The Blackmagic Camera App - Who is it really for?! 

07:07 i didnt really mean when you get home 😅 While true, i was more thinking of a remote editor can start work, your office can start reviewing the footage... or when you jump onto your laptop, the project and footage is ready to go. That sort of thing. You get it. You understand my jargon by now 😆

It's for Filmic users looking forward to telling Filmic to take their rent seeking and shove it.

I would say that blackmagic is doing what everyone is afraid to do - experimenting. They release App and new camera platform just to start a new thing, just to make the ball rolling and find out what everyone thinks of it and wants to do with it. I mean, it's working, we are all talking and you are suggesting great ideas, I mean this is special and priceless attitude of bm design.

The camera App just blows me away. It is much more than just a marketing ploy. It has some real serious potential to upset a bunch of video camera makers. Anyone with an iPhone can generate some serious video files with proxies directly to an external SSD. I did some initial tests with an iPhone SE and the results came out great. Waiting for my iPhone 15 Pro Max to drop on Friday. It is a game changer. Just thinK of having Resolve on the iPad Pro along with using your iPhone with this App. You are ready to create some video's. Great option for those on limited budget. Long Live Blackmagic for having the impact on the video market. Another game changer when we look back on it. Cannot poo pah it away!

I film with an iPhone 12 mini. It’s definitely for guys like me who want more than the native camera app can handle. It’s comparable to beast cam and I use davinci studio for iPad already so I’m sure it will work seamlessly. Time will tell I’ve begun filming with it all throughout this past week I will put together a small project soon and see.

I added videography recently to my photography services for commercial work. So I invested in a Leica SL2S and had to choose between FCP and DaVinci Resolve. I choose for the latter and I am happy with my choice. So Leica + DR for commercial work. For private backpacking trips I can use the iPhone with the BM app and kind of keep my workflow as it is with DR. So that's great. Oh and btw thanks for sharing cause truly yesterday evening I nearly took a Filmic Pro subscription.

Well I don't have an Apple device overall so this stuff sadly misses me, if they would release it for android, that would be cool, but i understand it would be much harder because of the different typ of devices

I LOVE the BM iPhone app. I'd never really want to use it to shoot a feature film or something (though in all honesty, there have been features shot on iPhones), but it certainly makes the iPhone a viable "B" and "C" cam when in a pinch, as it allows the phone to come much closer to matching the BM cameras.

I'm just starting rehearsals on a short film and this app couldn't have come at a better time. To be able to shoot a pre-visualisation/proof of concept before we lock down the shot list is a god send and the fact that it uploads proxies etc. into our black magic eco system is beyond helpful.

I also think it's the perfect testing ground for the initial roll-out of camera to cloud tech! hopefully they learn lots and can implement it across other cameras/platforms without too much fuss

This came at the perfect time for me. I just started working for a content creator that focuses on music festivals and unfortunately you can’t bring professional cameras into those places unless you’re directly hired by the production team of the festival.

I used it on the weekend to video a concert (Paul McCartney). Having the controls readlily accessable, made it easier to make adjustments on the go. I was pleasantly surprised with the results. I was easily able to set and lock the white balance. I did notice that the exposure setting would reset each time I'd stop and start recording. When recording in stereo, the sound image remains the same, unlike the built camera app that changes from stereo to mono when zooming the picture in and out. Now, all it needs is a manual override on the audio levels on the built mics...

Would love to see it on android....iI vlog on my phone so the ability to record on a blackmagic app and do the cloud sync on my phone so my footage is good to go on my laptop for editing in resolve

I like the idea of being able to upload straight from your phone without the camera software. Then it could even be added to android hopefully

The camera app is gold for users adding their mobile phone to their ATEM setup (HDMI Clean Feed)

I saw it as a marketing tool too, but I think it has pro uses too, or may have in the long run depending how it grows - we all know that BM have a habbit of adding great features as they go. That is how DR got to where it is. On the pro side, I can see it as a useful side tool for things like scouting locations, quick testing of light in positions - basically, anything where you want to know "will that work?" but don't want to be carrying a camera in addition to your phone, yet want something that is better than the standard phone app, something that is compatible with the rest of your work. One way or another, a pretty useful thingamy, as long as you have a modern iPhone, of course - mine is too old so I can only run it on my iPad Pro

The app may not be the pro level some people may have expected, it is, however, much better than most apps I've seen that are not free. At least for the iPhone. Marketing or not, I like it and it does serve a nitch.

