Feels like a lot of this isn’t an ugly truth about the iPhone 16 as much as it is about any small sensor, ultra portable and always available camera. They provide some much needed flexibility, but also have some clear limitations.
The idea covered in this video has brought up a really important picture for me specifically and I don't really see big RUclips channels cover this - pricing. I'm an author and I've toyed around the idea of making a RUclips channel for a while centered around writing and literature. I've done the research, and for the country I live in, with the demographics and culture and tradition and all that - I'll be a leader in my niche in the RUclips community. I've already got a year's worth of content planned out and scripted, and I need a camera to shoot it all. Now I own a Nothing Phone 2 and that phone just like the iPhone as you mention, has that "shot on smartphone" look, and it is something I simply cannot unsee. I did a filmmaking and photography course so I know my way around editing and shooting. But the initial price in investment is the real problem. A ZV-E10 with another 35mm prime lens costs less than an iPhone 16 Pro, but the marketing of Apple and consequently other RUclips channels like MKBHD an Tyler all say this is remarkably good, but good at what? And at what cost? It has confused me so much, I just have paralysis by analysis all the time. So now that you show that the iPhone still has that "iPhone look", I really don't think I want that, especially considering that what I have in mind is a pretty major project and is aimed at supplementing my career as an author. Thank you so much Sam!
And the LOG video file sizes? I simply won't have the budget to buy an SSD after the purchase of this iPhone just to shoot. And storage for editing later? I don't have a high end editing setup either, just an iPad Pro M1 which works fine with simple 4K. All your video did was cement my decision to invest in a mirrorless camera and a cine lens if I have the budget! Really appreciate this video! PS and buy a Mac Mini for editing, haha.
Thanks Sudhir! Glad you found this helpful! I think getting a mirrorless camera makes a lot of sense in your case. The iPhone 16 Pro does a great job at being a phone with a pretty solid camera attached but if you want to start using it more seriously for filmmaking then you'll need to invest in more accessories to really get the best quality and functionality out of it. It may even be worth checking out used mirrorless cameras to help with budget as well. Hope this helps and thanks for watching!
The magsafe ssd is just perfect for the apple log. There are plenty of them on amazon. It's extremely small and doesn't get in the way at all. Sony A7III doesn't do what the iphone does: phone calls, sms, social posting, GPS tagging, 4K 120fps, etc. But those are two different tools for different kind of jobs. It's funny but this is the reality right now: I have 20 employees and some of them need to take products photos. And almost all of them like the iPhone more than the sony A7R5 because it's easier to use and the iPhone built in lidar scanner can turn products into 3D models so they can use AI to create different scenes. This type of product photography just can't be done with the traditional DSRL / mirrorless camera setup.
You should try the Blackmagic camera app with manual video settings, maybe it gets rid of that “iPhone look” I’m also starting with 16pro and cinematic videos and from my tests even in terrible night time condition it looked cinematic just with that 2x zoom lens and manual settings I couldn’t believe that I shot it on iPhone just play with it ✌️
honestly, I got a 1tb ssd for like 60 bucks on amazon and it records fine. 180 minutes of 24 fps log but only 37 min of the 120fps. Still plenty for a smaller shoot.
Yeah, i hear you that not everyone will be able to shoot iphone video as good as Apple did in their commercials. Apple used expensive lighting and other equipment to make those commercials look so good. Duh. 😂 You could give the average person a professional $30,000 cinema camera and most people couldn’t make the video look good without expensive lights, tripods etc. Will iPhones replace expensive cinema cameras for most professionals? Of course not, but some professionals are using the iPhone for projects. And certainly many people are creating amazing works of art & content on them. They are amazing tools for creativity. Could they improve? Of course. And they will every year. But it’s also wild how far iphone & smartphone cameras have come so far! Competition is great. And smartphone camera tech will just keep getting better.
No, you can record straight to the internal memory on both in prores. Up to 30fps I believe (maybe 60). It just has a popup that warns you when space is too low for it.
Feels like a lot of this isn’t an ugly truth about the iPhone 16 as much as it is about any small sensor, ultra portable and always available camera. They provide some much needed flexibility, but also have some clear limitations.
