Help me decide between 3 Watches (Slightly unusual use case)

[Guapple]

I need an Apple Watch to use as a viewfinder/camera remote, to help me record videos. My iPhone sits high up in a tripod, so I can’t see what I’m actually filming 😅.

The health features/fall detection etc. are not important factors in my decision.

Options:

- Apple Watch Series 3 (38mm)
The cheapest option, but I’m concerned that the small screen might make it difficult to use for my intended purpose.

- Apple Watch SE (40mm)
The most expensive, but should have more screen space to work with. I also just prefer the look of the rounded edges, but I’m not sure it’s worth spending the extra just for that 😆.

- Apple Watch Series 3 (42mm)
The biggest screen, but back to the squared off edges. Not sure if the bezels on the Series 3, mean that the SE will still actually have more screen space to work with? Still cheaper than an SE.

Any advice appreciated 👍🏻

 

[Itinj24]

It seems price is the major factor. Would pre-owned be an option? For your specific use case, I’d look into a lightly used S4 44mm.

 

[brerlappin]

I think 40 and 42 have roughly the same screen area, but the 40 will have less of a bezel around it.

 

[Guapple]

I think 40 and 42 have roughly the same screen area, but the 40 will have less of a bezel around it.

Obviously hard to tell from a photo, but from that comparison it seems like the 40mm SE would give slightly more screen area to work with

 

[Guapple]

It seems price is the major factor. Would pre-owned be an option? For your specific use case, I’d look into a lightly used S4 44mm.

I have a voucher from work, so I can actually get a bit of money off, whichever one I choose.

I’m a bit cautious to go pre-owned, just in case there are any issues with the battery, screen etc.

 

[Guapple]

While I think about it, none of the Apple Watches I’m looking at have an Always On Display.

I’m assuming it will continue to record video, even if my screen goes off?

Also is it possible to use the watch for other things while a recording is on-going?

 

[Graham4723]

Can an Apple watch record video ?
Watch S3 has very small (8 Gb?) internal memory so you’ll have vey little storage.

 

[fridayxiii]

I don't think an Apple Watch can act as a viewfinder for your iPhone's camera, just a remote to start the video or take the picture. I've used it once or twice but again, I saw no display on my AW, just the "take photo" button. The AW also does not capture images of any sort, except for screenshots of the AW face/display.

 

[Pilot Jones]

I don't own an Apple Watch, but as a wristwatch enthusiast, I would encourage to consider one other important factor you don't seem to have considered. Your wrist size.

While it may not seem so, there's a ton of difference between a 38mm watch and a 42mm watch when your put it on your wrist. It can easily go from you wearing an elegant watch, to a large & clunky watch wearing you.

While the Apple Watch is primarily a functional tool, do remember that it is an accessory on your body and should fit your proportions so as to not stick out like a sore thumb

 

[Guapple]

I don't think an Apple Watch can act as a viewfinder for your iPhone's camera, just a remote to start the video or take the picture. I've used it once or twice but again, I saw no display on my AW, just the "take photo" button. The AW also does not capture images of any sort, except for screenshots of the AW face/display.

Maybe the older Apple Watches can’t?

I’ve been borrowing my wife’s Apple Watch Series 5, and it shows you what the iPhone camera sees. You can even set where the focus point is from your watch and switch the flash on or off.

Trouble is, whenever you register the Watch to a new phone, you have to reset it, which is why I’m looking for my own 😊

 

[Guapple]

Can an Apple watch record video ?
Watch S3 has very small (8 Gb?) internal memory so you’ll have vey little storage.

It has no camera. But it can connect to your iPhone, and you can control the camera from your Watch.

Photos and videos are stored into the camera roll on your iPhone. So unless I’m mistaken it shouldn’t take up any space on the Watch itself?

 

[bransoj]

It has no camera. But it can connect to your iPhone, and you can control the camera from your Watch.

Photos and videos are stored into the camera roll on your iPhone. So unless I’m mistaken it shouldn’t take up any space on the Watch itself?

From my brief use of doing this with my AW6 and iPhone 12 the watch shows what the phone is looking at and gives you the ability to start, stop recording or take a photo etc. All its doing its acting as a remote control for the phone in effect so nothing is stored on the watch. Its basically like doing it from your phone so anything taken is stored on the phone.

In your use case its going to come down to the best screen size really, its not brilliant quality but gives you a good idea of what you are looking at. I'm normally of the opinion as you should get the newest you can to get the longest life out of it. If you arent fussed about most of the functions whilst its the most expensive i'd be looking at the SE especially as it seems in terms of what you actually see there is little difference between the 40mm SE and the 42mm AW3.

 

[Guapple]

From my brief use of doing this with my AW6 and iPhone 12 the watch shows what the phone is looking at and gives you the ability to start, stop recording or take a photo etc. All its doing its acting as a remote control for the phone in effect so nothing is stored on the watch. Its basically like doing it from your phone so anything taken is stored on the phone.

