iPhone Camera Settings Guide

iPhone 17 Pro Max Camera Settings

Seven quick steps to photos and video that look like they came from a real camera. Each one shows the exact screen to match.

Start the guide

Where you'll end up

RAW 48 on the top row

Exposure at −0.7

Grid and Level on

1× as your default lens

FormatsProRAW on, JPEG-XL Lossy, 24 MP every day
Preserve SettingsMake the camera remember your setup
CompositionGrid, Level, and a 24 and 35 mm pair
In the viewfinderRAW 48, −0.7, and the 1× lens
Video4K 60 for social, 4K 24 for film
The lookExposure and grading, side by side
The lensesFive zoom stops, from 13 to 200 mm

Step 01

Small files every day. RAW when it counts.

Settings Camera Formats

These rows set the quality ceiling for every photo and clip you take.

Camera Capture: High Efficiency; HEIF and HEVC. Required for 4K 60 fps, 4K 120 fps, and Dolby Vision.
Photo Mode: 24 MP; The everyday default. It draws on all 48 MP and keeps files small.
ProRAW & Resolution Control: On; Adds RAW 48 to the Camera app, for anything you plan to edit or crop.
ProRAW Format: JPEG-XL Lossy; The same 48 MP at about a quarter of the size. Choose Lossless if storage is never a concern.
ProRes Log Video Encoding: Log 2; Turn on Apple ProRes first. This only affects ProRes clips, so everyday HEVC video stays HDR.

Camera capture

High Efficiency
Most Compatible

Photo capture

Photo Mode: 24 MP
ProRAW & Resolution Control: On
ProRAW Format: JPEG-XL Lossy

Video capture

Apple ProRes: On
ProRes Log Video Encoding: Log 2

High Efficiency is required for 4K at 60 fps and Dolby Vision HDR.

What one photo costs. Approximate sizes. The RAW rows are 48 MP, and every scene is a little different.

JPEG Lossless ProRAW, most compatible: ~75 MB
JPEG-XL Lossless ProRAW: ~45 MB
JPEG-XL Lossy ProRAW, recommended: ~20 MB
HEIF 24 MP photo mode: ~2 MB

Step 02

Make the camera remember.

Settings Camera Preserve Settings

Out of the box, Camera forgets most changes once you leave it. These switches keep your setup in place.

Camera Mode: On; Reopens in whatever mode you used last, photo or video.
Exposure Adjustment: On; Your −0.7 bias is still there the next time you open Camera.
Photographic Style and Action Mode: Off; Both are situational, so start clean each time.

Camera Mode: On
Photographic Style: Off
Creative Controls: On
Depth Control: On
Macro Control: On
Exposure Adjustment: On
Night Mode: On
Portrait Mode: On
Action Mode: Off
ProRAW & Resolution Control: On
Apple ProRes: On
Live Photo: On

Exposure Adjustment keeps your −0.7 between sessions.

Step 03

Frame it before you tap.

Settings Camera

Composition aids, the lens defaults, and a few switches that decide how each photo is processed.

Grid and Level: On; The grid divides the frame into thirds, and the level turns yellow when the horizon is straight.
View Outside the Frame: Off; Shows only what you'll capture, without the wider camera's preview around it.
Fusion Camera: 24 + 35 mm; Keep 24 mm as the default and 35 mm one tap away. Turn 28 mm off.
Prioritize Faster Shooting: Off; Every frame gets full processing. Turn it on for sports and kids.
Lens Correction: On; Straightens Ultra Wide edges. Turn it off only if you want the uncropped frame.

Composition

Grid: On
Level: On
Mirror Front Camera: Off
View Outside the Frame: Off

Photo capture

Fusion Camera: 24 mm
Portraits in Photo Mode: On
Prioritize Faster Shooting: Off
Lens Correction: On
Macro Control: On
Lens Cleaning Hints: On

A portrait framed at 24 mm, with the 28 mm and 35 mm framings outlined inside it — **28 and 35 mm are crops, not lenses.** Both come from the 24 mm sensor, so one classic crop is plenty.

Step 04

Take control in the viewfinder.

Camera app

A few habits in the Camera app matter more than any setting.

Format: RAW 48; For anything you'll edit, crop, or print. HEIF at 24 MP covers the rest.
Exposure: −0.7; iPhones meter bright. Pulling back keeps skies and deepens blacks. In hard light, hold on the subject until AE/AF Lock appears, then drag down up to two stops.
Lens: 1×; The main camera has the biggest sensor. Save 4× and 8× for good light.
Camera Control: Open Camera; Press to launch. A light press and swipe adjusts exposure without touching the screen.

Step 05

4K 60 for social. 4K 24 for film.

Settings Camera Record Video

Frame rate sets the feel. The switches below keep exposure and color steady from one shot to the next.

Record Video: 4K at 60 fps; Smooth, sharp motion for everyday clips and social. Switch to 4K at 24 fps when it should feel like a film.
HDR Video: On; Records Dolby Vision HDR, with brighter highlights and richer color on modern screens.
Lock White Balance: On; Color stays put as you move from shot to shot.
Auto FPS: Off; Keeps the frame rate you chose, even in low light.
Record Sound: Spatial Audio; Lets you keep only the sound from inside the frame, after you shoot.

4K at 24 fps
4K at 30 fps
4K at 60 fps
4K at 120 fps

While recording

Enhanced Stabilization: On
Action Mode Lower Light: Off
HDR Video: On
Auto FPS: Off
Lock Camera: Off
Lock White Balance: On

Enhanced Stabilization crops in slightly for steadier handheld footage.

The 180° rule. Aim for a shutter about double the frame rate, like 1/50 s at 24 fps. The Camera app picks the shutter itself, so in daylight add an ND filter to slow it down.

