diff --git a/docs/api-reference/components/map.md b/docs/api-reference/components/map.md
index dde7702e..8d57ca37 100644
--- a/docs/api-reference/components/map.md
+++ b/docs/api-reference/components/map.md
@@ -18,36 +18,25 @@ const App = () => (
 );
 ```
 
-## Controlled and Uncontrolled modes
+## Controlled and Uncontrolled Props
 
-The map can operate in three different modes: uncontrolled mode, controlled
-mode, (both very similar to form-elements in React), and externally
-controlled mode.
+The props controlling the camera parameters for the map (center, zoom,
+heading and tilt) can all be specified via controlled or uncontrolled values.
+For example, the center of the map can be specified via either `center` or
+`defaultCenter`. This can even be mixed for the different parameters (for
+example, only the zoom value is controlled, while others are free).
 
-### Uncontrolled mode
-
-The simplest mode can be used if there is no need
-for much integration of the map with the rest of your application.
-In this mode, the map just receives the `initialCameraProps` and allows
-full user-control after that.
-
-In this mode (i.e., as long as `initialCameraProps` is present in the props),
-the other camera props will be ignored completely.
+As is the case with React form elements, the default-values will only be
+applied when the map is first initialized, while the regular parameters will
+make sure the map stays synchronized with the value specified.
 
 ```tsx
-const INITIAL_CAMERA = {
-  center: {lat: 40.7, lng: -74},
-  zoom: 12
-};
-
 const UncontrolledMap = () => {
-  return <Map initialCameraProps={INITIAL_CAMERA}></Map>;
+  return <Map defaultCenter={{lat: 40.7, lng: -74}} defaultZoom={12}></Map>;
 };
 ```
 
-### Controlled mode
-
-In this mode, the map will always exactly reflect the
+When only controlled props are used, the map will always exactly reflect the
 values specified for the camera parameters. When interactions occur, the new
 camera parameters will be published with a `cameraChanged` event and the
 application can use them to update the values passed to the props of the map.
@@ -79,7 +68,7 @@ anything not specified in the camera props.
 ## Props
 
 The `MapProps` type extends the [`google.maps.MapOptions` interface]
-[gmp-map-options] and includes all possible options available for a Google 
+[gmp-map-options] and includes all possible options available for a Google
 Map as props.
 
 The most important of these options are also listed below along with the
@@ -130,9 +119,6 @@ style-prop is no longer applied.
 
 Coordinates for the center of the map.
 
-The Google Maps API Documentation [has some more information on this topic]
-[gmp-coordinates].
-
 #### `zoom`: number
 
 The initial resolution at which to display the map.
@@ -145,6 +131,9 @@ is approximately:
 - `15`: Streets
 - `20`: Buildings
 
+The Google Maps API Documentation [has some more information on this topic].
+[gmp-coordinates].
+
 #### `heading`: number
 
 The heading of the map in degrees, measured clockwise from cardinal direction
@@ -162,13 +151,11 @@ The allowed values are restricted depending on the zoom level of the map:
 - between 10 and 15.5, it is a piecewise linear interpolation
   ([see here][get-max-tilt] for details)
 
-#### `initialCameraProps`: MapCameraProps
+#### `defaultCenter`, `defaultZoom`, `defaultHeading`, `defaultTilt`
 
-The initial state of the camera. This can be specified to leave the map
-component in uncontrolled mode. [See above](#uncontrolled-mode) for more
-information about the uncontrolled mode. The `MapCameraProps` type is just
-an object with the four properties `center`, `zoom`, `heading` and `tilt` as
-described above.
+The initial state of the camera. This can be used to leave the map
+component in uncontrolled mode. When both a default-value and a controlled
+value are present for a parameter, the controlled value takes precedence.