The app works great for free... I just shoot with the iphone and it creates the proxy on the free version of the cloud and I just down load those from the cloud and use them on the editor... can't complain as it works pretty nice...

I think that the camera app massively enhances videos, in comparison with using the native Apple software. Suddenly a whole new world of control opens up. I would be very interested to know if it would be possible to use the camera app as a clean hdmi out webcam for the MacBook? If so, would the camera app change the iPhone into a viable camera for YT type content?

Wish they would provide NDI streaming from this camera app. Then it could be used for live, with proxies and full quality for post-live edits.

What exactly is "kind of weird" about this app? Seems like a very logical proposition. A way to bring the iPhone into the Blackmagic Resolve ecosystem, which can be used for many things, as a A- or B-cam for vloggers and documentaries, as a way to lure into their DAW regular users interested in getting into video, for those shooting shorts or even features with their smartphones (which are a lot), for photo/video journalists, for larger projects it can be used for location spotting and rough drafts with aspect ratio/lens guidelines, and so on.

Great, I'd probably appreciate de landscape feature while holding the phone in portrait, but I have a Fairphone, not an iPhone.

Hi Alex, thank you for a great video again. I didn't read through all the comments so I don't know if somebody already mentioned it ,but there is a button in the settings under camera option, second down to enable vertical video. Thank you for a great video.

I’ve recently finished an educational and awareness video for a client, this involved multiple angles and often moving subjects and internal and external vehicle shots. For a significant chunk of the film I used several iPhone pros with the Mavis app synced up with Atmos blue time code and then having to download all the files to edit. I see this Blackmagic camera app with cloud integration really speeding up my workflow for projects like this and hopefully a streamlined time code. Another good freebie from BMD 👍

Is there a possibility that the app will eventually be able to remotely control the new 6k pro? I use an ipad mini to do it now with my ronin DJI pro setup, but would love to ditch the xtra stepsa and gear..

I think the idea is to get used to the app and once your skills grow then you get the actual camera.

The app makes a lot of sense to me. If you like to shoot videos of traveling or generally in situations where pulling out your big camera is not an option, it is nice to have a free app that gives me full control of the phone's camera. I also know people doing VFX professionally, and some of them like to pull out their phones if they see a beautiful sunset or generally cool lighting to use as reference photos/videos, and they use camera apps like this. Of course, people doing VFX already know about Blackmagic, but with the app they will see the logo all the time.

I think it's a marketing ploy to give new users the chance to experience what it would be like shooting with an actual bm camera, thus leading them to buy one.

I’m excited to try it! For the record, I think there are lots of professional applications, I film on BlackMagic and Panasonic cameras currently (sometimes Canon) and there are SO MANY times where it is easier to pre-vis or do something like that with a phone, plus phone footage can often be exactly what you want at a certain point. I do a lot of projects that have mixed sources. I also have people who are volunteers filming in other places for me, and this will give them an app to download! I think the marketing angle is real, but I also think that the camera itself has lots of validity. Thanks for the video, hadn’t watched any videos about this because I thought it was just a camera control app for the pocket cinema cameras! One other thing, I don’t like the control interface on Filmic Pro. I’m excited to test this out instead!

Thanks for this. I just downloaded it. Wonder if they will have gimbal support? I was using Filmic until they went to a subscription platform.

5:01 This is the part very important ! Thanks for sharing this part Alex !! ☺

I'm actually super interested in that small box camera, can't wait for reviews. I can see the point of the camera app too, kind of a shame Android doesn't get it also but I'm sure it's a lot easier to develop that kind of thing for the Iphone(s).

Your analysis about marketing is spot on. It's almost like you have sat in on the Blackmagic board meetings! But how do you feel about the app for Android phones? Why didn't BM create one for us Androids?

Great video Alex, lots of info! Cloud storage looks awesome, might have to jump in so I can edit home projects at work on the sly 😏

Totally agree. I don't think they are gonna release an Android version. This is for a pretty narrow aspirational niche.

I'm going to the microstudio 4k G2 on a drone and fly it. It's only twice as heavy as a GoPro. Imagine if Blackmagic actually... made... an action cam?

