Blackmagic Camera on iPhone 18 Pro Max: Log 2, ProRes RAW & Settings
Freewell Gear
Field guide · Blackmagic Camera on iPhone
Dial in the light.Keep the cinematic look.
A sunset in Valencia. One phone. A practical guide to exposure, Apple Log 2, ProRes RAW and the settings that make the shot.
Blackmagic Camera gives you direct control over frame rate, shutter, ISO, white balance and focus. In Freewell’s 28-minute tutorial on the iPhone 18 Pro Max, those controls are put to work at Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences, from bright reflections to the last light of the evening.
The quick setup: Choose your frame rate, set a 180° shutter starting point, lock white balance, and expose the scene. Add ND when daylight is too bright. Use a LUT preview for log, and prepare an external SSD before selecting ProRes RAW.
1. Choose the lens and frame rate for the edit
Start with the composition. The walkthrough moves between an ultra-wide view of the architecture, the main camera, and tighter views of the building. Switching lenses can also change the recording options, so recheck the frame rate after you change the view.
For regular-speed footage, choose a frame rate that suits your project. For slow motion, record more frames than the playback timeline uses: 50fps played at 25fps gives half-speed motion, and 120fps played at 30fps gives quarter-speed motion.
| Your shot | Capture rate | 180° shutter starting point |
|---|---|---|
| 24fps project | 24fps | 1/48 second |
| 25fps project | 25fps | 1/50 second |
| 30fps project | 30fps | 1/60 second |
| Half speed on a 25fps timeline | 50fps | 1/100 second |
| Half speed on a 30fps timeline | 60fps | 1/120 second |
| Quarter speed on a 30fps timeline | 120fps | 1/240 second, if available |
Try this: Select the lens, codec and resolution, then check the available FPS. In the filmed setup, changing away from the main camera at 4K/120fps triggers a warning and a switch to 60fps. Test under your actual lighting too: mains-powered lights may need flicker-free shutter adjustments.
2. Set the motion blur, then control the daylight
Shutter speed controls how much motion blur appears in each frame. A 180° shutter is a common cinematic starting point: the exposure time is approximately half the duration of a frame. You can set a shutter angle in Blackmagic Camera or use the equivalent shutter speed.
In the demonstration, removing the ND filter makes the scene too bright at the chosen slow shutter. Raising the shutter to a very fast setting reduces exposure but changes the appearance of moving hands. That is why the filter matters: it reduces incoming light while you keep the motion rendering you chose.
For your mount
Filmmaker Case
iPhone 18 Pro Max · Magnetic filter mount and a 17mm threaded lens mount.
View Case ↗
For light control
VND / CPL Filter
3–7 stop variable ND with CPL · Control light and adjust reflections.
View VND / CPL ↗Adjustable aperture still has limits
The video demonstrates main-camera iris control from f/1.48 to f/4 and shows a small change in background separation when focusing on a nearby object. Stopping down alone does not solve the bright-daylight exposure in the demonstration. Choose aperture for the depth of field you want, then use ND to control the remaining light.
Iris control is hardware dependent; an app cannot add a physical variable aperture to a fixed-aperture camera. For quick changes between fixed strengths, the Freewell 3 in 1 ND Filter is another option shown on the second phone. Remove strong ND as the light fades.
3. Choose Apple Log 2 for the grade, a LUT for the preview
Apple Log 2 appears in the recording settings used in this tutorial. A log image looks flatter before it is converted or graded. Choose it when your phone offers it and your editing workflow supports it; for a fast SDR delivery, Rec.709 can be a more direct starting point.
LUT preview and Record LUT to Clip are different choices
A display LUT lets you monitor a more finished-looking image. Recording the LUT into the clip commits that look to the recorded picture. If you want to grade the log recording later, check that Record LUT to Clip is off and confirm the result with a short recording.
ColorChooseLog for a managed grade; Rec.709 for a direct SDR workflow.
LUTPreviewCheck whether the look is only displayed or recorded into the clip.
White balanceLockKeep color consistent through a continuous take.
For white balance, the presenter starts with Auto and locks a result he likes. You can also set Kelvin manually and adjust tint toward green or magenta. Recheck when the light changes, especially as daylight gives way to artificial lighting.
Try this: Record ten seconds of skin, a neutral object and the brightest important area of the scene. Open the file in your editor and apply the correct color transform before judging exposure and color. A LUT cannot recover highlights that were clipped in the recording.
Need the app basics first? Continue with our Blackmagic Camera getting-started and settings guide. This walkthrough adds the newer recording and field-use examples.
4. Use ISO and exposure tools with a recorded test
The tutorial compares histogram, zebra and false-color behavior at different ISOs in Apple Log 2. The presenter sees warning thresholds behave differently as ISO changes and finds some of those indications difficult to trust in his setup.
