Ultra Wide
13mm
ƒ/2.2
48MP · 120° · Macro
iPhone Camera Settings Guide
iPhone 18 Pro Max Camera Settings
Apple iPhone
Google Pixel
Recommended Setup
The settings to dial in first. Open Settings → Camera and match these
Formats
Camera Capture
High Efficiency
Photo Mode
24 MP
ProRAW & Resolution Control
ProRes Encoding
HDR
Composition
Grid
Level
Mirror Front Camera
Main Camera
Lens
24 mm
Camera Control
Light Press
Exposure
Clean Preview
Settings → Camera
Aperture, 4K 30fps, and Dolby Vision are set in the viewfinder
24 MP
Photo Mode
Detail from the 48MP sensor with clean low-light files. Switch to 48MP in the viewfinder for landscapes and prints.
High Efficiency
Camera Capture
HEVC is required for 4K 60 and 120fps, 1080p 240fps slo-mo, and Dolby Vision HDR video. Most Compatible (H.264 and JPEG) drops all of them.
Auto
Aperture
Set in the viewfinder under Pro controls. Auto moves between ƒ/1.48 and ƒ/4.0; lock ƒ/1.8 for portraits or ƒ/4.0 for groups.
Pro controls live in the Camera app, not in Settings. Aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and the histogram are viewfinder controls on the 18 Pro Max. Leave aperture on Auto for everyday shots; the camera opens to ƒ/1.48 in low light and closes to ƒ/4.0 to hold a group in focus. Keep Camera Control on Exposure; the 4× and 8× reach are one tap away in the viewfinder.
Best Photo Settings
Lens, aperture, and format for six common shooting scenarios on iPhone 18 Pro Max
Portrait
Photo or Portrait Mode
Lens1× (24mm) or 4× (100mm)
Apertureƒ/1.8 (Pro controls)
FormatHEIF (default)
Depthƒ/2.8 in Portrait mode
Tipƒ/1.8 gives optical blur at 1×
Landscape
Photo Mode
Lens0.5× Ultra Wide or 1×
Apertureƒ/4.0 on 1× for depth
FormatProRAW Max 48MP
GridOn (level horizon)
TipAperture control is 1× only
Night
Night Mode
Lens1× Main (24mm)
ApertureAuto (opens to ƒ/1.48)
Night ModeAuto
FlashOff
TipBrace the phone or use a tripod
Action / Sports
Photo Mode
Lens4× Telephoto (100mm)
Shutter1/1000s (Pro controls)
BurstHold shutter button
Live PhotoOff
Tip8× 200mm crop for extra reach
Street
Photo Mode
Lens1× or 2× (24–48mm)
Apertureƒ/2.8
FormatHEIF
StyleRich Contrast, add grain
TipCamera Control for quick launch
Macro
Photo Mode
Lens0.5× Ultra Wide (auto)
Resolution48MP macro
FormatHEIF or ProRAW
LightAvoid shadows from phone
TipEnable Macro Control toggle
Best Video Settings
Resolution, frame rate, and codec options on the iPhone 18 Pro Max
Recommended Presets
4K
24fps
Cinematic look
4K
30fps
Best all-round
4K
60fps
Smooth motion
4K
120fps
Slow motion
1080p
240fps
Extreme slow-mo
4K
Time-lapse
Dolby Vision HDR
| Use Case | Resolution | FPS | Codec | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Media Best | 4K | 30 | HEVC | Dolby Vision HDR |
| Film / Cinematic | 4K | 24 | ProRes | Apple Log 2 |
| RAW Grade | 4K | 24 or 30 | ProRes RAW | External SSD |
| Vlogging (Front) | 4K | 30 | HEVC | Dolby Vision HDR |
| Slow Motion B-Roll | 4K | 120 | HEVC or ProRes | Dolby Vision |
| Cinematic Mode | 4K | 60 | HEVC | Dolby Vision HDR |
| Time-lapse | 4K | Auto | HEVC | Dolby Vision HDR |
| Spatial Video | 1080p | 30 | MV-HEVC | Spatial (Apple Vision Pro) |
Video parity with Pro: The iPhone 18 Pro Max records exactly what the 18 Pro records: 4K 120fps Dolby Vision, ProRes and ProRes RAW to external storage, Apple Log 2, ACES, and Genlock. New this generation: Pro controls for aperture, shutter, white balance, and histogram while recording; Cinematic mode at 4K 60fps with effects applied after capture to clips up to 60fps; and 4K Dolby Vision time-lapse. For Log grades, start with Apple's LUT or a LUT from Envato Elements.