In your use case its going to come down to the best screen size really, its not brilliant quality but gives you a good idea of what you are looking at. I'm normally of the opinion as you should get the newest you can to get the longest life out of it. If you arent fussed about most of the functions whilst its the most expensive i'd be looking at the SE especially as it seems in terms of what you actually see there is little difference between the 40mm SE and the 42mm AW3.

Thank you 🙏

You’ve helped me to narrow it down to the 40mm SE or the 42mm AW3.

I’m definitely leaning towards the SE though

 

[djlythium]

I believe the SE will last you longer than the S3. Here’s my speculation, and I’m open to being wrong here: Presuming Apple releases a new Series later this year, the 3 will most likely be so outdated, it will no longer be supported by watchOS updates. So, the S3 will give you 10 months of use before not being eligible for updates anymore? The SE, released late last year, should be supported for another couple of years.

Just my $0.02.

 

[fridayxiii]

Maybe the older Apple Watches can’t?

I’ve been borrowing my wife’s Apple Watch Series 5, and it shows you what the iPhone camera sees. You can even set where the focus point is from your watch and switch the flash on or off.

Trouble is, whenever you register the Watch to a new phone, you have to reset it, which is why I’m looking for my own 😊

Thanks for correcting me! The only time I tried the camera remote was with my first AW, a S3. Since then I've upgraded to the SE, and yes indeed, I can see what the camera sees on the AW face. Neat feature; thanks again for the info

 

[MacCheetah3]

Can an Apple watch record video ?
Watch S3 has very small (8 Gb?) internal memory so you’ll have vey little storage.

Use Camera Remote on Apple Watch

Use your Apple Watch to view the camera image on your iPhone and take photos and video.

support.apple.com

@Guapple It appears, you've narrowed down the watch choice to display preference: big bezel with hard corners or small bezel with rounded. So, I'll leave that be.

As to your other inquiries...

While I think about it, none of the Apple Watches I’m looking at have an Always On Display.

I’m assuming it will continue to record video, even if my screen goes off?

Also is it possible to use the watch for other things while a recording is on-going?

While in use, the Remote Camera app disables watch sleep. However -- and I assumed this was true because the app is simply a remote but now verified -- if you switch back to the watch face (time, etc) or any other app, the recording doesn't stop -- including if the watch sleeps on those apps. Also important to note, there is no indicator on the watch face for remote camera activity, unlike music. So, if you do switch apps, don't forget about the recording Lastly, even though you can toggle camera options (timer, flash, Live Photo, front or rear camera(s), etc), you can't choose/change the camera mode (photo, video, pano, etc) via the remote app -- at least not that I noticed. Therefore, you'll need to launch the Camera app and select video or whatever mode desired before placing your iPhone on the tripod.

 

[Graham4723]

Every day’s a learning day .....

One thing to bear in mind with S3 is the ‘problems’ with updates, caused by lack of memory in the S3.
There is a way round it but it can be quite convoluted if you have to keep unpairing/pairing. The SE has considerably more memory.

 

[fridayxiii]

I'd never owned a smart watch before, so I bought a S3 in July for a very reasonable price. I wasn't sure how much I'd use the AW or what features I'd use & like, so I went inexpensive. After one month I was hooked on the AW & all it can/could do, so I bought the SE when released last fall. The difference is night & day. The SE is far superior device, and 44mm is a great case size.

Just my $0.02.

 

[Guapple]

Use Camera Remote on Apple Watch

Use your Apple Watch to view the camera image on your iPhone and take photos and video.

support.apple.com

@Guapple It appears, you've narrowed down the watch choice to display preference: big bezel with hard corners or small bezel with rounded. So, I'll leave that be.

As to your other inquiries...

While in use, the Remote Camera app disables watch sleep. However -- and I assumed this was true because the app is simply a remote but now verified -- if you switch back to the watch face (time, etc) or any other app, the recording doesn't stop -- including if the watch sleeps on those apps. Also important to note, there is no indicator on the watch face for remote camera activity, unlike music. So, if you do switch apps, don't forget about the recording Lastly, even though you can toggle camera options (timer, flash, Live Photo, front or rear camera(s), etc), you can't choose/change the camera mode (photo, video, pano, etc) via the remote app -- at least not that I noticed. Therefore, you'll need to launch the Camera app and select video or whatever mode desired before placing your iPhone on the tripod.
View attachment 1724903View attachment 1724902

Wow. Thank you for going to so much effort to answer my questions. Helped a lot 👍🏻

Looks like I’ll be ordering an SE this coming Wednesday ⌚️🎉

Lastly, a handy setting I’ve found to get around toggling between different camera modes.

Although you can’t change the mode on the Watch, there is a section in the settings on iPhone called preserve settings. From there you can set your iPhone to maintain your settings for the camera mode, so if I last used video, the next time I open the camera from my Watch, it will open onto video.

 

[myrtlebee]

Thanks for correcting me! The only time I tried the camera remote was with my first AW, a S3. Since then I've upgraded to the SE, and yes indeed, I can see what the camera sees on the AW face. Neat feature; thanks again for the info

I can see what the camera sees on my Series 3. It works for Series 3 as well.