IPhone app is nice for Apple-heads, but how about Android for us un-Apple-heads

Love it!!! Recent covert from still photography, but absolutely loving Blackmagic's business model. Take note ADOBE, FILMIC PRO et al!

Thanks for the update. Very informative. Good luck BMD

Can you use the Blackmagic Camera app for still pictures?

I downloaded the app lol ….. I have the speed editor and the ipad and studio version for my Mac air. Looking forward to seeing if this workflow is easier. Thanks for the video 🎉😊

Wow, that's exciting! Sayonara Filmic! The ability of holding the phone in portrait while still recording in landscape is a really useful feature.

Great video man!

The file size was massive! BlackMagic Cam has the option to use HEVC codec and mix it with Apple Log. What is your opinion of using HEVC and Apple Log? My concern is that HEVC might not record in 10-bit.

Nice video!!! I already downloaded this app to test in the next few days.

Absolutely love the idea of the app. i was just thinking about switching to shooting primarily on my phone and having this app for FREE to use is remarkable and will save me quite a bit of money. Thanks blackmagic!

I like the idea of the app. BM do make things user friendly, so if it means people get an easy-to-use app to shoot better videos, then why not! I do think your analysis is spot on on this. Marketing to people who are still early in their filmmaking journey and laying down the tracks for future upsellers.

Big oof that the camera app is iPhone only.

Well, it's not for me as long as you cannot adjust the sound! Well, I might give it a try with an update. I like the UI. So for now I keep using my BeastCam app.

I love the idea of the app. Filmic Pro days are numbered unless they change their business (rip-off) model!

Alex I agree with you to a point but I do think you are overlooking how many professionals do use an iPhone for filming. It is commonly used for news and documentaries by TV companies and don’t forget that there has been the odd feature film shot on it. I think there has been a lot of thought put into this by BlackMagic as they realise with the new iPhone which has a lot of improvements this does what Apple seem not to want to do, have an app for filming with. I have worked in the film and television industry for more years that I like to remember and this whole “professional” thing with the iPhone reminds me of the days that they introduced 16mm film to television. All the people were saying that they would not work with this film bootlace size format as the standard film format was 35mm. They said 16mm was not a professional format and editors would not cut it as it was too small. Even with all the anti it did come and became the standard for television and I see the anti professional feeling towards the iPhone being very similar. The video it produces is amazing and although I do agree it does have it’s problems with things such as sharpness what it really did need was an app produced by a company that understood what professional filmmakers need and I think now with BlackMagic this will happen. I hope the app will develop in the way DaVinci has which is now becoming the editing programme to use by most people due to the constant development. It is still early days but if you go back not that long ago who would have believed that we would be using stills cameras to shoot TV programmes on. It’s call progress and I thing Grant Petty has just bought in again.

The app really comes into its own with the iPhone 15 Pro models, which have a USB-C 3.0 port and iOS support to record direct to SSD. I hate the idea of pushing ProRes over lightning to offload footage, but to rig up a small SSD and film to external media on the fly, that makes a lot more sense. Beyond that, I think of this app as an amazing multicam tool for events coverage. For instance, how about using the app to expand coverage at a wedding? You could recruit a few attendees to use the app, people who would be filming anyway. All the better if Blackmagic adds a configuration tool so that users could scan a QR code and end up with a Camera App automatically logged into the correct project file. If all you ever get is the proxies, that’s still perspectives captured which would otherwise be missed. I think my biggest question with the app is syncing the phone timecode with the rest of the professional cameras on set or at an event. How is that done?

I don't think BRAW is gonna happen on the iphone, probably needs sensor & hardware that BMD controls. But shooting in Prores with Rec2020 & Apple Log on an iphone 15 pro sounds pretty sweet for me! Also, the C2C workflow you mentions is possible. I can import clips from my phone into the camera app and then sync to BM Cloud! It may get easier and have more robust features as other camera models start to support sync to BM Cloud.

I found out the app today then da Vinci resolve then black magic etc well its working i wanna download and learn the resolve

I wouldn't call box style camera "professional". As a filmmaker I love the body design of the blackmagic cameras because of its ease of use, rather than needing 10 different accessories just to start shooting. It's why I stay away from them. This is why I love the blackmagic app. I hate using filmic pro but having my #1 camera OS on my phone to shoot whatever in blackmagic's log wherever I am and grade it so close to my BRAW footage is a much bigger deal than what alot of people give it credit for. When shooting weddings or special events I will gladly give my phone to my 2nd shooter to capture footage through that app.