Treat those findings as observations from the filmed configuration. A log signal is not a Rec.709 signal, so a familiar display percentage should not automatically be treated as the same highlight limit. The video does not establish one native ISO or one correct exposure-compensation value for every iPhone.
Keep ISO low enough to avoid unnecessary noise while giving the subject adequate exposure. If the image is too dark, first consider removing ND, improving the light or changing the setup. Do not leave the subject badly underexposed simply to keep an ISO number low.
Try this: Make two short clips at slightly different exposures. Compare highlight detail, skin and shadow noise after the correct log conversion. Use that result to calibrate your judgment of the app’s tools. For an important shot, combine the preview, exposure aids and a playback check.
5. Keep focus and movement under control
Autofocus is useful for moving subjects. Manual focus or a focus lock can help with a fixed composition. The walkthrough shows tapping for focus and holding to lock focus and exposure; check the lock indicators before you begin a long take.
Each camera has a different minimum focusing distance. The ultra-wide demonstration focuses much closer than the telephoto example. If a close product refuses to become sharp, move back or choose a camera that can focus at that distance.
Locking the shutter does not by itself lock all exposure variables. The video demonstrates exposure changing through Auto ISO while the shutter stays locked. Use manual ISO as well if you need a constant exposure, or keep Auto ISO deliberately when the light is changing.
Try this: Rehearse the exact move, then inspect the crop, edge movement and focus before the full take. On a stable support, compare Off with Standard. For walking footage, test stronger modes and leave extra framing room. Recheck the LUT preview after switching.
6. Choose the codec before you plan the SSD
H.265/HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW serve different workflows. The presenter favors H.265 when smaller files and longer recording time matter. ProRes can suit an editing workflow built around it; ProRes RAW needs a compatible raw workflow and external storage.
For the ProRes RAW setup, connect the SSD, open Settings → Media → Save Clips to, choose Files and select the external drive. Then return to the recording settings and confirm the codec, resolution and FPS. Check the available recording time after every major mode change.
Build your external recording setupFreewell Pro SSD Link
Supports M.2 2230 NVMe storage and a 10Gbps USB data connection, with dedicated USB-C audio and pass-through power connections. The Freewell PRO SSD Hub supports several M.2 lengths, including 2230 and 2280, and offers mounting and connection options for a larger setup. Choose a compatible SSD and cable for your required recording mode.
Before a RAW shoot: Confirm your editor can import and process the exact format. Record a sustained test at the intended resolution and FPS, check for dropped frames, and play the file back. Interface speed alone does not guarantee the SSD’s sustained write performance.
The remaining-time estimates in the video belong to that drive and recording configuration. They are not a universal recording-time guarantee. Back up the clips before deleting or reformatting storage.
7. Use open gate to give the edit more room
The tutorial switches from a 16:9 view to 4:3 open gate and shows more vertical area. That extra image area is useful when one shoot needs a horizontal video and a vertical Reel or Short. Compose for both crops while filming.
Pair it with the right anamorphic setup
The Steven Divish 1.33x Pro Cine Anamorphic 3 in 1 offers neutral, gold and blue flare modules and mounts through a compatible 17mm system over the phone’s main 1x camera. Set the app’s anamorphic desqueeze to match the lens: 1.33x for a 1.33x lens.
Remember that recording shape and lens squeeze work together. A 1.33x squeeze on a 16:9 frame produces roughly 2.36:1 after desqueeze, often described as 2.35:1. On a 4:3 frame, the same squeeze produces roughly 1.77:1 before any further crop. Open gate does not automatically give every anamorphic lens the same final widescreen ratio.
Choose the filter mount that matches your lens1.33x Lens + Filters kit
The Lens + Filters option includes VND 1–5 Stop/CPL and Glow Mist 1/4 filters. The lens also has a 58mm front filter thread. Use the lens-compatible mounting path when an external lens is fitted; the magnetic iPhone filter and the lens-front filter are different mounting options.
Try this: Mount, align and secure the lens, choose the main 1x camera, confirm desqueeze, then record a test. If an external-lens mode locks focus to infinity, recheck focus for your subject. In this walkthrough, the presenter re-enables autofocus with Freewell lenses.
Explore our smartphone anamorphic lens guide for squeeze ratios, flare choices and desqueeze setup.
8. Add advanced tools when the shot needs them
The last part of the walkthrough covers features that are useful once the core shooting setup is under control.
- Audio: Select the intended microphone and watch the meters. Record and listen to a test, especially when using a USB-C microphone alongside external storage.
- Presets and function buttons: Save a repeatable setup and assign frequently used controls to F1, F2 and F3. Recheck exposure when recalling a preset in different light.
- Level, grids and frame guides: Keep architecture level and compose for the intended crop. Safe-area guides can help leave space for titles.
- Remote control: The tutorial demonstrates the entry point for monitoring or controlling another compatible device running Blackmagic Camera.
- Clip information: Review recorded metadata in Media, organize useful takes, and copy or share them to your chosen destination.
