The smartphone industry is an ever-expanding technology sector that is seeing improvements in areas such as camera quality at a staggering rate. With recent devices, it is now possible to film high-resolution footage that would have only been possible on a much more expensive Handycam or low-end DSLR. The smart device filming boom has allowed aspiring filmmakers of all ages and demographics to head outside with their device and capture the world. See below for a selection of videos that have been shot on a variety of devices, including some older models:
Epic Worlds (Short Film)
Shot on Samsung S23 Ultra
Iceland Cinematic (Promo Video)
Shot on iPhone 14 Pro Max
Indonesia (Short Doco)
Shot on iPhone 7
Cinematic Video
Shot on Samsung Galaxy S10
When comparing a conventional smartphone to a video camera, there are a few key difference that will impact the overall vision. The most obvious difference will be the dynamic range and depth of field. This is due to the cameras having sensors and optics that are a lot smaller than that of a purpose-built film camera. Luckily, with the recent introduction of AI, (Artificial Intelligence) device are able to use software to help enhance this to an extent, particularly in regards to achieving a shallower depth of field. A great example of this is viewing the Mexico clip above, that was shot on a Huawei device. All that said, however, it’s important to understand that you need to use your device in a particular way to get the best footage out of it. Below are a few tips & tricks that will assist you in getting the most out of your device.
Whilst this guide is tailored at a global level, including all smartphones, your results may vary due to the vast differences between all smart device models available. This guide is designed with the assumption that you possess either an Android or Apple device that has an HD capable camera.
Use this link to find out your device’s specifications: https://www.gsmarena.com/search.php3?sMakers=82
Keeping a Stable Shot
As mentioned above, as the devices have smaller sensors, they are more prone to an unpleasant effect called a rolling shutter. (See left) This happens when you pan the shot too quickly to the left and right. It affects vertical objects in the shot, giving them a warped look. Because of this, it’s very important to be cautious when doing sudden movements with the camera. If you are to do a shot that contains any sudden movement, it would be best to test your smart device with how sensitive it is with sudden movements. Some devices will be better than others.
Where possible, it’s best to have the camera either on a tripod or something that allows it to be stable.
Some devices will come equipped with a device called image stabilisation or IS. This is either a digital or optical aid that assists in stabilising your footage when operating handheld. This can be a fantastic tool to have however it is strongly recommended to do some testing first to see if it is indeed helping your filming, or impacting it.
A good way to do this is to film with the image stabilisation turned on, then film the same shot with it off. If you are noticing a “jelly” or artificial look on your footage that is not pleasing, you may want to complete the shot again with stabilisation off. It is also worth noting that it’s not recommended to use IS in conjunction with any zoom, optical or digital. (See below)
Zooming is Not Your Friend…
Although this has recently been changing with some of the recent flagship device models, most have previously only allowed you to zoom in your footage digitally. Whilst this can enhance your focal range dramatically, digital zoom eats into the overall quality of the vision. Some devices have the ability to zoom in optically which is fantastic and can be used. If you are unsure with whether your devices can zoom in optically or digitally, please go to this link: https://www.gsmarena.com/search.php3?sMakers=82
As a general rule of thumb, devices work best when at their widest, please use this wherever possible. An alternative to zooming in your footage is to move the camera closer to the subject. Some phones can use AI depth of field effects to blur out the background digitally which will help to overcome being closer to the subject.
