iPhone 14 Pro Max Videos problems.

[rexone]

Going by google this seems to be a problem for a lot of people with all sorts of work-arounds but no suggestion of an actual fix...
Video shot in highest quality is absolutely terrible when imported. If you can even manage to import it.
When imported into Final Cut the footage is totally blown-out, overexposed, to the point of being useless.
If you try to import the footage into Photos you get errors saying the files are unreadable and the import fails. Likewise through Image Capture.
The only way I can get footage onto my iMac in a form that is usable is to use AirDrop. This takes ages as the phone 'converts' the files before sending.
That is ridiculous.

Camera is set to 4K at 60fp with high efficiency.
iPhone is all the latest updates.
iMac is still running Mojave 10.4.6.

Anyone know what is going on here and how to actually fix it?

 

[Fat_Guy]

Shoot in 4K at 24fps. 30fps in the 24 timeline for that easy-going effect. 4K at 60 is for slo-mo. I’m a hack but I’d get rid of the high efficiency. The blown out stuff is normal if you buy into all that name-brand codec advertised stuff. Most professionals don’t use it.


I’m just talking out my ass. I did rip DVD footage of WW2 stuff and nobody noticed on network TV. That has to be a lie because I don’t use ProRes but used DNx… and worked in AVID. I’m now on Davinci Resolve and you should be too.

Edited: Spelt ProRes wrong. Hehehehe…

 

[rexone]

Yeah, problem is you turn of High Efficiency and you can't shoot 4k/60fps. Only 30fps.
And slo-mo has it's own setting with no 4K option. Only 1080. Even there to get real slo-mo of 240fps you have to use High Efficiency.
None of this explains the whole problem with blown-out footage though.
Wouldn't you think that FCP could handle the footage from the latest iPhone Apple promote as being awesome for videography?...

 

[Fat_Guy]

I don’t know why I’m replying to this but here goes. The blown out footage is correct and normal for the settings you chose. Started with the 12 PM - hint, hint… You can get it to look normal in your editor.


You really should not use 4K 60pfs for anything but slow motion, so hardly ever.


The transfer issues are due to you using a cellphone for broadcast worthy files and codecs with consumer grade hardware. Most literally use gaming computers to deal with the files you are using.



I have exported maybe two clips at 1080 to check the cameras due to software problems. That was it after one month of ownership.


I have no idea of who you are, or your reel or resume. But I would start with “small” HD files and get to know the work flow. You can show a full length documentary on a 40 foot screen at a 400 seat stand alone theater from the late 1930’s and the quality is awesome. No ProRes, no Dolby anything, not even real HD.


A one to two thousand dollar cell phone is not a cinematic camera. Yes you can get B and C roll footage if need be. You can start out on YouTube with the thing but you need better equipment.



Nobody ever mentions sound and that is the most important and unforgiving thing in video - Apple never mentions it! Hahahaha…



Anyway, enough of this.

 

[rexone]

I have no idea why you are referencing the time... and FYI... I assume I'm in a totally different timezone to you, Eastern Australia, so timestamps are off for my reality.
I use an iPhone for 'B' roll and for putting into places I don't want my 5DMkIV to be and I'll do things like have it mounted beside my real camera and use it to shoot wide while the main camera is zoomed. The iPhone also obviously has more flexibility in handling than a full-sized camera with lens.
I am not using 'consumer grade' hardware to manage the files. It's a fully souped-up BTO iMac Pro.
My end projects are in 1080 but I shoot 4K as it allows you to crop and run various effects without image degradation. 4K also allows me to lift HD stills from the footage, which some of my clients need.

The bottom line here is that I shouldn't have to be 'repairing' footage from an iPhone to use it on an iMac.
Beyond saying just shoot lower quality, which in itself is absurd - 'Hi, we've made this amazingly featured phone but guess what? The footage is incompatible with our hardware & OS so you can't actually use it...' - there has to be some sort of actual fix.

 

[Fat_Guy]

Well you asked a question and I answered it. I’ll leave it there. There are film maker forums that you will get more and better answers. Have you even figured out why the footage is blown out?

 

[kitKAC]

'Hi, we've made this amazingly featured phone but guess what? The footage is incompatible with our hardware & OS so you can't actually use it...' - there has to be some sort of actual fix.

Your iMac is running a years-old version of macOS that isn't supported anymore, maybe that's the source of your issues? Final Cut probably uses all sorts of macOS libraries, there might be bugs that have been fixed on newer OS's?

 

[rexone]

Have you even figured out why the footage is blown out?

Ummm... that is the question...
It previews fine on the iPhone. It is fine when transferred via AirDrop once the iPhone 'converts' it.
It is blown out when you try to import via regular means i.e. - direct from iPhone into FCP.

 

[Fat_Guy]

Ummm... that is the question...
It previews fine on the iPhone. It is fine when transferred via AirDrop once the iPhone 'converts' it.
It is blown out when you try to import via regular means i.e. - direct from iPhone into FCP.

I’m sneaky but your question was already answered previously by me above.


BTW: You would have figured everything out if you just started with small video files (like plain HD) and worked your way up. That is the best way to figure out your workflow with this device. Anyway that is how I would do it, and I would never start shooting something important (even as B or C roll) without working out the workflow and integration into your projects as they exist with your editor and other hardware.

 

[BSG75]

Ummm... that is the question...
It previews fine on the iPhone. It is fine when transferred via AirDrop once the iPhone 'converts' it.
It is blown out when you try to import via regular means i.e. - direct from iPhone into FCP.

Are you shooting in HDR? If so, FCP doesn't display HDR correctly. Odd, since it's an Apple Product. Anyway, this is what I've done with my HDR footage and it fixes the issue. This is from Apple's support site.

"HLG to Rec. 709 SDR: Apply this setting to HLG HDR clips in Rec. 709 projects to convert the clips to Rec. 709 SDR luminance levels."