How to Shoot RAW Photos on iPhone: From Beginner to Pro

The iPhone has become one of the most popular cameras in the world. Many photographers use it as their primary camera because of its convenience, portability, and ease of use. The ability to shoot in raw format, however, has always been lacking.

The iPhone has never offered a way to shoot in raw, which means the best you could do was capture JPEG files. But with iOS 14.3, Apple has finally added support for RAW images. This article will cover everything you need to know about shooting RAW photos on an iPhone.

What is RAW in Photography

RAW files are the original data captured by your camera’s sensor. They’re not processed and are usually much more significant than JPEGs because they contain more information about the image. This allows for better editing later on and requires more storage space on your phone. Plus, RAW files need unique apps to open and edit them.

RAW files are also helpful for more advanced photographers. They provide a lot of flexibility in post-production, allowing you to adjust things like exposure and white balance after you’ve taken your shot. They also give you much more control over how your images look in terms of color, contrast, and sharpness. This can’t be done with a JPEG file.

What is Apple ProRAW

Apple ProRAW is a new image format processed by Apple’s algorithms, so they offer the benefits of RAW and processed images. These files are only available on the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max or later, and they can be edited in the Photos app.

Shoot RAW vs. JPEG: Which Should You Use?

The answer to this question is a bit more complicated than it seems. One thing that you should know is that RAW files are not necessarily better than JPEGs; it depends on what your needs are.

Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:

RAW photos are best for:

• Professional photographers.
• People who want the best quality photos.
• People edit their photos a lot.

JPEG photos are best for:

• People who want to save space.
• People who don’t edit their photos much.
• People who want to share their photos on the internet quickly.

So, there you have it! If you’re a professional photographer or want the best quality photos, RAW is the way to go. But JPEG is the best choice if you want to save space on your iPhone and don’t edit your photos much.

How to Take RAW Photos on iPhone 11 or older

The iPhone 11 and older don’t have a built-in raw camera app. To shoot in RAW format on these devices, you’ll need to download a third-party app. Some of the best options are ProCam, Halide Camera, and Halide.

1. Download the ProCam app from the App Store.
2. Open up ProCam and tap on the Settings icon.
3. Tap the “Photo” tab and scroll down to the “RAW Format” setting.
4. Tap on “RAW” to change the file format to RAW. You’ll see that the “RAW” setting is toggled on.

Now, to take a RAW image, tap on the camera button.

How to Shoot Apple ProRAW on iPhone

To do this, you’ll need to have iOS 14.3 or higher installed on your device.

Which iPhone Supported Apple ProRAW

• iPhone 12 Pro/12 Pro Max: ProRAW at 12 MP
• iPhone 13 Pro/13 Pro Max: ProRAW at 12 MP
• iPhone 14 Pro/14 Pro Max: ProRAW at 12 MP and 48 MP
• iPhone 15 Pro/15 Pro Max: ProRAW renamed to ProRAW Max (48 MP) and ProRAW (12 MP) in some iOS versions; functionally the same ProRAW format (DNG)
• iPhone 16 Pro/16 Pro Max: ProRAW at 12 MP, 24 MP, and 48 MP (Resolution Control; 48 MP available as ProRAW Max / RAW Max on supported cameras)
• iPhone 17 Pro/17 Pro Max: ProRAW at 12 MP, 24 MP, and 48 MP (ProRAW / ProRAW Max, DNG format)

You can check which version of iOS your device is running by going into Settings > General > About.

If you’re using an older version of iOS and want to update, go into Settings > Software Update and tap Download & Install Now.

How to enable Apple ProRAW

Here’s what you need to do:

1. First, open up the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap on the Camera section.
2. In the Camera section, you will see an option for “Formats.” Tap on that.
3. On the next screen, Tap on the “Most Compatible” and “Apple ProRAW” options. Now that you have changed the image format.

Open up the Camera app. When you are ready to take a RAW photo, tap on the RAW mode button in the top-right corner of the screen. This will take a RAW photo using the iPhone’s rear-facing camera.

How to Edit RAW Photos on iPhone

There are two ways to edit raw photos on your iPhone. The first is by using the built-in Photos app. This process is similar to editing a JPEG. To do this, go to the Apple Photos app and select the image. Then tap on Edit in the upper-right corner of your screen. From there, you can crop, rotate, or adjust the exposure of your image.

The second way to edit raw photos on your iPhone is using a third-party app. These apps allow you to do more advanced editing, adding film look presets and adjusting the photo’s color and tone. Some of our favorite apps include Adobe Lightroom mobile, Darkroom, and VSCO. They are available both in free and paid versions.

FAQs

Is using Apple ProRAW Worth It?

The answer is yes. It’s a better file format than JPEGs or processed RAW files, and it offers photographers more control over the look of their images. However, this doesn’t mean everyone should always use Apple ProRAW.

Suppose you only shoot in JPEG mode because you don’t care about editing your images and want to share them on social media. In that case, there’s no reason why you would like to switch over to Apple ProRAW. It’s worth it if you care about image quality and want to get the most out of your photos.

Can the iPhone 17 shoot RAW?

The iPhone 17 can shoot RAW, but it’s unavailable on all models. Only Pro and Pro Max both support Apple ProRAW files. If you don’t have one of those models, you can still shoot RAW files using a third-party app, but they won’t be in Apple ProRAW format.

Remember, you don’t have to be a professional photographer to shoot RAW photos. If you want more control over your image quality and editing options, this is one of the best ways.