra definitely will improve on them………that is until, I started doing my thing in street photography. Anyway, most shots here are taken in portrait mode…..

You see, the camera still has a small sensor, no matter how advanced everyone claims phone cameras to be tops, 1 inch and better. All cameras have a small sensor, and it still has lots of computing to do for the photos to look great. Start and Stop shooting, it perfect. But when it comes to moving around shots ala like in zone focusing, I prefer my 12S ultra over the 13 Ultra.

The shorter focal length on the 12s means I have to be closer to my subject in my moving shots using portrait mode. But it’s fine, because it’s still far enough that the phone camera is not in their face. It’s perfect for me.

Why Portrait mode ? Using the quick burst or fast speed mode will give you the shot and probably a sharper image too but they will have no bokeh. I want bokeh, just like on any DSLRS.

The 13 Ultra takes you further out. And because I am moving with that small sensor, more of my images ended up blurring or not in focus. In tighter spaces, you practically get just the photos with their torsos, no head, no feet, or worse, miss everything all together.

Again, I can hear the phone whispering to me.. “Use the Full Body Mode” in portrait. I tried doing that and I get no bokeh. And when I tried to adjust the bokeh in the native gallery app, the bokeh ended up in weird and wrong place.

See all the pictures I took at Borough Market and some at Portebello. Draw your own conclusion. I didn’t include many 13 Ultra shots because they are not usable, unless, you want to look at the half torsos or dirty floors.

Touristy ? Yes. Good Food ? Yes. Coffee ? Excellent. Just something I don’t understand……why does the Paella has the longest queue in the entire place ? WE are in the land of Fish and Chips !!!