iPhone 17 Pro Milky Way Cheat Sheet
Milky Way with iPhone 17 Pro — Quick Guide
Fast Setup (≈60 seconds)
Mount phone on a sturdy tripod; Flash OFF, Live Photo OFF.
Enable RAW (Apple ProRAW) + 48 MP (see steps below).
Use the 1× (main) camera for the best detail/48 MP capture.
Compose with a dark foreground; avoid stray lights in-frame.
Tap-and-hold to AE/AF Lock on the sky, then lower exposure slightly.
Set a 3 s timer (or Bluetooth remote) to avoid shake.
Let Night mode pick ~10–30 s; shoot several frames for options/stacking.
What You Need
Tripod + phone clamp; Bluetooth remote or use the 3 s timer.
Dark-sky location (ideally Bortle 1–4) with clear weather.
Planning apps: weather, light pollution, moon phase, Milky Way position.
Optional manual/RAW app (e.g., Halide, ProCamera) for extra control.
Enable ProRAW & 48 MP (iPhone 17 Pro)
Settings → Camera → Formats
Toggle Apple ProRAW → ON
ProRAW Resolution → 48 MP
Note: 48 MP ProRAW typically uses the 1× (main) camera—stick to 1× for highest quality.
Use RAW in the Camera App
Open Camera → Photo, select 1×.
Tap RAW so it shows ON (or choose PRO mode if available).
Flash OFF, Live Photo OFF.
Use a tripod + 3 s timer (or a remote).
Tap-and-hold to AE/AF Lock on the sky; nudge exposure down a touch to protect highlights.
Night-Mode Exposure (Stars)
In dark conditions, Night mode often suggests 10–30 s.
If stars smear/“trail,” shorten to ~10–15 s and shoot more frames.
Don’t touch the phone during exposure; the timer/remote prevents vibration.
Optional: Manual RAW Apps
Halide / ProCamera let you set manual ISO/shutter + RAW.
Start around ISO 400–1600, 10–15 s, 1× lens; take multiple frames for stacking.
Always use the main 1× camera for the cleanest star detail.
Pro Tips for Cleaner Stars
Avoid the 0.5× ultra-wide for critical star detail—stick to 1×.
Shield the lens from stray light to reduce flare/haze.
Shoot 4–8 frames and median-stack later (Lightroom Mobile/Desktop) to cut noise.
White balance in edit: start around 3500–4500 K, then adjust by taste.
Keep your foreground dark/simple; watch for head-torches or passing cars.
Edit & Share
In Photos or Lightroom Mobile: do noise reduction first, then contrast/clarity/dehaze.
Use local adjustments to enhance the Milky Way core without over-brightening the sky.
Export JPEG/HEIF for sharing; keep ProRAW as your archival master.
Watch the full field test: iPhone 17 Pro vs $3000 camera — Nightscape Odyssey
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