Ultra Wide
13mm
ƒ/2.2
48MP · 120° · Macro
iPhone Camera Settings Guide
iPhone 18 Pro 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. 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
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
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 Max: The iPhone 18 Pro records exactly what the 18 Pro Max 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 apart from the 17 Pro
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 ProPro 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 ProApple 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 Pro4K 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 ProStorage & File Sizes
How much you can fit on your iPhone 18 Pro (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
New tier on the 6.3" Pro
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-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's, for up to 40% higher sustained performance
- Up to 36 hours of video playback; 50% charge in about 15 minutes on a 60W AVS adapter
- 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 vs 17 Pro
What changed for cameras between generations
Feature
17 Pro
18 Pro
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 1TB
Up to 2TB New
Video Playback
Up to 33 hrs
Up to 36 hrs
Display Size
6.3"
6.3"
USB
USB 3 (10 Gbps)
USB 3 (10 Gbps)
Worth the upgrade? The 18 Pro 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 takes the same photo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Variable aperture, Pro controls, Apple Reference Image, 4K 120fps, and ProRes RAW.
How do I change the aperture on iPhone 18 Pro?
In the Camera app, open Pro controls and tap Aperture to choose ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8, or ƒ/4.0 on the 24mm Fusion Main. Leave it on Auto and the camera picks the aperture from light level and scene depth.
What apertures does the iPhone 18 Pro main camera have?
Four: ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8, and ƒ/4.0, set by six laser-cut blades on the 48MP Fusion Main. The 13mm Ultra Wide stays fixed at ƒ/2.2 and the 100mm telephoto at ƒ/2.8.
Which aperture should I use on iPhone 18 Pro?
ƒ/1.48 for night and indoor light, ƒ/1.8 for a single-person portrait, ƒ/2.8 for everyday scenes, and ƒ/4.0 to keep a group or landscape sharp front to back. Auto covers most shots.
Does the iPhone 18 Pro have manual shutter speed?
Yes. Pro controls in the Camera app add shutter speed, white balance, and a live histogram alongside aperture, for photo and video, with no third-party app. Slow shutter speeds add motion blur, so brace the phone or use a tripod.
Is the iPhone 18 Pro telephoto the same as the iPhone 17 Pro?
Yes. Both use the 48MP 4x tetraprism at 100mm ƒ/2.8 with a 12MP optical-quality 8x crop at 200mm. The 18 Pro camera upgrades are on the main camera and in the Camera app.
Can the iPhone 18 Pro shoot 4K at 120fps?
Yes. 4K 120fps Dolby Vision records on the Fusion Main in HEVC, and ProRes 4K 120fps records to an external USB-C drive. Slo-mo also runs 1080p at 240fps.
What is Apple Reference Image on iPhone 18 Pro?
An opt-in Reference mode on the Fusion Main that signs the sensor data so Photos can show an unalterable reference image next to your edited photo. Not available at launch in China; in the EU, capture is not available at launch.
What is the difference between iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max 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 record ProRes RAW and Apple Log 2?
Yes. ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, and Genlock carry over from the 17 Pro, with ProRes up to 4K 120fps to external storage. New for video are Cinematic mode at 4K 60fps with effects applied after capture, and 4K Dolby Vision time-lapse.