Modern Apple smartphones are equipped with an 8 Mpx camera. The resolution, of course, is not the highest, but with the help of current methods of shooting and image processing, video can compete in quality even with many amateur cameras. Using iPhone 5s, 5, 5c or 4S models you can achieve very good pictures in Full HD format.
Some reporters and even regular bloggers can shoot great stories using the iPhone. Moreover, the quality of the video allows you to demonstrate the material on YouTube video hosting, or on television. Apple recently demonstrated the camera capabilities of the iPhone 5S with a professional short film in honor of the Mac's birthday. You can achieve approximately the same result yourself, only by resorting to some video recording technologies. You'll also need a few iOS apps, a couple of accessories, and some enthusiasm.
Download a good photography program
Replace the pre-installed Camera application with a more advanced program.
For all its convenience, it does not allow you to use the potential of the iPhone video camera due to the limited number of settings. Mobile filming experts recommend the Filmic Pro app. This is one of the most advanced video creation programs for iPhone. It will allow you to manually adjust exposure, focus, white balance, program different camera modes, select the aspect ratio of the frame, use markings for the correct composition and set the frame rate.
FiLMiC Pro
FiLMiC Inc
Price: 1.00 rubles
Download
Price: 1.00 rubles
If Filmic Pro is too expensive for you, try the simplified but cheaper alternative ProMovie Recorder+.
appbox fallback https://apps.apple.com/ru/app/id1184204602
How to improve photos on iPhone
Few people know, but the iPhone has built-in tools that allow you to make your photo better. With their help, you can flexibly adjust shutter speed, shadows, sharpness, clarity, and remove noise. But judging by some photos on Instagram, not everyone uses this feature.
To quickly improve your photography on iPhone , you need to:
- Go to the Photos app.
- Select the required photo.
- Click on the Edit button in the upper right corner.
- Next, tap on the magic wand icon.
- Done, the iPhone itself will select all the necessary parameters for you.
A primitive setting that few people know about.
It must be said that the smartphone does not always add the changes that you would like to see in this photo. In the same menu you can configure everything manually without any problems. You just need to swipe to the left from Auto mode and adjust each parameter individually. Take ten minutes to understand how the settings work and take better shots.
Buy a tripod or stabilizer
Shaky hands can easily ruin your video. If cinematic smoothness of the picture is important to you, use special accessories.
For static shooting, you can purchase a tripod. Choose any of them, as long as its height suits your needs. But most often, tripods do not have an iPhone mount. So you may need a special holder like the Square Jellyfish. To buy a good tripod and holder, $50 is enough.
If you want to shoot without shaking while on the move, use a stabilizer. This accessory is more expensive than a tripod, but is ideal for dynamic videos. One of the most popular stabilizers, Zhiyun Smooth Q, costs about $100.
Zhiyun Smooth Q. Signature: www.amazon.com
Don't use digital zoom
Software zooming degrades video quality. The image becomes grainy and loses sharpness. Therefore, it is better not to use it unless it is really necessary.
If you want to get closer to an individual subject, if possible, move closer to it and shoot from a shorter distance. Another option is to purchase a lens with optical zoom. This accessory will allow you to zoom in on the image without losing quality.
The Apple website presents sets of lenses for different iPhone models from the company's partners. For example, the olloclip 4-IN-1 kit includes four lenses with different types of lenses. It includes 10x and 15x zoom lenses. You can also purchase lenses from many other manufacturers at any hardware store.
Applications
The installed video recording application in iOS 7 copes with the assigned tasks perfectly. However, in addition to it, you can use additional software that will help you apply color to the image, special effects, or simply adjust the settings.
SlowCam
The flagship iPhone 5S gives users the amazing ability to shoot videos in slow motion. This functionality allows many photographers and camera operators to bring their wide variety of ideas to life. Unfortunately, iPhone 5 owners do not have this option unless they first install the SlowCam app.
Using this software, you can enable Slow-mo mode on your iPhone 5/5C at any time during video recording. Although the camera will still record video at 60-120fps, when you play back the footage you will see the image play back at 30fps. Thanks to SlowCam, even owners of older iPhone models can use this wonderful effect today.
The software is available on the App Store trading platform for only 66 rubles.
Filmic PRO
A very convenient and multifunctional application for iOS 7, which greatly simplifies the process of recording video. The functionality of the software is very extensive: zoom, auto and manual focus, exposure adjustment, locking values, and so on. The user can set the frame rate (30-1 fps). To lock focus you only need to hold your finger on the smartphone screen for 2 seconds. The app makes it easy to process videos shot with external lenses. After work, videos can be quickly uploaded via FTP to Dropbox, YouTube or social media.
With such a range of possibilities, the developers have provided a simple and user-friendly interface. You will master the application very quickly, even if you are new to video editing. It is worth noting that the software installs and launches very quickly on iOS.
The program is available for download in the App Store for $5
Action Movie
The program demonstrates excellent capabilities for creating special effects. You can even superimpose explosions on the picture, which look quite realistic. The application will appeal to all action movie fans. After all, with just a few steps you can add a huge spider, a falling helicopter, a rocket, a tornado, an alien ship, and so on to the video.
