iPhone camera basics
- June 7, 2024
- Apple
Table of Contents
iPhone camera basics
Learn how to take photos with Camera on your iPhone. Choose from camera modes such as Photo, Video, Pano, or Portrait, and zoom in or out to frame your shot.
Ask Siri. Say something like: “Open Camera.” Learn how to ask Siri.
Open Camera
To open Camera, swipe left on the iPhone Lock Screen or tap the Camera icon on the iPhone Home Screen.
Note: For your security, a green dot appears in the top-right corner of the screen when Camera is in use. See Control access to hardware features.
Switch between camera modes
Photo is the standard mode that you see when you open Camera. Use Photo mode to take still and Live Photos. Swipe left or right to choose one of the following camera modes:
- Video: Record a video.
- Time-lapse: Create a time‑lapse video of motion over a period of time.
- Slow-mo: Record a video with a slow-motion effect.
- Pano: Capture a panoramic landscape or other scene.
- Portrait: Apply a depth-of-field effect to your photos (on supported models).
- Square: Limit the frame of your camera screen to a square.On an iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 11, or iPhone 11 Pro, tap , then tap 4:3 to choose between square, 4:3, or 16:9 aspect ratios.
Zoom in or out
- On all models, open Camera and pinch the screen to zoom in or out.
- On iPhone models with Dual and Triple camera systems, toggle between 1x, 2x, 2.5x, and .5x to quickly zoom in or out (depending on your model). For a more precise zoom, touch and hold the zoom controls, then drag the slider right or left.
Take a photo or video
Tap the Shutter button, or press either volume button to take a photo.
Tip: If you want to take a video while you’re in Photo mode, touch and hold the Shutter button to record a QuickTake video (iPhone 11 and later).
See alsoTake videosTake Live PhotosCapture action shots with Burst modeTake Portrait mode photosTake a selfie