We really fall with the brands advertisements....😅
The idea covered in this video has brought up a really important picture for me specifically and I don't really see big RUclips channels cover this - pricing. I'm an author and I've toyed around the idea of making a RUclips channel for a while centered around writing and literature. I've done the research, and for the country I live in, with the demographics and culture and tradition and all that - I'll be a leader in my niche in the RUclips community. I've already got a year's worth of content planned out and scripted, and I need a camera to shoot it all. Now I own a Nothing Phone 2 and that phone just like the iPhone as you mention, has that "shot on smartphone" look, and it is something I simply cannot unsee. I did a filmmaking and photography course so I know my way around editing and shooting. But the initial price in investment is the real problem. A ZV-E10 with another 35mm prime lens costs less than an iPhone 16 Pro, but the marketing of Apple and consequently other RUclips channels like MKBHD an Tyler all say this is remarkably good, but good at what? And at what cost? It has confused me so much, I just have paralysis by analysis all the time. So now that you show that the iPhone still has that "iPhone look", I really don't think I want that, especially considering that what I have in mind is a pretty major project and is aimed at supplementing my career as an author. Thank you so much Sam!
And the LOG video file sizes? I simply won't have the budget to buy an SSD after the purchase of this iPhone just to shoot. And storage for editing later? I don't have a high end editing setup either, just an iPad Pro M1 which works fine with simple 4K. All your video did was cement my decision to invest in a mirrorless camera and a cine lens if I have the budget! Really appreciate this video! PS and buy a Mac Mini for editing, haha.
Thanks Sudhir! Glad you found this helpful! I think getting a mirrorless camera makes a lot of sense in your case. The iPhone 16 Pro does a great job at being a phone with a pretty solid camera attached but if you want to start using it more seriously for filmmaking then you'll need to invest in more accessories to really get the best quality and functionality out of it. It may even be worth checking out used mirrorless cameras to help with budget as well. Hope this helps and thanks for watching!
The magsafe ssd is just perfect for the apple log. There are plenty of them on amazon. It's extremely small and doesn't get in the way at all.
Sony A7III doesn't do what the iphone does: phone calls, sms, social posting, GPS tagging, 4K 120fps, etc. But those are two different tools for different kind of jobs.
It's funny but this is the reality right now:
I have 20 employees and some of them need to take products photos. And almost all of them like the iPhone more than the sony A7R5 because it's easier to use and the iPhone built in lidar scanner can turn products into 3D models so they can use AI to create different scenes. This type of product photography just can't be done with the traditional DSRL / mirrorless camera setup.
No need for an SSD - you can use the BlackMagic app to record ProRes at its highest FPS (at least on the 15 PM) internally.
Exactly! BlackMagic is free, does LOG with way more options incl. a really good one that saves space. Why this is not discussed is a mystery to me.
Love the breakdown !
Nearly spat my drink out when you explained the log memory 😂 Great video, appreciated every point.
I think if you're using the iPhone camera app exclusively you may have some points, but the Blackmagic camera app solves most of the issues.
You should try the Blackmagic camera app with manual video settings, maybe it gets rid of that “iPhone look” I’m also starting with 16pro and cinematic videos and from my tests even in terrible night time condition it looked cinematic just with that 2x zoom lens and manual settings I couldn’t believe that I shot it on iPhone just play with it ✌️
Danny Boyle and the cast of 28 Years Later are shaking in their boots
Genuinely impressed with the log footage but the memory footprint is atrocious lmao
when i saw that i knew.....i have to get the 1tb iphone if i upgrade
honestly, I got a 1tb ssd for like 60 bucks on amazon and it records fine. 180 minutes of 24 fps log but only 37 min of the 120fps. Still plenty for a smaller shoot.
you mentioned dark knight, do you think matt reeves should undertake the iphone 16 pro as the main camera for the batman 2?
Great video. I'm an informed consumer. subbed and following.
Yeah, i hear you that not everyone will be able to shoot iphone video as good as Apple did in their commercials. Apple used expensive lighting and other equipment to make those commercials look so good. Duh. 😂 You could give the average person a professional $30,000 cinema camera and most people couldn’t make the video look good without expensive lights, tripods etc. Will iPhones replace expensive cinema cameras for most professionals? Of course not, but some professionals are using the iPhone for projects. And certainly many people are creating amazing works of art & content on them. They are amazing tools for creativity. Could they improve? Of course. And they will every year. But it’s also wild how far iphone & smartphone cameras have come so far! Competition is great. And smartphone camera tech will just keep getting better.
15 pro, requires external ssd drive to shoot pro res, 16 is no different,
No, you can record straight to the internal memory on both in prores. Up to 30fps I believe (maybe 60). It just has a popup that warns you when space is too low for it.
If you are making a film with an iphone pro, then you are not a real filmmaker.