The software is freely available in the App Store. At the same time, some special effects remain paid, but the application also has many free ones.
Movie 360
A fairly simple, but functional application, with functions similar to Instagram. Users can add a vintage shooting effect to a video, create a color mask for individual frames, and more. You can also zoom and pause during recording (which does not cancel the current video or start a new one). All novice users can easily understand the program, and the functions will be useful for both beginners and mobile photography professionals.
The cost of the application in the App Store is $5.
Framographer
The software is designed primarily for recording Time-Lapse videos. The time lapse effect looks very interesting, and if you are a fan of this style, then you should definitely install Framographer on your device. With a simple and user-friendly interface, the program allows you to create real miracles with videos.
The recording mode can be easily switched in two clicks; you can use the front camera, grid alignment, flash, and so on. Capture Mode allows you to take a closer look at compositing technology. The frame rate, interval and loop duration can be set manually, which is a huge plus. Just check out the effect in the video.
Framographer costs $5 in the App Store.
8mm
Thanks to this program, you can shoot video with an 8mm camera effect through your iPhone. Your videos will have a sophisticated retro style, which always adds some charm to the picture.
The user also has access to a huge number of filters and lenses that can be easily applied to the video. Professional editors also have similar effects, but to use them you will need a lot of time and the necessary knowledge for this.
In the App Store 8mm is sold at a price of 33 rubles.
Horizon
The software provides the ability to record videos in a horizontal orientation when you hold your iPhone in a vertical position or even at an angle.
To determine the position, the program uses the gyroscope built into the smartphone. Right during shooting, you can change the vertical mode to horizontal, and the video will not be distorted in any way. You also have the opportunity to change the resolution during recording to rectangular parameters - 1080p (16:9), 720p (16:9) or square - 640 x 640 or 480 x 480.
The settings allow you to set the video quality and resolution. Moreover, it is possible to apply eight available filters to all recordings, and the user can immediately send the resulting video to social networks or YouTube via AirDrop. Just take a look at the video from the creators of the application, and you will immediately understand everything:
However, there are some disadvantages: when held vertically, the iPhone only records a small part of the image. This can be compared to using digital zoom. Thus, significantly fewer objects fit into the frame, the viewing angle is not as impressive, and at the same time the actual resolution of the video is reduced. If you rotate the device when shooting through Horizon, the image will jerk. Well, on top of everything else, the program cannot be activated from the lock screen, as is possible with standard software.
Horizon works on Apple devices starting with iPhone 4S/iPad 2 and above. However, on the 4S and iPad 2, you can only shoot video in 640x480 resolution. Now the promotional price of Horizon is only 33 rubles, but soon the creator of the application will increase the price to 66 rubles.
iMovie
The iMovie program is perfect for editing your videos. Many of us are used to doing this on a PC through Adobe Premier, Final Cut or Sony Vegas. But sometimes, there is no time to download the video to the computer, and editing needs to be done right now. In such cases, iMovie will be an indispensable assistant for you. Through the application, you can carry out basic video editing, and the resulting result can be immediately uploaded to social media or YouTube. The easiest way to edit is through iMovie.
You don't need to understand all the intricacies and nuances of the application. The functionality is very clear for all users. You can drag certain sections from other videos, your own photos, and audio recordings onto the editing line. The user has access to several special effects, various themes and a mode for shooting real trailers. iMovie is the ultimate quick editing app.
All new iPhone users receive the software for free. If you purchased your device before the release of iOS 7, then the cost of the application will be 169 rubles.
All of the above programs will greatly help you in the shooting process. At the same time, we showed only a small part of what the App Store offers today. However, even these applications will be indispensable assistants for you at first.
Select an external microphone
Video is not only an image, but also a sound. Unfortunately, the iPhone's built-in microphone doesn't allow you to record high-quality audio.
If you want to reduce the amount of noise and increase the volume and clarity of the sound, it is worth buying an external audio recording device. Some microphones, like the Shure MV88, attach directly to the iPhone. Others, like the Rode smartLav+, can be attached directly to clothing thanks to the cable. Choose a format that is convenient for you.
Shure MV88. Source: www.amazon.com
Don't forget about the general shooting rules
- Use the rule of thirds and shoot in a grid.
- Remember the lighting. The iPhone gives an excellent picture in daylight and in normally lit buildings, but in the dark even a flashlight and flash won’t save you. The video will be grainy and dark. Try to shoot in good lighting conditions.
- Select an important subject for the frame and focus attention on it.
- Instead of one long video, create a series of short ones using different angles, and then glue the fragments together to form a whole. This will give your video some dynamics.
Work with lighting
The smartphone camera does a good job of recording outdoors during daylight hours. In other cases, there is no need to hope for a miracle. To get a good picture you will definitely need additional lighting.
The flash of the smartphone itself will not help here; even several flashes or flashlights aimed at the subject will not give a good result.
It is better to use the cheapest “lightboxes” or even table lamps with a soft glow that will not glare on the skin or various objects.
