Every new iPhone model brings upgrades to the camera system, and the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are no exceptions. Released in September 2025, these new smartphone models preserve the same camera quality that photographers and smartphone videographers already rely on, with bonus factors like improved sensors, enhanced zoom, and new video codecs. Check out McVeigh Media's complete iPhone 17 review below!
But are these upgrades worth it for your photography or videography kit? Find out below in our iPhone 17 Pro and Pro max camera review, courtesy of a Rhode Island videographer.
But are these upgrades worth it for your photography or videography kit? Find out below in our iPhone 17 Pro and Pro max camera review, courtesy of a Rhode Island videographer.
iPhone 17 Pro Camera Specs: What’s New?
The iPhone 17 pro and pro max both see the return of many key camera features, like the dedicated camera button first introduced in the 16 pros, and the triple-camera design. Key specs on the cameras of both 17 pro phones include:- 48 megapixel (MP) Pro Fusion camera system
- 24 mm Main camera with 2nd-gen sensor-shift stabilization and 100% focus pixels
- 48mm telephoto lens enabled by the main sensor
- 48 MP Ultra Wide camera
Higher Telephoto Zoom
One of the 17 pro line’s most significant upgrades lies in the telephoto camera, the iPhone’s dedicated optical zoom camera. The 17 pro doubles the sensor from 12 MP to 48 MP and upgrades the optical zoom capabilities from 5x to 8x. Therefore, the iPhone 17 camera has made the biggest leap yet to date.In other words, you can zoom in more without switching to digital zoom, which lowers the image quality. It’s a nice quality-of-life upgrade for landscapes or distance shots!
ProRes RAW
The iPhone 17 Pro line makes history as the first smartphone capable of filming in Apple ProRes RAW, a lossless video codec designed for more seamless editing.ProRes RAW combines the lossles quality and flexibility of RAW footage, with the improved file sizes and ease-of-editing that ProRes provides. If you regularly film in RAW, this upgrade will make your life significantly easier during the editing stage. Now, you don’t need to turn to an expensive or bulky professional camera – you’ll already have one of the best cameras for video in your pocket.
Front Camera Upgrade
An iPhone’s front camera typically has a 12mp resolution, but the 17 pro line finally shakes this up by upgrading the front camera to 18 MP – the same resolution as the main camera.For content creators or videographers who often speak to the camera, this is a major iPhone 17 feature upgrade.
For example, many influencers use the back camera of older iPhones to film selfie content. To compensate for not seeing themselves, they often use a clip on mirror or even an external monitor. Now, you can eliminate this step, as the front camera will still film in exactly the same resolution as the back.
The 17 pro and pro max’s front camera also has a wider field of view and can film with four different frame styles. The phone can even automatically reframe your shots to fit multiple people in the frame, but you can also toggle this feature to set them up manually. It’s incredibly convenient if you spend a lot of time talking to the camera.
Hardware Improvements
On the hardware side, the 17 pro line offers a more advanced processor. The new A19 Pro chip includes 6-core CPU and GPUs, which speed up processing time for graphic-heavy tasks. It also offers a minor upgrade to overall image quality in photos and videos. For example, night mode, while already excellent on iPhone cameras, relies on the processor. So, the added processing power can make your nightvision footage even more crisp.The iPhone 17 pro also speeds up wired charging times from 30W to 35W. While that might not sound like a big deal on paper, it comes in handy on longer video shoots, where power bricks are a must-have.
iPhone 17 Pro And Pro Max Price
The iPhone 17 pro and pro max both cost about $100 more than previous pro models. The iPhone 17 price starts at $1,099, while the Pro Max starts at $1,199.However, Apple and retailers like Best Buy offer phone trade-in programs to lower the price. For instance, trading in a 16 pro gives you up to $580 credit, lowering the price of the upgrade to $519 for a basic 17 Pro or $619 for a 17 Pro Max.
Should I Upgrade To An iPhone 17 Pro Or Max?
Are all the new camera features in the 17 pro worth the extra money for the upgrade?If you regularly film selfie content or need the professional edge of ProRes RAW footage, the iPhone 17 Pro is easily worth the price of admission. As videographers, we regularly work with ProRes RAW footage, making this one of our favorite iPhone camera upgrades in years. The other minor upgrades also offer improvements for photography and video professionals.
However, if you’re not a professional and are more interested in everyday photography and filming, the 17 pro line’s upgrades won’t necessarily make a huge difference. So, if you already have a more recent iPhone, like an iPhone 16 or 16 Pro, you might prefer to save your money for the next model.
Conclusion: A Rhode Island Videographer’s Final Takes
The iPhone 17 pro offers a combination of professional camera upgrades, like ProRes RAW footage, improved optical zoom, and an improved front-facing camera, as well as minor features, like a better processor.For videography professionals, it’s an excellent high definition video camera in a smartphone-szed package, and we find it worth the upgrade for ProRes RAW alone!
With 25 years of experience and clients like GE, Jaguar, and Amtrak, McVeigh Media knows all about filming professional, polished video projects that create an impactful impression. Find more videography tips on our blog to elevate your videography game!
Posted by Sean McVeigh