Camera System
Three 48MP Fusion cameras covering 13mm to 100mm (8× 200mm crop). The main camera adds a four-stop variable aperture
Fusion (Main)
24mm
ƒ/1.48 – ƒ/4.0
48MP · Variable aperture · Sensor-shift OIS
2× Telephoto
48mm
ƒ/1.48 – ƒ/4.0
12MP · Crop from Fusion sensor
4× Telephoto
100mm
ƒ/2.8
48MP · Tetraprism · 8× 200mm crop
| Spec | Ultra Wide | Main (Fusion) | 4× Telephoto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 48MP | 48MP | 48MP |
| Focal Length | 13mm | 24mm | 100mm |
| Aperture | ƒ/2.2 | ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8, ƒ/4.0 | ƒ/2.8 |
| Optical-quality Crop | None | 2× 48mm (12MP) | 8× 200mm (12MP) |
| Stabilization | None | Sensor-shift OIS (2nd gen) | 3D sensor-shift OIS |
| Autofocus | Hybrid Focus Pixels | 100% Focus Pixels | Hybrid Focus Pixels |
| Photo Output | 24MP or 48MP | 24MP or 48MP | 24MP or 48MP |
| Macro | Yes (48MP) | No | No |
Variable aperture: Six laser-cut blades give the 24mm Fusion Main four stops: ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8, and ƒ/4.0. In Auto the camera opens up in low light and closes down to keep a group sharp. The 2× 48mm crop inherits whichever aperture is set. Ultra Wide and telephoto apertures are fixed.
Key Features
What sets the iPhone 18 Pro Max apart from the 17 Pro Max
Variable Aperture
Four stops on the 48MP Fusion Main, ƒ/1.48 to ƒ/4.0, chosen automatically or set by hand. Optical depth of field control on iPhone for the first time.
New in 18 Pro MaxPro Controls
Aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and a live histogram in the Camera app, for photo and video. Aperture is main camera only; the rest also work on the front camera.
New in 18 Pro MaxApple Reference Image
Opt-in Reference mode signs the main sensor's data so Photos can show an unalterable reference next to the edit. Proof of what the camera saw.
New in 18 Pro Max4K Dolby Vision Time-lapse
Time-lapse now records 4K Dolby Vision HDR with stabilization, and Cinematic mode effects apply after capture to clips shot at up to 60fps.
New in 18 Pro MaxStorage & File Sizes
How much you can fit on your iPhone 18 Pro Max (256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB)
4K 30fps ProRes HQ Recording Time
256 GB
40
min
~6 GB/min at 4K30 ProRes
512 GB
80
min
Comfortable for a day of clips
1 TB
2.7
hr
Best value for pro video
2 TB
5.5
hr
Same top tier as the 17 Pro Max
External SSD
∞
Required for ProRes 4K 60/120
| File Type | Format | Approximate Size |
|---|---|---|
| Photo (HEIF) | 24MP default | 1.5 – 3 MB |
| Photo (HEIF) | 48MP | 5 – 10 MB |
| Photo (ProRAW Max) | 48MP DNG | ~75 MB |
| Photo (ProRAW) | 12MP DNG | ~25 MB |
| Front Camera Photo | 18MP HEIF | 2 – 3 MB |
| Video (HEVC 4K30) | Dolby Vision | ~190 MB/min |
| Video (HEVC 4K60) | Dolby Vision | ~440 MB/min |
| Video (ProRes 4K30) | ProRes 422 HQ | ~6 GB/min |
| Spatial Video | MV-HEVC 1080p30 | ~130 MB/min |
Pro Tips & Gotchas
iPhone 18 Pro Max-specific advice for getting the most from your camera
Variable Aperture
- Auto is right most of the time: ƒ/1.48 in low light, ƒ/4.0 when it detects a group
- Lock ƒ/1.8 for one person at 1×; the blur is optical, so hair and glasses stay clean
- ƒ/4.0 in bright sun keeps landscapes sharp and lets Pro controls hold a slower shutter
Pro Controls
- 1/1000s freezes sport; 1/15s with the phone braced streaks traffic and crowds
- Lock white balance for a whole scene; Auto WB drifts between clips in mixed light
- Read the histogram, not the preview: keep highlights off the right edge for Log
Apple Reference Image
- Reference mode is opt-in; signed sensor data is developed by Private Cloud Compute
- Open the reference beside the edit in Photos to compare, like a digital negative
- Not available at launch in China; in the EU, capture is unavailable at launch but viewing works on iOS 27
Thermal & Battery
- The vapor chamber has 3× the area of the 17 Pro Max's, for up to 40% higher sustained performance
- Up to 45 hours of video playback and 30 hours of typical use; five minutes of wired charging gives about seven hours of playback
- Remove the case for long 4K 120fps or ProRes takes