My favorite thing about the app is the ability to choose rec.709 on iphone. On filmic pro that wasnt even a possibility. Apples color space of p3 or bt2020 is so weird its almost unusable in resolve and it doesnt help if your monitor cant view anything in that color space. My asus proart can do srgb and rec 709 and seeing that option perks my interest because all i have right now is an iphone and it gives me another feature to use in resolve. I also love the syncing ability with timestamps, thats gonna be sweet, i was helping recently with a multi cam wedding and this would have made that experience 10x better.

App is possibly the most compelling reason to buy an iPhone 15 Pro.

It looks really good but it's missing a few features that other smartphone filmmaking apps have such as an automatic focus pull. Hopefully they catch as the updates take place.

I just suggested a friend move to davinci after he said he is feeling adobe is "screwin" him with all the payment. and the filming\editing for him is a hobby

I think this is great news. I just tried it, it works well. So far I haven't seen anything in the settings about filming in 10-bit Log V3, so I guess it still can't replace my Filmic Pro legacy app. I hope they'll add 10-bit soon.

Mr. Alex, I like your plugins, but I think you're wrong about this app--It's an incredible little tool for freelancers trying to get professional-looking behind-the-scenes captures, shots in tricky places (like underwater!), or even just as a b-cam for budget clients or when you're trying to keep gear light.

Would be nice to have BRAW or any log profile on the phone. Filmic Pro killed itself. This app is also another nail in the coffin. Just love working with log footage.

Lol I thought you would have at least put a link in the description for the app with the hype around this current video

I think what you eluded too with the start of the Blackmagic pipeline for new potential users being the new app is a brilliant idea. Not only that, the app is 'very' good, fully functioning and pretty darn easy to use. I like that BM has a 'no barrier to entry' mentality that other companies don't have...also this was brilliant timing with Adobe raising their pricing. BM is becoming a well rounded company for everyone. If BM had a photo editing software on the level of Davinici (comparable to PS) my Adobe subscription would be gone in the blink of an eye.

Great vid but I'm very confused now... BM has been promoting the in-field proxy pipeline you were describing at the end of your video. From the app you can record to storage, direct to resolve or into their cloud for a team to pull clips in real time and collaborate. But you clearly know your stuff here so why would you say they don't offer these features? What am I missing?

Yea, I was underwhelmed by the new BM camera as well. Not that it's not a good camera. But, since they present their cameras as "cinema" based, I think a box shaped body would be coming soon. Not that the current body design is a deal breaker. But, I think adding features and changing designs to meet "cinema camera" styles would be best. Sony realized this with their new cinema camera, Burano. The Burano, sitting between the FX9 and the Venice cameras, is a feature rich cinema camera. One that actually includes Sony's latest AI assisted autofocus. What's also interesting is that BM prices their cameras very competitively. Which tells me that they could create a box shaped, autofocus camera, and still bring it in at a competitive price. Hopefully, future cameras by Blackmagic will be more "cinema" like that people have actually expressed interest in. App-wise, I like the BM camera app. But, I need to see tutorials on it to see how I can get the best footage out of it.

I got a S23 Ultra, I am just sad I cant give it a try. But I am glad there are more options now for smartphone filmmaking.

I want to love this app, it allows 4k prores to my phone when the native app does not and it has a log 422 LT which my phone's native camera does not. The Log looks amazing. However, the Zebras and Focus Peaking are buggy, they shut off when you press record. I've uninstalled and reinstalled the app and the same thing.

Yeah I think you're spot on about marketing!

Thank you very informative.

IT's kind of corny for "professional" film makers to winge about the iPhone app. Clearly iPhone footage is being cut into real professional productions and it's an added bonus to the BM ecosystem. Yeah it's marketing too, but the "we want a box camera" crybabies can just go buy a Red then with all of the their professional money.

I don't really get people who swear by a box style camera and complain about things like this. i prefer photography style cameras, I shoot on Nikon z9 and z8 and love them. my opinion is you can always still build these cameras out to fit whatever needs you may have, but it's much easier to take out and capture without any accessories at all than it is with a box style camera.

Would you happen to have any idea why there is no log profile? Not sure if you are in communication with BMD...

