This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Disclosure, visit this page.
My family and I just returned from a dream trip to Tahiti. There’s no doubt the islands of Tahiti have some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, which is why I would normally bring my large Nikon camera with a 400mm zoom lens attached. However, Apple kindly sent me the iPhone 17 Pro to take for a test drive and suffice it to say … I’m impressed. The phone is lightweight, easy to carry around and takes incredible photos.
The iPhone 17 Pro has three 48-megapixel “Fusion” lenses: a main, ultra-wide and a telephoto lens that gives you 4x optical zoom, plus up to 40x digital zoom. That telephoto lens is especially helpful when capturing architecture, wildlife or distant landscapes and it is the reason I didn’t bother to cart my heavy Nikon DSLR to Bora Bora, which I had used on my previous three visits. It was nerve-racking at first since I wanted to make sure I captured the beauty of the islands but it was also a relief because the Nikon isn’t light and takes up a lot of space in my carry-on bag.
Some airlines, including the inter-island Air Tahiti, weigh carry-ons and have a 5kg (11lbs) limit. Heck, my Briggs & Riley bag pretty much weighs that without anything in it, let alone my laptop, portable power bank, emergency kit and other travel necessities and gadgets.
I first tested out the iPhone 17 Pro camera when I went to SoFi Stadium for a Rams game. (My thanks to Visit Melbourne, who invited me to their incredible field suite.) As you can see from the photo above, it looks like one of the Rams cheerleaders was close to me but I took this photo from my seat.
FYI: If you’re wondering why Visit Melbourne would have a field suite, it’s because the city will play host to the first NFL game in Australia in September. It’s going to be the Rams versus an opponent the NFL has, as of now, not yet disclosed.
But back to our trip to Tahiti. We flew Air Tahiti Nui (here’s my trip report). We visited four different islands, starting in Tahiti, which is French Polynesia’s main island and home to its largest city and airport, Papeete (PPT).
After a couple of nights, we then flew to Raiatea, which is often called the “sacred island” since it’s considered the original center of Polynesian civilization. Above is a photo I took of a ferry that was really far away but you can see how great the zoom lens is on the iPhone 17 Pro.
From there, we took a 30-minute boat ride to Taha’a, aka the Vanilla Island, known for its crystal clear waters, pearl farms and fragrant plantations.
It’s also known for its calm lagoons, coral reefs and motus (small islets).
Then we flew nine minutes to Bora Bora, one of the world’s most famous islands thanks to its turquoise lagoon, stunning coral reefs and iconic Mount Otemanu rising dramatically at its center.
We also swam with sharks and stingrays.
The iPhone 17 Pro camera is so good that when our scheduled photo shoot fell through due to a scheduling conflict, we decided to shoot our family Christmas card photo ourselves on the phone.
Below are some more of the photos I captured with my iPhone 17 Pro to give you an idea of how incredible it is:
Being greeted in Bora Bora with a traditional Tahitian flower garland or necklace called hei.
Transferring from Bora Bora Airport (BOB) to the Four Seasons Bora Bora.
Lunch is served on the beach in Bora Bora.
The stunning scenery at the Four Seasons Bora Bora.
If you’re looking for more information on which new iPhone 17 is best for travel, here’s a breakdown of what makes each model unique and which might be right for you.
KEEP READING
–How to Save Money With a Secret Third Carry-On
–How to Use Your Wireless Headphones to Watch In-Flight Movies
–10 Airport Security Hacks Every Traveler Should Know
–How to Get the Best Coach Seat on the Plane
–The Sleep Hack Every Traveler Needs to Know
Want more travel news, tips and deals? Sign up to Johnny Jet’s free newsletter and check out these popular posts: The Travel Gadget Flight Attendants Never Leave Home Without and 12 Ways to Save Money on Baggage Fees. Follow Johnny Jet on MSN, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for all of my travel posts.
