Can the iPhone 13 be a Cinematography Tool?

At Zacuto, we’re very excited about the video capabilities in Apple’s new iPhone 13, especially the new Cinematic Mode and the ability to record in ProRes. Our team members have been using the iPhone 13 for some time now, and we’re convinced that it has the ability to replace a more traditional, professional video camera on some jobs.

Acclaimed cinematographer, Greig Fraser, and Oscar-winning director, Kathryn Bigelow, seem to agree. Previous generations of the iPhone have already been used to shoot films like Sean Baker’s Tangerine (2015) and Steven Soderbergh’s Unsane (2018), but the iPhone 13 takes some truly significant steps forward.

Apple’s new Cinematic mode records in Dolby Vision HDR and is able to apply a digital shallow depth-of-field effect in real-time, emulating the look of a much larger image sensor. Focus and depth-of-field changes can even be adjusted in post-production. The App store also has third-party camera applications, like FiLMiC Pro, which enable internal ProRes recording on the iPhone 13 and provides the sort of controls and other features which professional videographers demand.

With a form factor that is easy to take with you everywhere, iPhone 13 is literally a pocket cinema camera. It may not replace all cameras all the time, but a filmmaking tool of this caliber has never been so accessible. As more and more filmmakers embrace this new technology, we at Zacuto are very excited to see what they will do with it.

Here are 3 ways you can use the iPhone 13 for filmmaking

Videos for Social Media

Instagram and TikTok are two of the most important platforms for video content, and since these platforms are optimized for smartphone users, the iPhone 13 is uniquely suited to this type of content.

Short and Feature Length Films

Several filmmakers have already used the iPhone to shoot world class, narrative and documentary films. Here is a brief rundown of the features which make the iPhone 13 the best smartphone for aspiring filmmakers.

• Cinematic video recording 1080p/30fps
• Dolby Vision HDR video recording 4K/60fps
• 6.7” Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion
• Discrete telephoto, wide, and ultra-wide lenses
• 6x optical zoom ratio
• LiDAR night mode scanner

Corporate Video and Marketing Videos

Companies big and small are buying video content like never before. Video is one of the most effective ways to showcase your brand and celebrate your company culture. The market is growing for filmmakers who can produce, shoot, and edit corporate videos; and the iPhone 13 makes it easier than ever to get in on the action. 

Of course, no matter how you use the iPhone 13, you should know that Zacuto is dedicated to providing creative professionals with the tools they need to take their iPhone videography to the next level. Product announcements…. incoming. 

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