Apple's Final Cut Camera 2.0 to Support ProRes RAW and Genlock

[MacRumors]

Apple has announced Final Cut Camera 2.0, adding ProRes RAW recording and genlock sync support for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The free app update makes Apple's high-end iPhone 17 models the first smartphones that can shoot ProRes RAW.

ProRes RAW captures unprocessed data straight from the camera sensor, giving editors more flexibility when color grading and adjusting footage later. The format also takes up less storage space than other RAW video formats while maintaining quality.

The 2.0 update adds open gate recording, which uses the full camera sensor to capture more of the scene than standard 4K. The extra footage makes it easier to crop, stabilize, or change aspect ratios without losing image quality.

Meanwhile, Genlock support lets multiple iPhone 17 Pro devices record in perfect sync with each other and with professional cameras. The feature eliminates the need to manually align footage frame-by-frame during editing. Blackmagic Design's Camera ProDock already works with the new genlock feature.

The app now also supports manual controls for the redesigned front camera on all iPhone 17 models. The square sensor is larger than before and can shoot horizontal or vertical video without rotating the phone.

Additional new features for Final Cut Camera 2.0 mentioned by Apple include:

• Support for Apple Log 2, giving users the ability to record in an even wider color gamut in ProRes or HEVC with iPhone 17 Pro. Users can apply the Log 2 LUT in Final Cut Pro for iPad and Mac to view and edit their footage with the vibrancy of the original scene.
• The ability to enable Timecode with options like Time of Day, Record Run, or external timecode for precise identification of footage during post-production.
• Support for video capture using the new 200 mm Telephoto camera using ProRes up to 4K60 fps on iPhone 17 Pro for even more framing options.

Elsewhere, Final Cut Pro 11.2 and Final Cut Pro for iPad 2.3 will add tools specifically for editing iPhone ProRes RAW footage, including exposure and color temperature controls.

Final Cut Camera 2.0 will be available later this month as a free download or update on the App Store. Final Cut Camera 2.0 requires iPhone Xs or later running iOS 18.6 or later, with some features requiring iOS 26 or iPhone 17 Pro.

Article Link: Apple's Final Cut Camera 2.0 to Support ProRes RAW and Genlock

 

[winxmac]

The default Apple Camera app can record in 4K 60fps consistently while the Final Cut Camera app even after setting it to 4K 60fps the resulting video will have a weird fps between 50 to 60. It does not seem to respect the Auto FPS disabled setting.

 

[mihighil]

Genlock on iphones is insane.

 

[aknabi]

I'm sure the 0.0001% of iPhone users that have been clamoring for this will be thrilled beyond belief... but for the other 99.9999% maybe a Siri that you don't keep telling to F off would be a nicer update (yeah I know they're workin' on it).

Seems like they're really behind on the backlog items that will really make the iPhone "great again" and need to throw in whatever the Marko MBAs can present a "wow! cool!" (since it seems them, finance and the supply chain folks run the show and the design/engineering folks just say "whatever you want boss!")

I'm sure this is an unpopular opinion here.

 

[iBug2]

Can we acknowledge how crazy it is that a phone can shoot ProRes Raw at 4k 120? Only some of the best of the best mirrorless cameras can shoot internal Raw video at 4K 120 fps, and obviously professional film cameras like Red, Arri, Blackmagic.

 

[videosoul]

Genlock on iphones is insane.

I bet 90% of the target market don't even know what genlock is for, or will never use it.

 

[raythompsontn]

I bet 90% of the target market don't even know what genlock is for, or will never use it.

I produced and directed a live TV broadcast once a week. Four cameras and full studio with graphics and lower thirds. Nothing was genlocked as it was all digital. The equipment took care of syncing all the sources. Switching sources there were no resync issues or dropped frames.

 

[Falco McGregor]

I bet 90% of the target market don't even know what genlock is for, or will never use it.

But probably 100% of the YouTube/social media content creators that help sell these for phones for Apple do and that’s likely enough to make regular people feel like this is a worthy upgrade overall.

 

[uacd]

I bet 90% of the target market don't even know what genlock is for, or will never use it.

I had to google that it simply means "camera switcher". Uh I hate when companies overcomplicate things. It was around in Filmic Pro for ages. So not really something revolutionary, a note somewhere on their website would have been sufficient vs wasting time during their pre-recorded keynote

 

[uacd]

I produced and directed a live TV broadcast once a week. Four cameras and full studio with graphics and lower thirds. Nothing was genlocked as it was all digital. The equipment took care of syncing all the sources. Switching sources there were no resync issues or dropped frames.