- HDR and timecode: Choose HDR for an HDR editing and delivery workflow. Internal or external timecode reference is useful when your production needs synchronization.
Cinematic metadata is a post-production feature demonstrated in the walkthrough, distinct from the physical aperture comparison earlier. Confirm support in your current app, operating system and editing software before relying on adjustable blur or focus changes after capture.
Before your next shoot
- Set the recording path. Choose lens, codec, resolution and FPS; confirm the mode is available.
- Set the look. Choose color space, shutter, aperture where supported, and white balance.
- Control the light. Adjust ISO and ND, check important highlights, and remove ND when it is no longer needed.
- Check focus and framing. Confirm your subject, stabilization crop, level and any anamorphic desqueeze.
- Record, listen and play back. Verify audio, LUT behavior, storage and the result in your editor.
Blackmagic Camera Q&A
What are good Blackmagic Camera settings for cinematic iPhone video?
Start with a frame rate that suits the edit, a 180° shutter angle or its shutter-speed equivalent, a consistent white balance, and a well-exposed image. Use ND in bright light. Choose Apple Log 2 only when your device supports it and you plan to manage the color in post.
Do I still need an ND filter if my iPhone has adjustable aperture?
Often, yes. The daylight demonstration remains overexposed without ND at a slow shutter even when the main-camera aperture is stopped down. ND lets you keep the motion blur and aperture you chose; its required strength depends on the light.
Does ProRes RAW need an external SSD in Blackmagic Camera?
Yes. Blackmagic’s current iOS specifications list external storage as a requirement for ProRes RAW and ProRes RAW HQ. Use a compatible device, a suitable SSD and data cable, and test the exact recording mode before a shoot.
What is the difference between Apple Log 2 and ProRes RAW?
Apple Log 2 is a color encoding for a grading workflow. ProRes RAW is a raw video recording format. They are different choices, and selecting a log profile is not the same as selecting a raw codec. Check the combinations supported by your device and app.
Should I preview a LUT or record it into the clip?
Preview a suitable LUT when you want to see a finished-looking image while preserving a log recording for grading. Enable Record LUT to Clip only when you deliberately want the look recorded into the file. Check a test clip to confirm the result.
What does open gate recording do?
The 4:3 open gate example captures more vertical image area than the 16:9 example, giving you room to reframe a horizontal and a vertical edit. The actual recorded dimensions and mode support depend on the device and settings.
What desqueeze setting should I use for a Freewell 1.33x lens?
Use the 1.33x anamorphic desqueeze option with a 1.33x lens. Mount the lens over the main 1x camera through a compatible 17mm mount and check its alignment. The final aspect ratio also depends on the recorded aspect ratio and any crop.
Is ISO 1600 the best setting for every iPhone log shot?
No universal ISO value is established by this tutorial. The presenter describes differences in exposure-tool behavior at different ISOs, but that does not verify a native-ISO specification. Choose exposure for the scene and compare recorded test clips for noise and highlight detail.
Why does my LUT preview change when I turn on stabilization?
The presenter saw the LUT preview change with some stabilization modes in the filmed setup. Treat that as an observed behavior for that configuration. Recheck it after changing modes or updating the app; use a test recording to verify what is actually saved.
Do I need a special case for the Freewell iPhone VND/CPL filter?
Yes. This magnetic filter needs a compatible Freewell case or cage with the matching filter mount. The iPhone 18 Pro Max Filmmaker Case has the Sherpa magnetic filter mount and a separate 17mm threaded lens mount. Choose the case for your exact phone model.
What is the difference between an ND filter and a CPL filter?
ND reduces the light entering the camera so you can keep your chosen shutter speed and aperture. CPL changes reflections from surfaces such as water and glass, depending on rotation and shooting angle. The Freewell iPhone VND/CPL combines 3–7 stops of variable light reduction with polarization.
Why does Apple Log 2 footage look gray or washed out?
A flatter-looking preview is expected before the log image is converted or graded. Use a suitable display LUT to monitor a more finished look, or apply the correct color transform in your editor. If you want the log recording for grading, check that Record LUT to Clip is off.
Can I use the magnetic iPhone VND/CPL directly on an anamorphic lens?
Use the mounting system that matches the lens. The magnetic iPhone VND/CPL mounts to the compatible case or cage. Freewell’s 1.33x anamorphic lenses use a 17mm phone mount and have a separate lens-front filter path, such as the 58mm thread or a compatible lens filter kit. Check the exact lens and filter combination before ordering.
See the settings in action
Watch the complete Blackmagic Camera walkthroughFollow the exposure changes, lens switches, LUT controls and external recording setup through the full 28-minute video.
Watch the full video on YouTube ↗Source: Freewell Gear’s Blackmagic Camera field walkthrough. Recording-format and external-storage requirements checked against Blackmagic Design’s iOS technical specifications. Product details linked in this guide come from the relevant Freewell product pages. Test observations describe the configuration shown in the video.