Camera Control
- Press to launch; light-press and swipe for Exposure, Depth, Zoom, Cameras, Styles, or Tone
- Keep the light press on Exposure; aperture and shutter live in Pro controls, not on the button
- Press and hold for Visual Intelligence; Siri mode in Camera answers questions about the scene
File Transfer
- USB-C runs USB 3 at 10 Gbps, unchanged; ProRes 4K 60 and 120 record to external SSD only
- The 2TB tier holds about 5.5 hours of 4K 30fps ProRes HQ
- Wi-Fi 7 speeds wireless offload; large ProRes files still move faster by cable
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs 17 Pro Max
What changed for cameras between generations
Feature
17 Pro Max
18 Pro Max
Chip
A19 Pro
A20 Pro (2nm)
Main Camera
48MP ƒ/1.78 fixed
48MP ƒ/1.48 – ƒ/4.0 variable New
Ultra Wide
48MP ƒ/2.2
48MP ƒ/2.2
Telephoto
48MP 4× ƒ/2.8
48MP 4× ƒ/2.8
Front Camera
18MP Center Stage
18MP Center Stage
Pro Controls
No
Aperture, shutter, WB, histogram New
Apple Reference Image
No
Yes New
Cinematic Mode
4K 30fps
4K 60fps, effects after capture New
Time-lapse
Stabilized
4K Dolby Vision HDR New
Max Video (4K)
120fps
120fps
ProRes RAW / Apple Log 2
Yes
Yes
Storage
Up to 2TB
Up to 2TB
Video Playback
Up to 39 hrs
Up to 45 hrs
Display Size
6.9"
6.9"
USB
USB 3 (10 Gbps)
USB 3 (10 Gbps)
Worth the upgrade? The 18 Pro Max camera upgrade is the main lens: a variable aperture with real optical depth control, a new sensor and imaging pipeline, plus Pro controls for shutter, white balance, and histogram. Ultra Wide, telephoto, and front camera are unchanged. If you shoot mostly at 4× or on the Ultra Wide, the 17 Pro Max takes the same photo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Variable aperture, Pro controls, ProRes 4K 120fps, 2TB storage, and what changed from the 17 Pro Max.
What is the difference between iPhone 18 Pro Max and 18 Pro cameras?
None. Both have the 48MP variable-aperture Fusion Main, 48MP Ultra Wide, 48MP 4x telephoto, and 18MP Center Stage front camera. The Pro Max is the 6.9-inch body rated for up to 45 hours of video playback; the Pro is 6.3 inches at up to 36 hours.
Does the iPhone 18 Pro Max have a variable aperture?
Yes. The 48MP Fusion Main steps between ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8, and ƒ/4.0 with six laser-cut blades, automatically or by hand in Pro controls. The Ultra Wide (ƒ/2.2) and 4x telephoto (ƒ/2.8) are fixed.
How do I use Pro controls on iPhone 18 Pro Max?
In the Camera app, open Pro controls to set aperture, shutter speed, and white balance and to show a live histogram, in photo and video. Aperture applies to the main camera only; the other controls also work on the front camera.
Which aperture is best for portraits on iPhone 18 Pro Max?
ƒ/1.8 on the 24mm main camera for one person; the blur is optical. For tighter framing use the 4x 100mm telephoto with Portrait mode, since only the main camera has the variable aperture.
Can the iPhone 18 Pro Max record ProRes at 4K 120fps?
Yes, to an external USB-C drive over USB 3 (10 Gbps). Internal ProRes tops out at 4K 30fps on every storage tier, including 2TB.
Is the iPhone 18 Pro Max worth it over the 18 Pro for photography?
Only for the 6.9-inch display and battery: up to 45 hours of video playback against 36, and 30 hours of typical use against 24. Cameras, codecs, storage tiers, and ports are identical.
How much video fits on a 2TB iPhone 18 Pro Max?
About 5.5 hours of 4K 30fps ProRes HQ at roughly 6 GB per minute, or around 175 hours of 4K 30fps Dolby Vision HEVC at about 190 MB per minute.
What is new in the iPhone 18 Pro Max camera vs the 17 Pro Max?
A variable-aperture 48MP main camera with a new sensor and imaging pipeline, Pro controls, Apple Reference Image, Cinematic mode at 4K 60fps with effects applied after capture, and 4K Dolby Vision time-lapse. The Ultra Wide, 4x telephoto, and 18MP front camera are unchanged.
Does the iPhone 18 Pro Max shoot 4K time-lapse?
Yes. Time-lapse now records 4K Dolby Vision HDR with stabilization, plus Night mode Time-lapse for low light. Prop the phone or use a tripod, and keep it charging for long sequences.