No, the iPhone 13 Pro is not yet the real “Pro” of video

By promoting Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max as real cameras, Apple is trying to target video experts. But on closer inspection, several barriers clearly restrict this use in a film set.

L’iPhone 13 Pro // Source: Apple

In recent years, Apple has decided to offer in addition to its classic iPhones, Pro versions. This was already the case IPhone 11 Pro And IPhone 12 Pro, And the new generation iPhone is no exception. This week, the US manufacturer dedicated two versions of the iPhone 13 to experts iPhone 13 Pro et iPhone 13 Pro Max.

For previous generations, Apple in particular has been on the photo and video side justifying this variation. “Pro”. Both smartphones benefit from a third photo gallery on the back so you can use a photo gallery with a telephoto lens. They are fitted with many functions for video. Last year, the manufacturer added a lidar sensor and a new mode to better scan a 3D environment. Pro For the film. Videos use 10-bit HDR or Dolby Vision, 4K recording mode at 60 FPS.

Cinema and Pros mode on the iPhone

On this new generationIPhone 13 Pro And 13 Pro Max, If we explicitly see the Pro in the photo, the Lidar Will be used in the brand new mode “Cinema”. It is actually a software management that focuses on on-the-fly portrait mode as already allowed in a photo mode.

L’iPhone 13 Pro // Source: Apple

So, videographers can choose which subject to focus on in the video during the recording of the shots … but with a backstory. Apple describes this feature in detail, both on the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro, and there are a lot of promotional clips with two-time Oscar-winning director Katherine Bigelow (Point interval, Miners, Zero Dark Thirty) Enough to highlight video functionality designed for video professionals on its new smartphones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3CZX-lnAIc

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Another innovation put forward by Apple is the possibility of registration Files directly on Apple ProRes 4K at 30p On the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max. Launched in 2007, this codec can record more information than a regular video file, especially in 4: 2: 2 10 bits. However, with the advent of this new codec two limitations emerge. First, it is not known which version of ProRes will be supported on the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max (ProRes 422, ProRes 4444, ProRes RAW, etc.) and only the codec integration will take place on the record. For the second time, “Later in the year”.

Lack of crippling memory cards in a movie set

But these are not the only problems discussed by the functionality of this iPhone 13, sold for video experts. One of them comes from the huge problem that the use of the iPhone in particular brings with it a movie set based on logistics. Sure, Apple smartphones are more compact than real cinema cameras, but they have one big problem: the lack of support for memory cards. Unlike professional cameras, filmmakers can remove the memory card to insert another one before moving on to the next line, so the iPhone 13 Pro must empty the phone’s storage – so insert it – before proceeding to the next step.

“Once your phone is full, you can no longer return, you have to wait to empty your storage to move to the next queue, which paralyzes 90% of experts”, Explains Anthony Wonner, director and editor at FrontRoy. One issue is so significant that Apple has largely highlighted the advent of the Apple Pros codec, which can be difficult to deal with with substantial bandwidth. For example, ProRes 422 HQ (4: 2: 2 10 bits) Video goes up to 220 MB / s or 13.2 GB per minute, ProRes 4444 XQ (4: 4: 4: 4 in 12 bits) goes up to 495 MB / s or 29.7 GB per minute.

Pump with three cameras on iPhone 13 Pro // Source: Apple

Apple takes the lead in preventing use ProRes on iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max with 128 GB of storage Only. But if you take ProRes 422 HQ as a platform, 256 GB iPhone 13 Pro storage will be filled in just 19 minutes, not even counting the weight of other files.

It’s very embarrassing in the context of a fictional film, for a 90 – minute film, the crew shoots in an average of 64 hours, says Anthony Wonner: “This varies greatly depending on the shooting, placement instructions, budget, and production, but it is usually 16 days shooting for a medium production, 4 hours shooting per day.”.

For now, Apple has not yet announced the version of the Process codec used on the iPhone 13. But as the codec – Apple Pros – points out, Cupertino controls the standard. So we can imagine that the company is introducing a new version of the Pros codec, lighter and lower quality, specially designed for recording on iPhones. “I would not be surprised if it is still compressed 4: 2: 2, or 8-bit 4: 2: 0, reduced compared to current versions”, Advises Anthony Wonner.

A manual system with subscribers who are not always present

After all, for our director, Apple’s sense of priority is the biggest concern when addressing video experts: “Prose Post makes production easier, but there is a discrepancy in providing it on the iPhone before manual mode because we end up with a file with white balance.. I have to say that the iPhone Camera app still does not allow you to capture photos or videos in manual mode. So it is impossible to manage the sensitivity well, adjust the shutter speed or even touch the white balance. For this, users should look for third-party applications such as FiLMiC Pro. But again, the problem is: it is not yet known whether Apple will actually offer ProRes registration on third-party applications.

Anthony Vonner argues that the absence of this manual mode in camera use can penalize professional or semi-pro videographers: “If you want to communicate on a device for video aids, the first thing to do is provide a manual mode”. A comment was shared YouTuber Hardisk, Specializing in video. “In Kathryn Bigelow’s line, without going after the law, we see problems in the videos. We see noise in blacks and burning whites., He tells us.

As far as the videographer is concerned, the main problem with the iPhone 13 is their very small size Photo sensorThis complicates their use in a professional setting: “In the absence of major technological advances, there is usually a concern for smartphone video. The sensor is too small. We can’t allow it in infinite light.”.

The iPhone as a secondary or secondary camera

Hardisk hopes to use the iPhone 13 Pro or 13 Pro Max in movie collections: “Apple may bring in professional workflow features such as the iPhone’s gyroscope to monitor camera movements or the use of a lid to export deep data.”. According to him, the smartphone can be used to shoot a secondary camera, but he can not imagine replacing the iPhone 13 Pro Sony A7S III Or Arry Alexa: “It’s one of the best accessories, it’s a secondary camera, it’s a good tool, but it’s not intended to replace professional cameras.”. An argument put forward by Anthony Vonner: “There are professional applications with the lid that allow you to model 3D objects. It’s interesting, but it’s less in terms of capture.”.

Still, on the Apple side, like the camera manufacturers, the orientation has gradually changed from photo to video. Today, video footage actually supports the argument “Pro” iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max. However, without manual mode, without such small sensors and memory card support, I would not see iPhones replacing red cameras in image galleries.

Finding your way through the technical paper of a camera is not always easy. What is the difference between 4: 2: 2 and 4: 2: 0? Between 8 bits and 10 bits? Between 60i and 30p ….
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