 
 #### `initialBounds`: [google.maps.LatLngBoundsLiteral][gmp-llb]
 
diff --git a/examples/_template/src/app.tsx b/examples/_template/src/app.tsx
index eea4a41a..f8490f60 100644
--- a/examples/_template/src/app.tsx
+++ b/examples/_template/src/app.tsx
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ const API_KEY =
 const App = () => (
   <APIProvider apiKey={API_KEY}>
     <Map
-      zoom={3}
-      center={{lat: 22.54992, lng: 0}}
+      defaultCenter={{lat: 22.54992, lng: 0}}
+      defaultZoom={3}
       gestureHandling={'greedy'}
       disableDefaultUI={true}
     />
diff --git a/examples/basic-map/src/app.tsx b/examples/basic-map/src/app.tsx
index eea4a41a..191c14e4 100644
--- a/examples/basic-map/src/app.tsx
+++ b/examples/basic-map/src/app.tsx
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ const API_KEY =
 const App = () => (
   <APIProvider apiKey={API_KEY}>
     <Map
-      zoom={3}
-      center={{lat: 22.54992, lng: 0}}
+      defaultZoom={3}
+      defaultCenter={{lat: 22.54992, lng: 0}}
       gestureHandling={'greedy'}
       disableDefaultUI={true}
     />
diff --git a/examples/change-map-styles/src/app.tsx b/examples/change-map-styles/src/app.tsx
index 78515cb2..7dd48317 100644
--- a/examples/change-map-styles/src/app.tsx
+++ b/examples/change-map-styles/src/app.tsx
@@ -99,10 +99,10 @@ const App = () => {
   return (
     <APIProvider apiKey={API_KEY}>
       <Map
+        defaultCenter={{lat: 22, lng: 0}}
+        defaultZoom={3}
         mapId={mapConfig.mapId}
         mapTypeId={mapConfig.mapTypeId}
-        center={{lat: 22, lng: 0}}
-        zoom={3}
         styles={mapConfig.styles}
         gestureHandling={'greedy'}
         disableDefaultUI={true}>
diff --git a/examples/deckgl-overlay/src/app.tsx b/examples/deckgl-overlay/src/app.tsx
index 30bd99b3..3f2533aa 100644
--- a/examples/deckgl-overlay/src/app.tsx
+++ b/examples/deckgl-overlay/src/app.tsx
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ const App = () => {
   return (
     <APIProvider apiKey={API_KEY}>
       <Map
-        center={{lat: 37.74, lng: -122.4}}
-        zoom={11}
+        defaultCenter={{lat: 37.74, lng: -122.4}}
+        defaultZoom={11}
         mapId={'4f6dde3310be51d7'}
         gestureHandling={'greedy'}
         disableDefaultUI={true}>
diff --git a/examples/directions/src/app.tsx b/examples/directions/src/app.tsx
index 471979c4..0dc48303 100644
--- a/examples/directions/src/app.tsx
+++ b/examples/directions/src/app.tsx
@@ -13,7 +13,11 @@ const API_KEY =
 
 const App = () => (
   <APIProvider apiKey={API_KEY}>
-    <Map center={{lat: 43.65, lng: -79.38}} zoom={9} fullscreenControl={false}>
+    <Map
+      defaultCenter={{lat: 43.65, lng: -79.38}}
+      defaultZoom={9}
+      gestureHandling={'greedy'}
+      fullscreenControl={false}>
       <Directions />
     </Map>
   </APIProvider>
diff --git a/examples/geometry/src/app.tsx b/examples/geometry/src/app.tsx
index ae443bfd..066f1177 100644
--- a/examples/geometry/src/app.tsx
+++ b/examples/geometry/src/app.tsx
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ const App = () => {
   return (
     <APIProvider apiKey={API_KEY}>
       <Map
-        zoom={10}
-        center={INITIAL_CENTER}
+        defaultCenter={INITIAL_CENTER}
+        defaultZoom={10}
         gestureHandling={'greedy'}
         disableDefaultUI={true}>
         <Marker
diff --git a/examples/map-control/src/app.tsx b/examples/map-control/src/app.tsx
index 589feefa..589bd67d 100644
--- a/examples/map-control/src/app.tsx
+++ b/examples/map-control/src/app.tsx
@@ -23,11 +23,13 @@ const App = () => {
 
   return (
     <APIProvider apiKey={API_KEY}>
+      {/* note that we can also use a mix of controlled (zoom) an
+          uncontrolled (center) properties here */}
       <Map
         disableDefaultUI={true}
         gestureHandling={'greedy'}
         mapId={'49ae42fed52588c3'}
-        center={center}
+        defaultCenter={center}
         zoom={zoom}
         onZoomChanged={ev => setZoom(ev.detail.zoom)}>
         <MapControl position={ControlPosition.TOP_LEFT}>
diff --git a/examples/marker-clustering/src/app.tsx b/examples/marker-clustering/src/app.tsx
index 1a47bc31..4b11cf53 100644
--- a/examples/marker-clustering/src/app.tsx
+++ b/examples/marker-clustering/src/app.tsx
@@ -18,8 +18,10 @@ const App = () => (
   <APIProvider apiKey={API_KEY}>
     <Map
       mapId={'bf51a910020fa25a'}
-      center={{lat: 43.64, lng: -79.41}}
-      zoom={10}>
+      defaultCenter={{lat: 43.64, lng: -79.41}}
+      defaultZoom={10}
+      gestureHandling={'greedy'}
+      disableDefaultUI>
       <Markers points={trees} />
     </Map>
   </APIProvider>
diff --git a/examples/markers-and-infowindows/src/app.tsx b/examples/markers-and-infowindows/src/app.tsx
index db3e5361..3fb43139 100644
--- a/examples/markers-and-infowindows/src/app.tsx
+++ b/examples/markers-and-infowindows/src/app.tsx
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ const App = () => {
     <APIProvider apiKey={API_KEY} libraries={['marker']}>
       <Map
         mapId={'bf51a910020fa25a'}
-        zoom={3}
-        center={{lat: 12, lng: 0}}
+        defaultZoom={3}
+        defaultCenter={{lat: 12, lng: 0}}
         gestureHandling={'greedy'}
-        disableDefaultUI={true}>
+        disableDefaultUI>
         {/* simple marker */}
         <Marker
           position={{lat: 10, lng: 10}}
diff --git a/src/components/map/index.tsx b/src/components/map/index.tsx
index d7cb523a..50e57169 100644
--- a/src/components/map/index.tsx
+++ b/src/components/map/index.tsx
@@ -67,15 +67,15 @@ export type MapProps = google.maps.MapOptions &
      * Indicates that the map will be controlled externally. Disables all controls provided by the map itself.
