In this time of super-tech, you might be considered a ‘crazy stuck in the mud’ to not be thinking seriously about mobile phone videography and what it means for the future of cinematic video. So as I am sure you are not a ‘crazy stuck in the mud’  you may have been as excited about the new iPhone 12 Pro Max as we were.

Huge screen, bigger sensor, lower f-stops, larger lenses, Dolby Vision HDR and the A14 Bionic six-core CPU…it’s all too much to take in at once. I would even go as far as to say that reading the specs for this iPhone was like reading some form of tech-erotica.

iPhone 12 pro max in gold

iPhone 12 Pro Max Gold next to its box

So if you want to get more from your mobile videography in the future then please read on and we will give you our pros and the cons and what we found out when we started shooting with the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

iPhone 12 Pro Max - Some Basic Info:

The main wide camera has a 26 mm-equivalent f/1.6 lens in front of a 12 MP sensor. It features a sensor-based optical stabilisation system, which is a first for Apple (most phone camera modules shift the lens rather than the sensor to offset camera movement). 

There’s an ultra-wide 13 mm-equivalent camera and also a 65 mm-equivalent tele-module that offers a 2.5x zoom over the main camera. There is a LiDAR sensor for building depth maps. On paper, the iPhone 12 Pro Max has the most impressive imaging capabilities to date in an Apple phone.

iPhone 12 Pro Max line-up

So how does the iPhone 12 Pro Max perform?

The Dolby Vision HDR support does indeed deliver the high dynamic range it promised and there was pleasant tone mapping when our video was played back on a compatible display. Dynamic range displayed a wide improvement, though some highlights still clipped in extreme situations.

Texture and noise were well balanced, with low noise and plenty of detail present when shooting outdoors or in moderate indoor lighting. Light levels had to get quite low before noise became intrusive and the detail dropped. Colour was generally pleasant, despite some slight white balance casts that were sometimes visible. Autofocus was accurate and fast, with quick, smooth shifts when our subject distance changed. Stabilisation was very effective both when we were walking and running. Exposure is generally accurate.

Overall video performance - excellent.

Showing the lenses of the iPhone 12 Pro Max

The new larger lenses on the iPhone 12 Pro Max

Some negative Issues

It was only when we tried to use our third-party utilities such as lenses, gimbals and filters that we realised the price for Apple's secrecy around this iPhone was paid by third party support businesses which were mostly pushed off the cliff by Apple on the day the iPhone 12 Pro Max was launched.

DJI Osmo 3 gimbal

The iPhone 12 Pro Max was just too heavy for it to handle. While it did balance at a stretch, the gimbal simply collapsed when things started to move more sportily.  Even using the available counterweights to try and spread the weight just made things worse.

Mounted on the DJI Osmo

Movi Cinema Robot gimbal  

The iPhone 12 pro Max swapped the position of the wide camera (26 mm) to the inside of the phone body with the result that when the phone is mounted on the Movi Cinema Robot gimbal the centre motor post is visible in the shot. This is also the situation if you try to use the native ultra wide (13mm)

Movi Cinema Robot gimbal

Moment Lenses

to mount these onto the iPhone 12 Pro max you have to have a Moment case for the iPhone. The secrecy around this iPhone meant that Moment had no chance to have a case ready for when the iPhone 12 Pro Max was launched and are talking about Jan/Feb 2021 before they can supply the cases we need to mount our lenses onto.

Moment lenses and case

GOBO Filters

To mount these we needed our Moment Lenses and of course we could not mount them because there is no appropriate iPhone case available just now.

In Summary

The iPhone 12 Pro Max is a massive step forward on the journey towards achieving cinematic videography with a mobile phone and it’s a journey we should all enjoy.  Any time I say something negative about this iPhone I simply try to remember that it is a pocket-sized phone/computer that has over 11 billion transistors inside it…crazy and amazing…just like the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

If you’d like to see the time-lapse work we have delivered for others visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions or think we got something wrong or simply want to let us know what we missed… e-mail us at [email protected].

With the iPhone 11 Pro Max, anyone can become a photography superstar. But as great as the camera system on this phone is, I thought...why not try taking it to the next level. 

