iPhone 17: Using the New Dual Capture Video Feature

[MacRumors]

The iPhone 17 lineup brings a new video feature that lets you record from both the front and rear cameras simultaneously. Dual Capture creates picture-in-picture recordings that should be perfect for reaction videos, tutorials, or any scenario where you want to capture both yourself and the action in front of you. Here's what you need to know about the feature.

Dual Capture works across the iPhone 17 series, including the iPhone Air. Here's how to get up and running with the new feature.

iPhone 17: How to Enable Dual Capture Mode

1. Open the Camera app on your iPhone.
2. Tap Video at the bottom.
3. Tap the icon made up of dots at the top right of the interface, or alternatively, tap again the selected video option in the carousel at the bottom of the interface.
4. Select Dual Capture from the pop-up menu, then tap in the viewfinder.
5. Tap the shutter to start recording via both front and rear cameras.

Once you have used Dual Capture mode, for the rest of the app session the camera interface will show a handy new icon in the top-right corner, allowing you to turn it on and off without involving the pop-up menu.

What You Can Do While Recording

Once you start recording, you gain several useful controls. On iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models, you can switch between the 48MP main camera, 48MP ultrawide, and 48MP telephoto lenses for different perspectives without stopping your recording.

The smaller front camera window can also be moved around the screen by dragging it with your finger, which is handy if the preview window blocks something important in your shot. Bear in mind that any repositioning of the window gets saved in your final video, though.

Recording Quality and Limitations

Dual Capture records in either 1080p or 4K resolution at 24 or 30 fps. For maximum editing flexibility later, 4K at 30fps will likely deliver the best results.

The feature does come with some trade-offs. For one, you're locked into Apple's single layout design, where the rear camera takes up most of the frame while the front camera appears in a smaller window. Unlike Samsung's similar feature, you can't switch the feeds or choose a split-screen layout that shows both cameras equally.

Lastly, bear in mind that everything saves as one video file, not separate clips for each camera.

Article Link: iPhone 17: Using the New Dual Capture Video Feature

 

[TheMountainLife]

I'm not looking forward to more reaction videos

 

[Takeo Apple]

I'm not looking forward to more reaction videos

You don’t have to show yours to the world

 

[mihighil]

This was available through the Rode Capure app, great app and its free (no in app purchases)

 

[Digital_Guy]

Understand & know this is new, but anyone know why it’s limited to the 17 series? Must be hardware requirements.

 

[BelgianChoklit]

I recall this being a feature with the iPhone 11 Pro with Filmic Pro I think? Wasn’t it that what they showed in the 2019 keynote?

 

[mihighil]

Understand & know this is new, but anyone know why it’s limited to the 17 series? Must be hardware requirements.

Use the rode capture app (usable on older models) its a arbitrary limitation on older models.

 

[Yourbigpalal83]

Theres been apps doing this for years. I used to use DoubleTake when i was still doing Youtube. Hell of a good app. You could also record two seperate feeds though that and edit it how you like later on.

 

[Ralfi]

This will result in very corny videos with non-genuine & staged reactions.

When the broadcasters script fans in the crowd to yell something when the camera pans to them, it’s fake, cringy & very off-putting.

 

[ResolutionNZ]

This was available through the Rode Capure app, great app and its free (no in app purchases)

Use the rode capture app (usable on older models) its a arbitrary limitation on older models.

Thanks for the tip about the Rode camera app. It works better than the apple option for iPhone 17 except for the lack of auto-tracking on the selfie camera.

 

[contacos]

I thought this already existed? I always see people using two cameras at concerts

 

[svish]

Very happy to see this finally. Have been using third party apps in the past and was never satisfied. Glad that I can use this on my new 17 Pro Max. Also I think it is possible to take a photo during dual capture. Did not check that out while at the store and also my 17 Pro Max won't be delivered anytime soon.

 

[xizdun]

3. Tap the icon made up of dots at the top right of the interface, or alternatively, swipe up from the selected video option in the carousel at the bottom of the interface.

Step 3 can be simplified to:
3. Tap the icon made up of dots at the top right of the interface, or alternatively, tap the selected video option in the carousel at the bottom of the interface.

Also I think it is possible to take a photo during dual capture.

Yes, it is possible to take a photo during Dual Capture. The photo is essentially a screen grab of the Dual Capture (including the front camera).

 

[cybercommand]

This is by far the only good new feature.

 

[winxmac]

Understand & know this is new, but anyone know why it’s limited to the 17 series? Must be hardware requirements.

It's just Apple's way to force you to always get the newest release.

 

[rbbloom99]

I'm not looking forward to more reaction videos

I agree. Some content creators have good video content to share but feel the need to place their face on the screen too.

 

[svish]

Yes, it is possible to take a photo during Dual Capture. The photo is essentially a screen grab of the Dual Capture (including the front camera).

Good to hear that. Would like to see Apple enable a simple dual camera photo model also, i.e. a Picture in Picture photo using both front and back camera

 

[JD2015]

This is designed for individuals who prefer not to download an additional app or require extra control. It is, therefore, a welcome addition to the camera app.

 

[uacd]

Lol it is so inconvenient to toggle, I remember how easy this option was to use on Galaxy S10+ (2019).

Did they actually use same icon as they use for picture in picture mode but for this mode?? Plain stupidity.

Thought there were no use cases for me to have that feature, but it is certainly nice to hear iPhones have realized they can implement it too after more than 7 years of this feature being present in competitor offerings, as well as much better implementations, not this weird “picture in picture” icon

 

[dominiongamma]

Why is it only limited to 30 frames per a second at 4K? My guess is next year’s iPhone will do 60 frames

 

[gondosvk]

Love the Edinburgh shots!

 

[squawk7000]

I found it amusing that the demo iPhones have DoubleTake installed.

At least DoubleTake lets you record separate streams, and select camera.

 

[knappeduivel]

It's just Apple's way to force you to always get the newest release.

Is the force of Dual Capture that powerfull?

 

[ghostface147]

No, not useful for those types of video. The person taking the video isn’t usually aware of how their face looks. Most times it’s not what they think it is.

 

[berrymetal]

I wish the videos were non-destructive, in a way that you can reposition the selfie PiP later on when you edit the video (and resize it maybe). Perhaps that's something we will see in the future...