Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro camera faces criticism from photographers

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iPhone 18 Pro users flag aperture flare and manual control limits

Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro has introduced new camera controls, including aperture adjustment, but some photography enthusiasts say the updated Camera app still lacks features needed for professional-level shooting.

The redesigned app adds controls for aperture, shutter speed and white balance, alongside a histogram to help users assess exposure. However, complaints from users suggest that several limitations remain, particularly for photographers who prefer manual control over their images.

According to technology publication BGR, users have reported prominent star-shaped flares when photographing reflective light sources with certain aperture settings.

One user raised the issue in a Reddit discussion, claiming that aperture settings above f/1.48 caused star-shaped flares whenever light reflected sharply off an object.

BGR staff also reported experiencing the effect, while other users suggested that the phenomenon could help photographers better understand how aperture settings affect light in an image.

The effect resembles the stylised starbursts often seen in cinematic imagery. However, its prominence may be undesirable for photographers seeking clean, controlled results.

The complaints highlight the challenges of introducing more advanced camera controls while ensuring consistent results for users with different levels of photography experience.

The aperture-related complaints are not the only concerns raised about the iPhone 18 Pro’s default Camera app.

According to BGR, users cannot select shutter speeds longer than approximately one second, limiting their options for certain long-exposure photographs.

The app also offers white balance controls but does not allow users to enter a precise colour temperature in Kelvin. Instead, photographers must rely on preset options, such as cloudy or tungsten, which provide less granular control.

The lack of manual ISO adjustment is another limitation highlighted in the report. Together, these restrictions could make the built-in app less suitable for photographers who want precise control over exposure and colour.

Third-party camera apps may help users work around some of these limitations. Halide, a camera app for Apple devices, introduced an update alongside the iPhone 18 Pro’s launch that expands its manual photography features.

According to BGR, Halide’s version 3.2 update offers variable aperture control from f/1.48 to f/4.0, allowing photographers to select their preferred aperture setting.

The update also introduces an Aperture Priority mode, which automatically selects suitable shutter speed and ISO settings based on the aperture chosen by the user.

Halide additionally provides manual controls for ISO, shutter speed and aperture, giving photographers greater flexibility than Apple’s default app, according to the report.

The app’s developer has also criticised the absence of ISO controls in Apple’s Camera app, arguing that additional manual options would give photographers greater command over their images.

While the iPhone 18 Pro introduces more camera features than previous models, the debate suggests that advanced users may still need third-party software to achieve the level of control they expect from a professional photography setup.

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