For someone who's been using Resolve for a year, and has absolutely no access to decent cameras - would you suggest the new tiny 4k60 box or ... getting an iPhone? (Not exactly a question I ever imagined asking)

Hey when is your paid premium plugin releasing? 👏🏼

I have a 2TB iCloud account that I currently pay $10 per month for. If I get cloud storage from Blackmagic Design, can I cancel my iCloud account? Can Blackmagic Design's cloud storage take the place of iCloud?

The app is pretty cool and fun to use. Can't quite figure out the media workflow. It's not automatically uploading to the BM cloud and I can't figure out how to get the media from my phone to an external drive. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Are you able to use a USB-C Hub attached to the iPhone 15 Pro/Max with external storage and microphone attached with this app?

Of course you're right, Alex! The app is an effective marketing tool for the brand and the Blackmagic hardware. Hopefully soon also available for Android!

I want to use this app with my iphone 15 pro max for the times when I can't use my Sony FX30...I like that I can record Pro Res LT to my Samsung SSD...question...if I wanted to use a gimbal like the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 or the Insta 360 Flow...can I use this app? those gimbals have their own apps...I'm not too familiar with gimbals for smartphones...thanks so much

If people are using Filmic to shoot professional clips then the Blackmagic app makes a ton of sense. I have seen professionals using Filmic pro so I guess there might be a divide in who is “professional” and who is less professional. The same is holding true for all the iPhone camera apps that I have seen “professional” photographers using for work. I do agree great marketing by Blackmagic to say the least.

I love the idea of having a camera app on my phone. Unfortunately, I don't use Apple products. I don't like Apple products. I use Android. It would be ace if Blackmagic would come put with an Android version. Android phones are just as good, and sometimes better that the iPhone or iPad. It would be ace if Blackmagic would come put with an Android version. But I'm not going to hold my breath for that to happen.

Make sense to me... and a thoughtful take, thanks!

I recently started using the Camera App on my iPhone 15 PM. Almost everything is perfect, except I can't find any control for turning off Auto Gain Control. Where is it hiding?

Honestly what I liked most was their 4k ant camera, I don't have an use for it currently but I think for the price it's a really neat piece of gear, love it. As for the camera app.. Yeah it's for everyone, unless you're in the 40%ish non iPhone user.. So it's for 60% of everyone i guess? (based on USA numbers btw, here in Europe it's the other way around with a 65% android users) So yeah anyway, I hope black magic makes us go WOW again next year cos it's kinda lackluster lately.. But then again since the release of big names like the r5, alpha one komodo, etc, the market has been pretty stale..

The app is incredible useful for some journalists. I knew some automobile review guys who attend auto shows a lot. They cannot bring crews and equipments into events. They can shoot the event using this app and let editors do their works in office. Transfer full fat files to office storage as soon as they leave the event and returned to hotel wifi - new video is ready to upload before dinner time!

I was hoping for camera control thru Atem switcher/ software like their other cameras

Hopefully someone does a good tutorial on the camera app. There's a lot of little buttons that amateurs like me have no idea what they mean.

I have noticed that the Blackmagic camera app is not as good as the native iPhone camera app in Low Light, do you find this as well, I always record at 60fps and use a iPhone XS.

Love my Mac for editing but hate iphones. Please, please can we have the app for all us Android users

I film in extreme situations. I have no room for large cameras or drones. I can’t bring anything heavy in my backpack or bike. The iPhone is what is always in my pocket, ready for B roll content opportunities. The BM iPhone app to BM Cloud Storage is perfect for 3rd World backups. From my calculations, it will cost me $180/ year for the 500GB storage plan which is pricey. If the BM camera app is superior to the Apple camera, I will switch and start learning the app. IPhone color to Black Magic color conversion has always been a frustrating experience. If the BM camera app brings in the color seamless then I am really onboard.

Can you set audio levels with the app when using an external mic?

Android version please.

yeah it is a pretty genius marketing strategy as it positions their brand as a generous not-thinking-of-profit kind of company amidst a greedy subscription-hungry market

Won't let me download to my Iphone 6. You need 6GB Ram to run this app. Iphone 14 , 15 , 16, 17, 18, 19,

BM are missing out on a huge potential market by not offering Android versions

Alex will you be testing out the new Cinema 6K?

Can the app take photos?

I don't know why they're complaining, the app has an audio level which most if not all of the others don't

If it can take and photos it will be perfect