Strumble Head Lighthouse. 8x Telephoto Camera (200mm) 12MP ProRAW
When I upgraded to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the real attraction was the expanded telephoto range—most notably the new 48-megapixel 4x lens and the 8x “optical quality” option. The Ultra Wide and Wide had already gone 48MP on the 16 Pro Max, so this year’s step forward was always going to be at the longer end.
I’ve spent the past few days testing the camera on our South West Wales road trip—harbours, cliff tops, and pastel towns providing plenty of variety. After extensive shooting, both the 4x and 8x lenses have impressed me.
If you haven’t already seen it, I’d recommend reading my previous post regarding image formats and Camera settings. That piece lays the groundwork for what follows—it covers the differences between HEIF, JPEG, and ProRAW, explains how resolution choices affect storage and quality, and outlines the camera settings that I rely on day to day. By understanding those basics, the details I’m about to share will make more sense and you’ll be better equipped to choose the right approach for your own photography.
Apple now promotes eight main focal lengths on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, a mix of optical and hybrid options: Macro, 0.5x Ultra Wide, 1x Wide, 1.2x, 1.5x, 2x, 4x telephoto, and 8x telephoto. On paper, it looks like a complete toolkit—covering everything from close-up detail to long telephoto reach. But how do they hold up in practice?
The Zoom Range in Use
To show the full range, I shot the same scene at Stumble Head Lighthouse on the Pembrokeshire coast in Wales. It marks the southern limit of Cardigan Bay and was built in 1908. When viewing the results, the difference in perspective is clear, from a wide coastal view at 0.5x to isolating detail at 8x. the lead shot in this article is the full frame 8x telephoto image.
The views are:
0.5x Ultra Wide (13mm, up to 48MP)
Big skies and sweeping views. Perfect for landscapes and dramatic perspectives.
Big skies and sweeping views. Perfect for landscapes and dramatic perspectives.
1x Wide (24mm, up to 48MP)
The standard lens. Sharp, versatile, and still my go-to for most situations.
The standard lens. Sharp, versatile, and still my go-to for most situations.
1.2x (28mm, up to 35MP) and 1.5x (35mm, up to 24MP)
These additional views can be accessed and toggled through by tapping on the 1x icon in the Camera app. Photographers will recognise 35mm especially as a classicfocal length.The phone is still relying on the 48MP main sensor. What changes is that the camera crops in slightly from the centre of the frame. Because the crop isn’t very aggressive, you don’t see a noticeable drop in image quality, there are still enough pixels being used to give a high-resolution photo. The result is that those gentle zoom steps feel seamless, with the images looking just as detailed and natural as they do at 1x.
These additional views can be accessed and toggled through by tapping on the 1x icon in the Camera app. Photographers will recognise 35mm especially as a classicfocal length.The phone is still relying on the 48MP main sensor. What changes is that the camera crops in slightly from the centre of the frame. Because the crop isn’t very aggressive, you don’t see a noticeable drop in image quality, there are still enough pixels being used to give a high-resolution photo. The result is that those gentle zoom steps feel seamless, with the images looking just as detailed and natural as they do at 1x.
2x (48mm, crop from main sensor, 12MP)
There isn’t a dedicated 2x lens. Instead, the camera takes the 48-megapixel image from the main sensor and crops into the middle section of it (similar to 1.2x and 1.5x). That central crop equals about twelve megapixels of information, which is why a 2x photo comes out at 12MP. Apple describes this as “optical-quality” because the phone isn’t inventing extra pixels or stretching the image; it’s using the actual sensor detail from the center. The image is then processed with Apple’s normal pipeline—things like HDR and noise reduction—to make it look clean and sharp.
There isn’t a dedicated 2x lens. Instead, the camera takes the 48-megapixel image from the main sensor and crops into the middle section of it (similar to 1.2x and 1.5x). That central crop equals about twelve megapixels of information, which is why a 2x photo comes out at 12MP. Apple describes this as “optical-quality” because the phone isn’t inventing extra pixels or stretching the image; it’s using the actual sensor detail from the center. The image is then processed with Apple’s normal pipeline—things like HDR and noise reduction—to make it look clean and sharp.
4x Telephoto (100mm, up to 48MP)
The standout. A classic portrait and landscape focal length that feels far more natural than last year’s 5x. With the jump from 12MP to 48MP, the results are detailed and flexible for editing.
The standout. A classic portrait and landscape focal length that feels far more natural than last year’s 5x. With the jump from 12MP to 48MP, the results are detailed and flexible for editing.
Fishguard Harbour 4x 48MP full image (resampled for web)
100% detail of above image, 4x 48MP (resampled for web)
8x Telephoto (200mm equivalent, “optical quality”, 12MP)
The 8x isn’t a separate lens, it’s Apple’s computational take on delivering a usable 200mm shot. Again Apple describe this as “Optical Quality” because the phone uses the central portion of the 4x 48MP sensor, combined with Apple’s image pipeline, to mimic what you’d expect from a true optical lens. The files aren’t as clean as the 4x, but the results are much stronger than a simple digital zoom. It’s particularly effective for isolating distant details, lighthouses, towers, or features across the bay.
The 8x isn’t a separate lens, it’s Apple’s computational take on delivering a usable 200mm shot. Again Apple describe this as “Optical Quality” because the phone uses the central portion of the 4x 48MP sensor, combined with Apple’s image pipeline, to mimic what you’d expect from a true optical lens. The files aren’t as clean as the 4x, but the results are much stronger than a simple digital zoom. It’s particularly effective for isolating distant details, lighthouses, towers, or features across the bay.
Aberaeron Harbour 8x view with preview window
When you switch to the 8x, Apple also adds a preview window in the corner of the screen (see above). At this focal length it’s easy to lose track of where you’re aiming, so the preview helps keep things lined up.
Macro (13mm 12MP)
There’s one more lens left in Apple’s claim of having "eight lenses" on the Pro models. This is where Macro comes in, using the ultra-wide lens to focus just a few centimeters from your subject. The camera crops and processes the image so it blends seamlessly with your regular shots, but the effect is like holding a magnifying glass to the subject. It’s the final step in Apple’s lens ladder, completing the range from sweeping vistas to the tiniest textures.
There’s one more lens left in Apple’s claim of having "eight lenses" on the Pro models. This is where Macro comes in, using the ultra-wide lens to focus just a few centimeters from your subject. The camera crops and processes the image so it blends seamlessly with your regular shots, but the effect is like holding a magnifying glass to the subject. It’s the final step in Apple’s lens ladder, completing the range from sweeping vistas to the tiniest textures.
A Macro Mode shot of dew droplets on autumn leaves.
By default it’s automatic, but if you prefer control you can turn on Macro Control in the Camera settings, which gives you a tap-to-toggle icon right on the screen. The whole point is that you can now place the lens almost on top of a subject and capture sharp, detailed images. It doesn’t stop at stills either: macro extends to video, slow motion, and even time-lapse, letting you explore close-up worlds in motion as well as in single frames.
Final Thoughts
After testing the system, it’s clear the 4x telephoto is the biggest improvement this year. It feels natural, produces detailed 48MP images, and has quickly became one of my favourite focal lengths on this trip. The 8x gives extra reach when needed and delivers far better results than digital zooms of the past.
For me, the iPhone 17 Pro Max finally feels like it offers a complete zoom toolkit, covering everything from macro close-ups to long telephoto detail.