Amber Neely
Apple shares a behind-the-scenes look at how it used the iPhone 15 Max to shoot the footage used in its October 30 Apple Event.
Apple utilized its recently released iPhone 15 Pro Max with a new USB-C connector as the primary camera to shoot its "Scary Fast" Apple Event. The event was shot under the cover of night at the iconic Apple Park, demonstrating the device's capabilities, especially in low-light conditions.
As the company points out, the iPhone 15 Pro Max's USB-C connector offers data transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps with a compatible USB 3 cable. This enables new workflows, such as recording ProRes videos directly onto an external SSD drive. The production team can quickly adjust footage and improve efficiency. Apple Log's dynamic range offers greater flexibility during post-production.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max supports ProRes video capture up to 4K60 fps with Apple Log encoding for better post-production color grading. Also, both the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max support the global standard for color workflows, the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES).
Apple also released a short video of how this feat was accomplished.
Apple used the SpaceCam rig to integrate the iPhone 15 Pro Max as the main camera, allowing for seamless capture of complex shots.
The use of the Blackmagic Camera app, designed exclusively for iOS users, provided the crew with a familiar interface and the same powerful tools found in Blackmagic Design's digital film cameras. This allowed the team to maintain their traditional filmmaking techniques, including using cranes, dollies, and even drones to capture scenes and showcase the new M3 MacBook Pro lineup.
Released in September, Blackmagic Camera is available for free on the App Store and supports Apple Log encoding on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
Malcolm Owen
9 Comments
I'm not quite sure a $1,000 camera strapped to an $100,000 rig is what most people think of when they see "Shot On iPhone"...
The fact we are even having this conversation shows just how incredible smartphone cameras have become over the last decade.
If you had told me that this level of quality was going to be possible on a smart phone the size of the iPhone 15 Pro Max back in 2007 when the OG iPhone launched I would have laughed you out of the room. Sure it was clear back then that smartphone processing power would get better and better, but at the time there was a clear limit to what you could do with optical glass and image sensors. Sure, I expected them to get better, but never thought it would hit the level we are currently at.
Looking back at the pics I took on my original iPhone compared to what is possible now? It's incredible. All bets are off for what these devices will do in 15 more years.
The behind the scenes thing here is marketing genius. I rather suspect it played heavily into Apple's decision to hold a 30m October event. "A two trillion dollar company uses the equipment you can buy from them to make...well...two trillion dollars."
I can say my iPhone 15 Pro Max camera is superb. I didn't buy it just for the camera, as my Xr needed replacement anyway. But...damn.