HOW TO Take more control of the Camera app >

1 Night mode

Night mode automatically chooses an exposure time (such as 10 seconds), but you can drag the countdown slider to choose a different duration. During the shot a Hold Still message appears. Keep the crosshairs aligned to avoid blur.

2 Change focus

In Photo mode, the iPhone focuses on the closest foreground subject. However, you can tap on a background object to place the square focus/ exposure reticle on that. Drag the sun icon up or down to tweak exposure.

3 AE/AF Lock

In contrasting locations, the Camera changes exposure to reveal highlight or shadow detail. Hold you finger on the screen to summon the AE/AF Lock. This preserves detail in a bright sky when you reframe the shot.

4 Manual exposure

Exposure is set automatically but it may be useful to tweak it manually in high-contrast locations. Tap the Exposure icon above the shutter button. A dial will appear. Drag to open or close the aperture to reveal desired detail.

5 Zoom wheel

The iPhone 12 Pro Max switches between three lenses with a tap to capture Ultra Wide (0.5x), Wide (1x) and Telephoto (2.5). By dragging on these icons, you can summon a zoom wheel that lets you dial in a custom increment.

6 Timer

To put yourself in the picture using the rear-facing camera lens, pop the iPhone on a tripod and tap the chevron at the top of the viewfinder. This gives you access to the Timer icon. Choose a three- or 10-second countdown.