6 July 2016
- The iPhone 6S Plus is the best iPhone for filmmaking
- If you want to shoot and edit on one device, iPads are easiest
- You’ll need accessories like tripod clamps and microphones
If you own an iPhone, you’ve always got a small, easy-to-use camera in your pocket. It’s great for filming where other cameras would attract too much attention. Video quality can be excellent, so they’re increasingly being used for news and documentary. People have even shot feature films with them.
You can even edit on them, though iMovie is a bit cramped on the phone screen. I edit my iPhone video using Final Cut Pro on a Mac.
Both devices can shoot really good quality video in the right circumstances. But to make the most of them, you also need to work within their limitations, so I’ve written some iPad and iPhone filmmaking tips for beginners.
Why doesn’t everybody film on them?
You’ll get soft, ‘noisy’ images in low light, and flare when you shoot into the light. The lens doesn’t zoom, it’s hard to use focus creatively, and the microphone struggles in wind and background noise. But if you avoid shooting in difficult light – and you use the right accessories – you can get remarkably good video out of them.
iPhone or iPad?
iPhones have better cameras than most iPads and they’re easier to handhold.
But the larger iPad screen is better for editing, particularly with teams or groups. So if you want to shoot, edit and share from one device it may be a better choice. Most iPad models are also less expensive than iPhones.
You can shoot on your iPhone then move your clips onto the iPad for editing. Recent iPhones and iPads have a feature called AirDrop, which makes this easy.
If you’re on a tight budget, the iPod Touch is the cheapest device for iOS filmmaking.
Which iPad or iPhone?
Every iPad and iPhone since the 3GS and the iPad 2 can shoot video. All the current iPads and iPhones have 1080p Full HD. Get plenty of memory: video takes up a lot of space, so 16Gb models will fill up quickly. The iPhone 6S or 6S Plus offer the most, with a 128Gb option. The SE only goes up to 64Gb, but that should be enough for most people.
Do I need 4K?
Most people don’t need to create finished videos in 4K Ultra HD format. But if you shoot in 4k you can crop the image to 1080p HD. This effectively gives you a 2X digital zoom with no loss of quality.
Best iPhone for filmmaking: iPhone 6S Plus
The flagship iPhone has the biggest screen, and can shoot 4K Ultra HD and real slow motion (120fps in 1080p HD, or 240fps in 720p). It also has optical image stabilisation for smoother handheld shots. But it’s a bit big as a carry-around phone.
My choice: iPhone 6S
The 6S is a more manageable size than the Plus version, and has all the same features except the optical image stabilisation. (It has ‘cinematic’ digital stabilisation instead.)
Best value: iPhone SE
If you don’t mind the smaller screen, the iPhone SE is great value. It has the same video features as the 6S at a lower price.
Cheapest iOS filmmaking device: iPod Touch
If you’re really on a budget, don’t forget the iPod Touch. It’s smaller, lighter and much cheaper than any iPhone or iPad, but still shoots full HD video.
Best iPad for filmmaking: iPad Pro 9.7
The standard-sized iPad Pro has a better video camera than the more expensive 12.9 inch version. It’s the only iPad that can shoot 4K (though the Air 2 and the bigger iPad Pro can edit it). It also has full 1080p/120 slow motion and cinematic video stabilisation.
My iPad choice: Air 2
This is the iPad I use most on my training: it’s relatively affordable and the screen is big enough for easy editing.
Most affordable iPad: iPad mini 2
The entry-level iPad is small and easy to handhold, though it doesn’t do slow motion.
Essential accessories
The biggest issue with iPhone and iPad filmmaking is shaky video, followed by poor sound.
Keeping it steady
For phones, you could use a selfie stick as a mini-monopod. I prefer to use a clamp with a tripod socket. That lets me mount it on any standard tripod or monopod or a pistol grip for handholding.
I’m currently using the Ztylus Smartphone Rig, available on its own or as part of their Pistol Grip Kit. The rig has a useful cold shoe on top for mounting microphones or lights. I’ve reviewed it as part of my iPhone documentary kit.
The ShoulderPod S1 is another tripod clamp which comes with a handle and strap for handholding.
You could also get an iOgrapher case for iPhones or iPads. These have handles for easy handholding, a tripod socket, a mount for lens adapters, and cold shoes for mounting accessories.
The heavier, more expensive Padcaster is the most professional of the iPad cases. It gives you several different mounting positions for accessories. You can buy it as a bundle including a microphone and wide angle conversion lens. Some bundles, like this one for the iPad mini include a Lenscaster adapter which lets you mount SLR lenses for shallow focus shots.
Sound
To improve the sound, you can connect separate microphones.
The Rode VideoMic Me is a useful, affordable cardioid microphone with an effective windshield.
The Rode smartLav+ is a neat lavalier (tieclip) microphone designed specifically for phones.
You can connect professional microphones as well, but you’ll need an adapter. I’ve done a comparison test of different iPhone microphone options.
Other accessories
Lenses
The cameras on iPads and iPhones don’t go very wide, but you can add wide angle, telephoto and macro conversion lenses. Wide angle adapters are the most useful. You can get in closer and shoot in cramped spaces, and they make camera shake less obvious. But you’ll lose some sharpness.
The Olloclip is a neat standalone lens adaptor for iPhones. It fits on bare phones (without cases) or with the dedicated Ollocase. They are very pocketable though quality isn’t that great. I’ve included samples on my iPhone filmmaking kit page.
The Ztylus Z-Prime telephoto and wide-angle lenses are bigger and sharper, with much less distortion.
If you want to shoot real cinematic widescreen, you could opt for the Moondog Anamorphic converter. (Anamorphic lenses squeeze the image horizontally to fit an ultra wide screen image onto an ordinary sensor). You can buy them to mount on the iPhone 5/5S, or with a 37mm mount to fit on iOgraphers or other cases. The 6/6S version isn’t out yet.
You’ll have a bigger choice of lenses if you buy a case with a built-in lens mount like the iOgrapher or Padcaster.
Stabilisers
For flowing continuous shots, you could get a stabiliser. But I’d recommend getting a simple clamp/pistol grip first: you may find it’s all you need.
The Steadicam Smoothee is a little stabiliser designed for the iPhone and other light cameras. Unlike electronic stabilisers, it doesn’t need a battery, but it’s trickier to learn.
Electronic stabilisers like the Feiyu G4 electronic gimbal are easier to use. But they’re more expensive and have fairly short battery life. (Not all Feiyu gimbals work with all iPhone models – check before buying.)
The more expensive Lanparte HHG-01 is reportedly more durable.
Power
A portable external charger is also a good idea, especially for timelapses. I use an Anker charger.
Apps
Filming
The standard Camera app is easy to use, but I use the more sophisticated FiLMiC Pro: it lets you set manual focus and exposure separately, choose different aspect ratios (screen shapes) and video quality, adjust colour balance, and even ‘pull focus’. It was used to shoot Tangerine, a feature-length iPhone movie selected for the Sundance film festival. But it’s not as stable as the standard Camera app.
Editing
It’s easier to edit on the iPad rather than the iPhone as there’s more screen space.
Apple’s iMovie does a good job and works on both devices. It lets you add cutaways and voiceovers, use just the audio from clips, and insert and add motion to still photos. But it’s only designed to work with video filmed on iOS devices.
Pinnacle Studio looks and feels more like a traditional editing application. It has the big advantage that it’ll work with footage that’s been filmed on non-Apple devices.
Training
I provide iPad/iPhone filmmaking training in the UK and Europe for charities, businesses, public sector organisations and schools.
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