24 fps at 1/50 s

A little motion blur in every frame. Movement reads as film.
60 fps at 1/120 s

Crisper frames and smooth motion. Right for social.
24 fps at 1/2000 s

Typical of auto exposure in bright sun. Each frame is frozen, so motion stutters.

Step 06

See the difference.

Two of the changes above, side by side. Both frames come from the same photo and are simulated, so the setting is the only variable.

The portrait with exposure lowered about 0.7 stops

The portrait at the camera's default exposure

Exposure −0.7 holds the highlights and deepens the blacks.

A light grade: a little more contrast, a little less saturation.

Photographic Styles: Standard; Styles don't change a ProRAW file, so edit instead. If you never edit, customize a style and leave it on.
Editing: Preset first; Start from a preset, then adjust only exposure, highlights, shadows, and temperature.

Step 07

Five zoom stops, from 13 to 200 mm.

Three 48 MP cameras and two sensor crops. The main camera has the biggest sensor, which is why 1× is home.

.5× 13 mm Ultra Wide, ƒ/2.2
1× 24 mm Main, ƒ/1.78
2× 48 mm Crop of Main, 12 MP
4× 100 mm Telephoto, ƒ/2.8
8× 200 mm Crop of Telephoto, 12 MP

Spaced by field of view. Solid dots are cameras, rings are 12 MP crops.

48MP Fusion Main: 24 mm, with a 2× 48 mm crop; ƒ/1.78; Second-generation sensor-shift OIS
48MP Fusion Ultra Wide: 13 mm, and macro; ƒ/2.2
48MP Fusion Telephoto: 100 mm, with an 8× 200 mm crop; ƒ/2.8; 3D sensor-shift OIS

iPhone 17 Pro Max vs 16 Pro Max

What changed for cameras between generations

Feature 16 Pro Max 17 Pro Max

Chip A18 Pro A19 Pro

Front Camera 12MP 18MP Center Stage New

Camera Control 1st gen Camera Control

Apple Intelligence Basic Enhanced New

Main Camera 48MP ƒ/1.78 48MP ƒ/1.78

Ultra Wide 48MP ƒ/2.2 48MP ƒ/2.2

Telephoto 12MP 5× ƒ/2.8 (120mm) 48MP 4× ƒ/2.8 (100mm), 8× crop New

Max Video (4K) 120fps 120fps

ProRes / Log ProRes, Apple Log ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, Genlock New

Storage Up to 1TB Up to 2TB New

Display Size 6.9" 6.9"

USB USB 3 (10 Gbps) USB 3 (10 Gbps)

Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 7 Wi-Fi 7

Worth the upgrade? The 17 Pro Max is a real camera upgrade from the 16 Pro Max: a 48MP 4× telephoto with 8× 200mm crop, plus an 18MP Center Stage front camera. The Fusion main and ultra wide stay 48MP.

Presets and Storage

Which format to use for each kind of clip, and how much of it fits.

Video presets

Use Case	Resolution	FPS	Codec	Format
Social Media Best	4K	30	HEVC	Dolby Vision HDR
Film / Cinematic	4K	24	ProRes	Apple Log 2
Vlogging (Front)	4K	30	HEVC	Dolby Vision HDR
Slow Motion B-Roll	4K	120	HEVC or ProRes	Dolby Vision
Cinematic Mode	4K	30	HEVC	Dolby Vision HDR
Spatial Video	1080p	30	MV-HEVC	Spatial (Apple Vision Pro)

What a minute of 4K costs

ProRes 422 HQ 4K at 30 fps, for grading: ~6 GB
HEVC 4K at 60 fps, for social: ~440 MB
HEVC 4K at 30 fps: ~190 MB

How much fits

Format	256 GB	512 GB	1 TB	2 TB
HEVC 4K at 60 fps	~9.1 hr	~18 hr	~37 hr	~75 hr
ProRes 4K at 30 fps	~40 min	~80 min	~2.7 hr	~5.5 hr

Times are approximate and leave room for iOS. ProRes 4K at 60 and 120 fps, and ProRes RAW, record only to an external USB-C drive. For a Log grade, start with Apple's LUT or a LUT from Envato Elements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Best settings, key features, and what changed from the 16 Pro Max.

What are the best camera settings for iPhone 17 Pro Max?

In Settings, Camera: High Efficiency, Photo Mode at 24 MP, ProRAW and Resolution Control on with JPEG-XL Lossy, Grid and Level on, and View Outside the Frame off. In the Camera app, shoot RAW 48 for photos you will edit and set exposure to about −0.7. For video, record 4K at 60 fps for social or 4K at 24 fps for a film look, with Lock White Balance on.

What is the difference between iPhone 17 Pro Max and 17 Pro cameras?

The cameras match. Both have three 48MP Fusion cameras, a 48MP 4× / 8× telephoto, and an 18MP Center Stage front camera. The Pro Max is the 6.9-inch body with a larger battery; the Pro is 6.3 inches.

What is the front camera resolution on iPhone 17 Pro Max?

It has an 18MP Center Stage front camera (ƒ/1.9), not a 24MP TrueDepth sensor. Center Stage reframes groups and supports Dual Capture.

Can iPhone 17 Pro Max record ProRes at 4K 120fps?

Yes, to an external USB-C drive over USB 3 (10 Gbps), the same as the 16 Pro Max. Internal ProRes tops out at 4K 30fps on every storage tier, including 2TB; ProRes 4K 60 and 120 need external storage.

How is Camera Control improved on iPhone 17 Pro Max?

Camera Control is the same capacitive button as on the 16 Pro models: press to launch the camera, light-press and swipe to change exposure or zoom. Apple did not ship a second-generation Camera Control. Set the light-press action to Exposure unless you live on the 4× lens.