So ‘Creative shooting...with a few juicy accouterments’  became my mantra and I embarked on a journey to find out how to ‘up my game’.

iPhone 11 Pro Max

The biggest hurdle I faced was knowing where to start - so if you don’t know where to start then let me help you. I was instantly overwhelmed by the number of options to be considered. 

From optics to filters, to stabilizers and so on - there is something for everyone and an option for whatever you need. 

So to save you the leg work and preserve your sanity, I have done the legwork for you and pulled together some of the best add-ons I found. Let’s get into it, shall we?

 

Transform your lens options!

Same lens = same shots = boredom.

Your choice of the lens determines how you will view the world and as a creative you should always be looking to shake things up.

You could try being different from everyone else simply by using a fisheye - it will give you stunning distortions on all your shots.

An anamorphic lens that will make your shots look like those in Star Wars.

A telephoto prime will give you sharp, crystal clear detail on anything you focus on, while a macro will let you capture a close-up of a raindrop on a spider's web.

Any of these lenses will make your shots hugely different from those around you and they are not that expensive to buy.

There are lots of brands and types so whether you're an Instagrammer or a Youtuber - have some fun by transforming your lens collection.

The following M-Series lenses are now part of my own professional gear:

14mm fisheye

58mm telephoto

10mm Macro

1:33 Anamorphic

Each one of these has reshaped what I can do with my iPhone 11 Pro Max and I love it. I recommend that you should check them out.

 

The Transformative Power of Filters

While we all love a sunny day, it’s a challenge when eye-searingly bright sunshine is ruining your images. 

You have to be able to control light if you want to shoot your best. 

You could always move away from the sun... you could change your camera's position and get the sun behind you...or you could just go for delicious ice cream and come back another day, but the better option is -  use a filter.

 

Filters will allow you to take control of bright light situations but it’s important that you understand what a filter does.

They can:

1. reduce the light coming into your camera

2. change your shot's colour when your creative demands it

3. eliminate glare from reflective surfaces like glass and water

Again, I would say there are lots of brands and types out there and with filters quality is important.

For my filters, I went to GOBE – acknowledged specialists in professional quality filters. I bought a 62mm CPL and a 62mm ND 2 – 400.

They were not cheap but are very high quality. I would like to say ‘bring out the sunshine' but I live in Scotland.

Stabilization!

For static shots I've always used a tripod to ensure my iPhone 11 Pro Max was steady while recording...it also allows my hands to be free for more other things - like sweeping away wasps).

However when I’m on the move...either walking, running or riding a bike that's when I want to have smoother shots.

The answer?

‘Stabilization’ - it's how to stop your camera from wobbling around.

The tool that can do this is called a ‘stabilizer’ or ‘gimbal’ and is often quite a small, handheld device into which you sit your phone.

Some simple balancing is required before they work effectively but it's not a very tricky job.

When you have done that you are basically good to go.

The DJI Osmo Mobile 3 - Available from Heliguy for £99 (click the image above to go the Heliguy website)

 

Now you have a stabilizer on your phone the difference will be quite dramatic, transforming your options of how you shoot things.

Apart from the price tag, 6 other things you may want to consider when looking at stabilizers are:

1. Is my phone compatible ?

2. Is it easy to operate?

3. How heavy is it to carry?

4. Are the motors powerful enough for my camera and lens?

5. Do I need to buy counterweights?

6. Operational running time before recharging?

I discovered that with my add-ons rigged onto my iPhone 11 Pro Max that I would need two stabilized setups to cover my options so I went for the ‘DJI Osmo 3’ and the ‘Freely Movi Cinema Robot’.

Check them out... both are truly awesome stabilizers and totally reliable.

The Freefly Movi Cinema Robot - Available for £279 from Heliguy (click the image above to go to the Heliguy website)

 

I went on a great learning curve with all the above and it has taken me time to get the best out of each.

But I'm happy to say I've been using my gear for a while now and I'm delighted with the results I'm getting from working with the iPhone 11 Pro Max.

As a professional filmmaker, I can honestly say that these 3 add-ons have been game-changing and have rekindled and inspired my enthusiasm for shooting with the iPhone 11 Pro max.

I hope they will do the same for you.

Visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions or think we got something wrong or simply want to let us know what we missed... e-mail us at [email protected] or give us a call on 0131 622 0220.