Each year, Apple raises the bar with its iPhone camera, and enthusiasts everywhere wait to see what sets the newest model apart. This year, the iPhone 17 Pro takes another leap forward. In this breakdown, we’ll highlight what’s new with the camera and show how SANDMARC gear not only keeps up with Apple’s upgrades but also enhances your iPhone 17 Pro experience.

First, the most obvious change is the camera mount. The iPhone 17 Pro still keeps the lenses in their familiar formation on the left, but this year Apple has relocated the flash and LiDAR sensor to the right. This creates a more oval-shaped design and, more importantly, clears the path for accessories.

With the flash and LiDAR repositioned, SANDMARC lenses and filters now mount with an unobstructed view, a subtle shift that makes a big difference. By removing the chance of blocking the sensor or flash, you get:

Rumors are true: the iPhone 17 Pro can now zoom at 8x, giving you incredible reach right from your pocket. But if you want to capture that reach without losing image quality, there’s a smarter way to zoom in.

The SANDMARC Telephoto 58mm Lens is designed to work with the iPhone’s main 1x sensor, the strongest camera on the device. By adding 2x optical zoom to the sensor that pulls in the most light, you unlock sharper photos, smoother tones, and cleaner video, even in low light.

Here’s why this matters: while the iPhone’s 8x zoom sounds powerful, it relies on smaller sensors that don’t perform as well. That can mean darker photos, less detail, and more noise. The main 1x sensor, on the other hand, captures brighter shots with better color and clarity. By pairing it with the Telephoto 58mm Lens, you’re combining extra reach with the iPhone’s best image quality, delivering results that go beyond what the built-in zoom can do.

Dual Capture Mode lets you record with both the front and rear cameras at the same time. For vloggers, this opens up a whole new way to tell stories, capturing your reaction while also showing what’s happening around you. The result is a more interactive, engaging video experience where you can talk directly to the camera while filming what is happening.

To take this feature even further, we recommend pairing it with the SANDMARC Prolight Mini, which adds flattering, consistent lighting to to your face as you record.

Capturing selfies just got easier with Center Stage Technology. This feature utilizes AI to automatically adjust the field of view and orientation, allowing for wide-angle selfies without the need to rotate your iPhone. It intelligently switches between portrait and landscape modes based on the number of people in the frame, ensuring everyone is included. You no longer have to struggle with an uncomfortable horizontal grip, just hold your iPhone naturally and let the tech do the work.

With the updated front-facing camera, you’ll want well-rounded lighting, making gear like our Ring Light or Prolight Mini the perfect choice.

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max bring ProRes RAW, GenLock, and advanced stabilization to mobile filmmaking. ProRes RAW offers greater flexibility for color and exposure in post, while GenLock, enabled through Final Cut Camera 2.0 and accessories like the Blackmagic ProDock, keeps multi-camera shoots frame-accurate.

On the stabilization side, Apple’s open gate recording captures extra sensor area, making software-based stabilization stronger without sacrificing resolution, while the new square front sensor delivers ultra-stabilized 4K HDR for smooth selfies and vlogs. Combined with the new Apple Log 2 profile for wider dynamic range, these features transform the iPhone 17 Pro lineup, bring on a whole new level of filmmaking for iPhone users.

To elevate your videos on the iPhone 17 Pro, we recommend the Motion Filter for cinematic motion blur, paired with the Film Rig for the ultimate filmmaking setup.

This new feature isn't unique to the camera alone, but as avid photographers and filmmakers on iPhone, we’ve all run into the device overheating from extensive use. Apple’s new vapor chamber is a thin, sealed chamber containing a drop of deionized water.

When the processor heats up, the water turns into vapor, which moves to cooler parts of the chamber to dissipate the heat. The vapor then condenses back into liquid, completing the cycle to keep the device cool. This system effectively spreads heat across the entire back of the phone, preventing hot spots and making it more comfortable to hold during extended use.

Apple has once again raised the bar with the iPhone 17 camera, redefining what’s possible for mobile photography and filmmaking. And when paired with SANDMARC gear, you can push those boundaries even further. We’re excited to see the creativity that unfolds as the new iPhone 17, Pro, and Pro Max land in people’s hands.