Apple just needed yet another marketable gimmick they could sell to "pros" (who won't direct on iPhone anyway if they value quality). Camera sync was there for ages, indeed

 

[gazwas]

I bet 90% of the target market don't even know what genlock is for, or will never use it.

Canon, Nikon and Sony didn't become highly respected industry and household names in the photo and video world because they made security cameras.

Add these amazing features and the competition follows. The more movies that get shot on iPhone and more high end pro features that get added to a smartphone the more respected to high end users they become and ultimately aspirational to the masses even though they will never use any of these features.

 

[Ru_C]

I far as I can see though, the lens still don't have an aperture control, so a clip on ND filter is necessary in bright light, if you don't want to control light with shutter speed/angle (which messes up the smooth look of the video).

 

[videosoul]

I had to google that it simply means "camera switcher". Uh I hate when companies overcomplicate things.

That's not at all what it is.

 

[videosoul]

I produced and directed a live TV broadcast once a week. Four cameras and full studio with graphics and lower thirds. Nothing was genlocked as it was all digital. The equipment took care of syncing all the sources. Switching sources there were no resync issues or dropped frames.

Indeed, none of the low/mid level Blackmagic switches have genlock.

But, as I understand it, the inclusion of it here is more for virtual production, XR, synchronising with video walls, etc.

 

[drmacnut]

I had to google that it simply means "camera switcher". Uh I hate when companies overcomplicate things. It was around in Filmic Pro for ages. So not really something revolutionary, a note somewhere on their website would have been sufficient vs wasting time during their pre-recorded keynote.

videosoul said:
I bet 90% of the target market don't even know what genlock is for, or will never use it.

So there's the proof that what videosoul said was true.

 

[visualseed]

I'm sure the 0.0001% of iPhone users that have been clamoring for this will be thrilled beyond belief... but for the other 99.9999% maybe a Siri that you don't keep telling to F off would be a nicer update (yeah I know they're workin' on it).

Seems like they're really behind on the backlog items that will really make the iPhone "great again" and need to throw in whatever the Marko MBAs can present a "wow! cool!" (since it seems them, finance and the supply chain folks run the show and the design/engineering folks just say "whatever you want boss!")

I'm sure this is an unpopular opinion here.

I kind of like the camera team working on camera features and the siri team working on siri features. At least one of them know what they are doing.

 

[svish]

Won't be using any of these features when I get my 17 Pro Max. However it is nice to know that iPhone cameras are improving each year and they are really good now.

 

[PowerButton]

I produced and directed a live TV broadcast once a week. Four cameras and full studio with graphics and lower thirds. Nothing was genlocked as it was all digital. The equipment took care of syncing all the sources. Switching sources there were no resync issues or dropped frames.

Genlock isn’t an analogue-only thing; we use tri-level sync all the time for ESPN.
Your switcher was frame buffering to auto-sync, you’ll get a little latency from it though.

 

[mozumder]

Genlock on iphones is insane.

It really is lolz and unbelievable, but I think with today's YouTube/Twitch streamers everyone has their own little TV production studio with multi-cam setups and desktop switchers.

 

[ColonelShaun]

I’m so genuinely stoked about this. I’m part of the 0.001% that uses my phone for video production with the Final Cut Camera app.

While “real cameras” are better, one can buy five of these for the same cost of a middle range mirrorless camera and a single lens. That enables some crazy capabilities, even if you need clip on ND.

I think of GarageBand (and Logic) and what they did for musicians and and music. This seems like the same thing, but equipping the next generation of filmmakers to fall in love using VERY accessible tools, at least compared to the cost of “real cameras.”

 

[raythompsontn]

Your switcher was frame buffering to auto-sync, you’ll get a little latency from it though.

True. That was overcome in the audio stream by introducing a slight digital audio delay. That was much easier than genlocking four cameras, the switcher, the router, and the graphics computers. All our devices had genlock capability that was never used and not needed. Genlock also makes format conversion more difficult especially when using devices that don't genlock as a video source.

we use tri-level sync all the time for ESPN.

We were local. No need to synchronize with multiple locations. Everything was processed in the studio, then run through a modulator and sent on the local coax cable to the cable TV provider.

 

[e-coli]

Will it support Opengate?

 

[GlassFingers]

But I mean… Aren’t ProRes Raw video files going to be absurdly large? (Like you probably need to plug in an external SSD to store the video files while filming?)

I think it’s like a couple GB … per minute!