iPhone 18 Pro Camera: Unlock More Aperture Control

The main camera on the iPhone 18 Pro features a variable aperture, but its functionality is restricted within Apple's native iOS camera app. Users are limited to only four aperture settings—f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8, and f/4—when shooting in manual mode. This limitation also applies when the app automatically adjusts the aperture.

Fortunately, this is not a hardware constraint. Apple's SDK permits third-party developers to implement more extensive aperture control. The BlackMagic Camera app, a free and feature-rich option, was among the first to leverage this capability, offering 10 presets that fill the gaps between iOS's settings.

Following this, Moment released an update for its Moment Pro Camera II app, priced at $12.99. This update also enables users to adjust the iPhone 18 Pro's aperture from f/1.48 to f/4.0 in 1/3 stop increments, providing 10 presets. While the impact on background blur and depth of field might be minimal on the iPhone's compact sensor, the added control offers valuable flexibility for mobile photographers.