4K ProRes Video Recording on iPhone 14 Pro Still Requires at Least 256GB Model

[geartau]

I personally don't see the appeal of using an iPhone for film making. I don't want to tie up my phone and communications device on set as the production tool. An iPhone costs now as much as a Blackmagic Design Pocket 4k camera. Sure that may not include lenses but there are a ton of good budget level lenses out there now.

The way Apple sells these phones and limits the cool new video features to the latest model one would need to upgrade their phone every year which costs a lot. Just to match many of the capabilities of existing video cameras. It may seem like its a free video camera you get with the phone but you are paying for that camera and three lenses and three sensors. Lets say over the past three years one bought a Pro iPhone to shoot video first for the better computational low light, then for the cinematic mode and now for the cinematic mode in 4k. Thats $3,300 in three years vs a camera that can already do all of that that will last many more years. You can get a P4k for $1,300 and the other $2,000 will buy a lot of lenses, audio, lights and support gear. all of which will yield 1000x better movies than just shooting with the iPhones.

Apple promotes film making on the iPhone with a high production value crew because thats the only time video looks good from an iPhone. Unless one has the budget for a full crew and equipment the iPhone is nowhere near a production ready camera.

Don't get me wrong. Its neat what it can do and for those that wanted a new iPhone anyway its cool to have a video camera this good in their pocket. But no professional is going to rush out and buy an iPhone for a serious production. They may utilize sometimes as a tool to accompany other cameras on a production but nobody is going to plan a budget production around just using an iPhone. Not unless they were hired by Apple to do so for marketing and promo reasons.

When Apple figures out a way to add/remove storage at will, add/remove batteries at will and control aperture or some sort of chemical or electronic ND to adjust exposure then and only then will pros consider using an iPhone for serious work. Using just the shutter speed to adjust exposure outdoors is the absolute opposite of professional video.

i have BMPCC6k and iPhone 13 Pro. The BMPCC just isn't convenient enough sometimes. Autofocus barely works on many lens, the battery barely lasts 15 minutes, to get 1TB of storage, you'd need to attach a usb-c SSD somewhere (or let it dangle), no stablization in the camera, and so on. when you need to get job done fast, iPhone is the way to go.

with a moment lens, you can get a cheap anamorphic setup. and since it doubles as your phone, you're not paying $1k EXTRA. it's the phone you're going to get whether or not you're making movies. so maybe you pay an EXTRA $500 for the 1TB premium.

steven soderbergh shot 2 movies using an iPhone and he's a professional.

 

[citysnaps]

This is most definitely the most absurd comment ever. It's beyond nonsense. Apple has no obligation to let you decide what would need to occur to be called a "Pro". Apple isn't in business to satisfy your imagination regarding a how a company should be run. No one and I repeat NO ONE is forcing you to buy Apple products. If you don't like it, show Apple by not buying their products. Buy elsewhere.

Well said. Don't like how Apple tiers and prices their phones? No worries mate, simply go to the Samsung store and purchase whatever will make you happy. Easy.

No sweat off Apple's brow. They won't be missed. Tomorrow Apple will manufacture and sell 600,000+ iPhones. Just like they do every day of the year (on the average).

Sadly, many people don't like standing up, being an adult, and taking responsibility.

 

[geartau]

Thanks. So it's not that you can't record 4K with 128GB, it's just ProRes. I suppose if you know what ProRes is and you need it, then you also know that 128GB is not enough. Makes sense.

yikes, i didn't realize people are thinking 4k isn't possible on the pro at all.

glad it clears things up though.

 

[t76turbo]

What’s even the point of selling a low capacity phone that can’t even use the camera? The 128 should’ve never been part of the line up. I would rather that they added a 2TB tier for the real power users and started at 256. If the 128gb cant have feature parity with the other sizes, don’t bother selling it!

Thats pretty dramatic. You CAN use the camera. Just apparently not to film 4k video.

I agree with you about the fact that they should have started this line at 256. Agree with you completely.

 

[mavis]

Thats pretty dramatic. You CAN use the camera. Just apparently not to film 4k video.

I agree with you about the fact that they should have started this line at 256. Agree with you completely.

That's not correct. You can shoot HDR video with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 fps on any iPhone 14 Pro model, including the 128GB one. You can't shoot 4K in ProRes unless you get a 256GB model or higher.

So again, 4K in Dolby Vision at up to 60fps works just fine. Presumably, if you're in need of ProRes, you'll probably be getting an iPhone with much greater capacity anyway. Personally, I don't see what all the consternation and hand-wringing is about.

 

[zfarooq]

So many apple apologizers here.…theres a difference between a pro and regular model.

But to further splinter the Pro, is deceptive. I dont use many features in the iPhone. Doesn’t meant I won’t in the future.

most folks want to shoot video at the best quality, for their kids etc, and 4k is common on 4k tvs at home.

we buy appple, because we expect apple to make the choices to provide the best and it just works. In this case, it’s against the ethos.

This is a cheap, and ethically questionable decision.

 

[akbarali.ch]

Apple doing everything it can to squeeze every penny from its consumers.

This company is ethically corrupt.

Yes, this happened gradually after SJ died and its at its peak or maybe not peak.

 

[zfarooq]

Well said. Don't like how Apple tiers and prices their phones? No worries mate, simply go to the Samsung store and purchase whatever will make you happy. Easy.

No sweat off Apple's brow. They won't be missed. Tomorrow Apple will manufacture and sell 600,000+ iPhones. Just like they do every day of the year (on the average).