Using Manual Focus and Exposure Where Possible | |
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Autofocus technology in smartphones is generally very reliable and fast. They are improving every year and soon it will be no longer necessary to use manual focus. At this stage, the however manual focus is definitely ideal as it allows you to take full control of the subject within your framing. When in autofocus, your smartphone is hunting for a focus point hundreds of times a second. Whilst very accurate, smartphones are known to search around for other focus points which can impact the overall quality of your vision. Some phone models will allow you to set your focus to manual and this is highly recommended. It’s then up to you to make sure that your focus is indeed crisp each time. This is where your smartphone’s zoom will come into play. Use the zoom to get a focus on a high contrast element of the frame and then zoom back out. Areas of high contrast include a person’s eye, text or an area with a rough texture. The same goes for auto exposure. Smartphones do a fantastic job at keeping a generally consistent and evenly exposed image where possible however it does prevent you from the ability to take full manual control of the image, making it difficult to make creative decisions with your frame. To the left are a few suggested apps that allow you to take control of your phone in a more expert manner. As a reminder, if your phone has manual controls inbuilt to its default camera app, this is not required. Whilst this is not essential in your filmmaking process, it’s a recommended step as it will help to take up the quality of your vision to a higher level. If you are an aspiring cinematographer, these apps are strongly recommended as you can take full control with setting the exact exposure that you desire, including adjusting parameters such as fine-tuning your manual focus, full exposure control and many tools to help you get the best possible shot. | |
Blackmagic Camera  | Blackmagic Camera is a fantastic free app for iPhone and selected Android models that allow you to take full manual control of the camera, including the ability to enable great items such as focus peaking to get a 100% accurate focus. It also mirrors the Blackmagic UI on their cinema cameras, making for a seamless transition from smartphone filming to using industry cinema cameras. Click here to find out more. |
Open Camera (Free) Android V4.0 and Above
| Open Camera is a free Android app that adds a good amount of manual controls to your filming, including allowing you to change the resolution, frame rate and most other manual parameters. Click here to find out more. |
Filmic Pro ($15US-$21US) Android & iPhone  | Filmic Pro is an extremely highly regarded app that works closely with phone manufacturers to get the most out of your cameras. Whilst a bit costly, this is a constantly updated app that allows you to have full manual control of your filming. Click here to find out more. |
Rear Camera Vs Front Camera
Phones as of recent have upwards of 5 different cameras/lenses on each device, both with their own perks and use. For example, newer iPhones will have one front-facing camera for “Selfies” and 3 different lenses on the back. One for general wide shot shooting, one that gives a sense of the depth of field and one that is ultra-wide. The most difficult part of smartphones is now working out which lens you use for your filming.
One camera to rule out straight away is the front camera. Whilst it is great for selfies, it generally has a smaller sensor and lens to stay discrete on the front of your phone.
If your phone features more than one rear-facing camera, a good rule of thumb to find the right one to use is to load up your default camera app. The first camera that it loads up will almost always be the one to use for your filmmaking. The other lenses may be an ultra-wide and a telephoto, whilst these can also get great footage, they still rely quite heavily on AI to get a good shot. The default camera relies the least on AI which will, therefore, give you a superior shot.
Shoot Like a Filmmaker
It is crucial when filming to consider what orientation you film in. Filming in portrait may be good for some social media platforms however it is essential to film all of your content in landscape. Filming in both portrait and landscape will create a world of problems in post-production.
As for aspect ratio, it is worth checking that your smartphone does indeed film in a workable ratio, preferably 16:9 where possible. Some phones may default to a 1:1 or 4:3 aspect ratio, this is not recommended.
Work with the Available Light
Working with minimal gear is a big challenge when it comes to lighting. Smarthpone’s do have AI technology now to assist with getting maximum dynamic range out of a setting however there is still a great deal of human input required to maximise the mood and lighting impact of a location. Where possible, always avoid filming during the middle of the day. The biggest reason for this is not that it’s the brightest point of the day, it’s the actual position of the sun. Generally at midday, the sun is directly overhead, this can create unpleasant and very harsh shadows. This is where smartphones will particularly struggle as it will need to try and expose the shot so that as much of the bright and shaded areas are seen. This will create instances of overexposure, taking the cinematic and often realistic feeling away from your footage. It’s therefore strongly recommended to film in the early or late hours of the day, when the light is less bright but most importantly, softer.
Another example to consider when dealing with natural and crafted light is to be aware of what you want the focus to be. If for instance you want to film a subject talking in a dark corner, is the person bright enough in the frame without blowing out (overexposing) your background? In this case, you could either add some fill light to bring up the exposure on your talent or simply try a different shot. It’s crucial to know the exposure limits of your smartphone. Some will do better than others here however it’s a very common falling in smartphone cinematography. Careful thought and consideration must be taken into account when filming, if you want to create a mood that draws in your target audience.
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