[ad_1]
Cinematic mode video is one of the new flagship features of the iPhone 13. The big question has been what performance would look like in real life. Apple’s own demo was incredibly impressive, but of course it relied on professional lighting and as many takes as needed to get a great result.
We have already had an answer, from WSJ ‘s Joanna Stern, who shot a music video in the studio, still with professional lighting and editing equipment. But a new clip shot with nothing more than the iPhone 13 itself gives a much more realistic idea …
Cinematic mode is effectively a portrait mode for video, adding artificial blur to the background, but also allowing selective focus and automatic focus point selection based on AI.
Stern was not very impressed with his own experience.
The software has trouble knowing where objects start and end. It’s kind of like the early days of Portrait mode, but it’s worse because now the blur is moving and distorting. I have shot footage where the software lost parts of the nose and fingers and struggled with objects such as a phone or a camera.
But while the studio conditions give you optimal control, they also raise our expectations.
Videographer Jonathan Morrison took a very different approach when he created a music video for singer Julia Wolf. It was shot on the streets with the iPhone 13 Pro – and absolutely nothing else, not even a gimbal.
I got my hands on the iPhone 13 Pro and immediately wanted to test the camera and cinematic mode. It is limited to 1080p 30fps but I was surprised at how sharp it was AND it retained Dolby Vision.
The result? It’s not perfect, that’s for sure. Some of the artifacts Stern complained about are visible, especially around Wolf’s hair as she turns her head. Then there are the same issues we saw with the early iterations of Portrait mode – look at the gap in his right arm, for example, where the chairs in the background were in focus.
Any professional videographer who watches it cringes at this.
But honestly, for a video on a smartphone, it’s really impressive. I doubt that many Wolf fans are obsessed with the imperfections of AI processing. This is a fantastic example of what can be achieved with just one device and a regular location if you have enough talent.
In addition, of course, this is the first generation of the technology. Like Portrait mode, it will improve dramatically over time as Apple works on the algorithms.
For me the most exciting thing about this ability is that it will inspire a new generation of filmmakers, who can start creating videos with a truly cinematic look using nothing more than their phone. I can’t wait to see more examples.
And personally, I like the idea of being able to create more cinematic travel videos without having to carry another kit with me.
Watch the video below, but note that it contains explicit lyrics.
What is your opinion ? Let us know in the comments.
FTC: We use automatic affiliate links which generate income. Following.
Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:
[ad_2]
Source link