Sadly, many people don't like standing up, being an adult, and taking responsibility.

That cocky - apple exists because of it's customer base and making the hard decisions.

Reminds me of another cocky company called Nokia, that was at the height of it's powers around the iphone. I recall a Nokia exec joking that apple sold as many iPhones as Nokia sells in a weekend.

When Apple needs to squeeze every penny to meet their quarterly targets, as opposed to real innovation, that doesn't signal a a feasible long term strategy.

 

[chickeneaster]

Meaning the 12 Pro's should have already had USB-C, since it was a more major design refresh.

Gotcha! The 12 Pro would've been a good time to switch. Maybe for the 20th anniversary of the iPhone they'll make the switch

 

[waloshin]

Prores with a tiny phone sensor 😂

 

[throAU]

Suspect it is as much to do with bandwidth as space.

But hey, if you're planning to record 4k pro-res, buying a 128GB iPhone is a mistake.

 

[throAU]

Prores with a tiny phone sensor 😂

People in Hollywood have been doing this with the high end iPhone Pro models for a while now.

They're used as cheap disposable devices in situations where you don't want to risk destroying a red camera.

 

[waloshin]

People in Hollywood have been doing this with the high end iPhone Pro models for a while now.

They're used as cheap disposable devices in situations where you don't want to risk destroying a red camera.

Then the people in Hollywood can afford a 256 gb model.

 

[throAU]

Then the people in Hollywood can afford a 256 gb model.

Exactly. More likely the 2TB model.

Point was that the camera sensor you were crapping on is and has been deemed good enough for that situation.

 

[citysnaps]

That cocky - apple exists because of it's customer base and making the hard decisions.

Reminds me of another cocky company called Nokia, that was at the height of it's powers around the iphone. I recall a Nokia exec joking that apple sold as many iPhones as Nokia sells in a weekend.

When Apple needs to squeeze every penny to meet their quarterly targets, as opposed to real innovation, that doesn't signal a a feasible long term strategy.

Sounds like a fantastic opportunity to stand up to Apple and open your wallet to purchase tech devices at a different company; one that is aligned with your views. And find happiness.

That will let Apple know you mean business! Will you do it?

 

[JCCL]

i mean if you want, apple can make 256gb the base model and increase prices by $100

Are you a major Apple stockholder or employee? Otherwise I don’t know why an user would cheer for this. Weird mentality to wish one's company of choice increase their profit by screwing consumers.

 

[JCCL]

Sounds like a fantastic opportunity to stand up to Apple and open your wallet to purchase tech devices at a different company; one that is aligned with your views. And find happiness.

That will let Apple know you mean business! Will you do it?

Really unless you have a meaningful financial investment in the company, I don’t know why any reasonable consumer would defend them like this.

 

[nelloismello]

There is nothing morally corrupt about offering 128GB. Not everyone plans on shooting 4K.

Exactly! 128GB is a dream for me. I had a 64GB iPhone X for the last several years, hence I'm excited to get double the storage this time around with the 14 Pro.

 

[geartau]

Are you a major Apple stockholder or employee? Otherwise I don’t know why an user would cheer for this. Weird mentality to wish one's company of choice increase their profit by screwing consumers.

no. i don't own stock and i dont currently work at apple.
i'm not cheering for anything. i'm being realistic.

to say that apple would simply offer 256GB at the price of the current 128GB is ridiculous. Apple has shareholders to answer. 256GB at 128GB price would hurt their margins. the only way 256GB is base is if Apple raises the base price. all you're really suggesting here is taking away options from people who need it.

 

[sunny5]

Lack of USB-C with faster transfer speed is another problem.

 

[BB1970]

Have fun getting that footage off with Lightning

 

[zfarooq]

Sounds like a fantastic opportunity to stand up to Apple and open your wallet to purchase tech devices at a different company; one that is aligned with your views. And find happiness.

That will let Apple know you mean business! Will you do it?

I have the fortune of having multiple devices. My older iPhone pro won’t be upgraded. I might upgrade the pixel or galaxy flip.

I’m glad you found a corporation so aligned with your beliefs, but time will tell if the other market players can innovate in areas that are lacking, and how apple innovates in the long term.

Our difference of opinion is irrelevant until the masses decide over the long term. Like they did with the MacBook Pro where Apple finally released a version we all wanted. Perhaps you defended the faulty butterfly keyboards and the Touch Bar as well.

 

[svish]

Would have been great if 256GB was the standard. Maybe next year. But don't want to have any price hike because of that.

 

[citysnaps]

I have the fortune of having multiple devices. My older iPhone pro won’t be upgraded. I might upgrade the pixel or galaxy flip.

I’m glad you found a corporation so aligned with your beliefs, but time will tell if the other market players can innovate in areas that are lacking, and how apple innovates in the long term.

Our difference of opinion is irrelevant until the masses decide over the long term. Like they did with the MacBook Pro where Apple finally released a version we all wanted. Perhaps you defended the faulty butterfly keyboards and the Touch Bar as well.

Nope. This isn't about me - I'm fine with Apple and the value they provide.

It's about you being upset with how Apple chooses to tier and price their products; along with claiming a lack of innovation.

If I were that upset I'd simply choose a different tech vendor, move on and find happiness.

Just wondering if you're going to stand up for what you believe in. There are loads of choices out there.

 

[EnigmaticZee]

There is nothing morally corrupt about offering 128GB. Not everyone plans on shooting 4K.

Morally maybe not but ethically? Yeah, ethically Apple seems to be corrupt.