      */
     controlled?: boolean;
+
+    defaultCenter?: google.maps.LatLngLiteral;
+    defaultZoom?: number;
+    defaultHeading?: number;
+    defaultTilt?: number;
     /**
-     * The initial parameters for the camera. If specified, the map will be in uncontrolled mode and
-     * will ignore the regular camera parameters (center/zoom/heading/tilt).
-     */
-    initialCameraProps?: MapCameraProps;
-    /**
-     * Alternative way to specify the initialCameraProps as geographic region that should be visible
+     * Alternative way to specify the default camera props as a geographic region that should be fully visible
      */
-    initialBounds?: google.maps.LatLngBounds | google.maps.LatLngBoundsLiteral;
+    defaultBounds?: google.maps.LatLngBoundsLiteral;
   };
 
 export const Map = (props: PropsWithChildren<MapProps>) => {
diff --git a/src/components/map/use-map-camera-params.ts b/src/components/map/use-map-camera-params.ts
index 7a32db9a..70fec7f0 100644
--- a/src/components/map/use-map-camera-params.ts
+++ b/src/components/map/use-map-camera-params.ts
@@ -36,10 +36,6 @@ export function useMapCameraParams(
   useLayoutEffect(() => {
     if (!map) return;
 
-    // when the map was configured with an initialCameraProps or initialBounds,
-    // we skip all camera updates here
-    if (mapProps.initialCameraProps || mapProps.initialBounds) return;
-
     const nextCamera: google.maps.CameraOptions = {};
     let needsUpdate = false;
 
diff --git a/src/components/map/use-map-instance.ts b/src/components/map/use-map-instance.ts
index 64331167..d853c7c3 100644
--- a/src/components/map/use-map-instance.ts
+++ b/src/components/map/use-map-instance.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import {Ref, useEffect, useState} from 'react';
+import {Ref, useEffect, useRef, useState} from 'react';
 
 import {MapProps} from '../map';
 import {APIProviderContextValue} from '../api-provider';
@@ -23,12 +23,24 @@ export function useMapInstance(
 
   const {
     id,
-    initialBounds,
-    initialCameraProps,
+    defaultBounds,
+    defaultCenter,
+    defaultZoom,
+    defaultHeading,
+    defaultTilt,
 
     ...mapOptions
   } = props;
 
+  // apply default camera props if available and not overwritten by controlled props
+  if (!mapOptions.center && defaultCenter) mapOptions.center = defaultCenter;
+  if (!mapOptions.zoom && Number.isFinite(defaultZoom))
+    mapOptions.zoom = defaultZoom;
+  if (!mapOptions.heading && Number.isFinite(defaultHeading))
+    mapOptions.heading = defaultHeading;
+  if (!mapOptions.tilt && Number.isFinite(defaultTilt))
+    mapOptions.tilt = defaultTilt;
+
   // create the map instance and register it in the context
   useEffect(
     () => {
@@ -40,13 +52,11 @@ export function useMapInstance(
       setMap(newMap);
       addMapInstance(newMap, id);
 
-      if (initialBounds) {
-        newMap.fitBounds(initialBounds);
+      if (defaultBounds) {
+        newMap.fitBounds(defaultBounds);
       }
 
-      if (initialCameraProps) {
-        newMap.setOptions(initialCameraProps);
-      }
+      // FIXME: When the mapId is changed,  we need to maintain the current camera params.
 
       return () => {
         if (!container || !apiIsLoaded) return;
@@ -60,7 +70,7 @@ export function useMapInstance(
     },
 
     // some dependencies are ignored in the list below:
-    //  - initialBounds and initialCameraProps will only be used once, and
+    //  - defaultBounds and the default* camera props will only be used once, and
     //    changes should be ignored
     //  - mapOptions has special hooks that take care of updating the options
     // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps