Photographer Austin Mann evaluates iPhone 18 Pro camera upgrades
Austin Mann released a detailed review of the iPhone 18 Pro's new camera hardware and software, highlighting the variable aperture, manual focus controls and Photographic Styles 3.
Photographer Austin Mann published a comprehensive review of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max camera system, covering hardware changes and new iOS camera features. He examined the variable aperture, which he advises users to keep on Auto, noting that the camera typically selects the optimal f-stop for a given scene. Mann showcased images taken with the wider aperture, including night-sky shots of Colorado.
The review also highlighted the addition of manual focus controls, a long-requested feature among photographers. Mann explained that users can now set focus independently of exposure, with focus peaking assisting accuracy. He provided guidance for achieving a film-like appearance using Photographic Styles 3, recommending shooting in dark exposure compensation, using the widest aperture, and selecting HEIF format to retain style data. Post-processing tips included adjusting tone-mapping to reduce HDR effects and moderating the film effect to avoid excessive halation.
Other topics covered in the review were focus tracking, Apple Reference Image, and 4K time-lapse capabilities. Mann’s analysis was accompanied by a video demonstration of the new features.