Blackmagic Camera App - General discussion and Releases

hi Richard,

As far as I know, there is no Android version of the Blackmagic Camera app.

There’s a whole forum thread on this topic, no response from BMD as of this time, though very worthwhile reading:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=188279

You could keep an eye on the official page, to see if that changes:
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/produc ... agiccamera

Is there an Android app available too?

“…The other way Apple doesn’t quite live up to the “pro” promise of log is by not offering much manual control in their camera app — and that’s totally fine. Because all the control you could want is found in the wonderful new Blackmagic Camera app…”

[…]

“…Now that the iPhone can shoot log, is the best camera the one you literally always have with you, or, you know, an actual good camera? The iPhone 15 Pro Max is going to tempt you to shoot real stuff with your telephone…”

https://prolost.com/blog/applelog

Hello,

I e-mailed technical support but they requested I join the forum and post my questions for app support here.

I have downloaded the BM Camera App for my iPhone 15 Pro Max, but am having a few issues:

I can connect a Nucleus Nano I to the app, but every time I try to pull focus, at some point in the travel the video will zoom in somewhere between 8-13x and stay there. The ability to pull focus remains, but I have to manually reset the zoom function. As a result I cannot manually pull focus with the Nucleus Nano I presently as the shot will always have an unwanted zoom.

Thinking this might be an old hardware issue I picked up a Nucleus Nano II, but have found that that focusing wheel doesn't connect to the iPhone at all even when Bluetooth is manually enabled. Will the Nucleus Nano II be supported in the near future with the app?

I have reset the Nano I, restarted the iPhone, and restarted the BMC App, but none of these seem to resolve the issue with zooming in while pulling focus.

Any advice on fixing this would be much appreciated - thanks in advance for the help!

I hope to have the time to do some more tests that are longer over the upcoming weekend.

Even going back on past recordings I’ve made back to the iPhone 8 using the app ProMovie, while it’s only 4K Rec 709 at 120Mbps H265, there was VFR, but it was always constant. A 2hr and 11 recording would show in media info, 60fps with a min of 59.850 and a max of 60.150, so you can limit how VFR is done. That came back with:
[Parsed_vfrdet_0 @ 00000202698567c0] VFR:0.111731 (52813/419865) min: 399 max: 401 avg: 399

Hey did you or anyone else ever get around to doing more VFR/CFR tests? At this point it's really the only thing holding me back from the new phone.

I will, as soon as I get the down payment from my publisher.

Good morning,
After a few weeks of using this App, what is your feedback?
Do you feel obliged to underexpose the apple log?
Can you use Color space transform with Apple Log HDR? I don't have good results with Apple Log unlike other logs that I use Dji or Sony

I am also experiencing the same problem on the iPhone 15 pro. Hoping that it's just a software issue that gets updated soon ! I was trying to find a way to lock the zoom but no solutions as of yet.

I'm having serious errors trying to use the app on a 15 Pro with external drives. I have a 4TB and a 2 TB Sandisk Extreme Pro v2 (with upgraded firmware). They have both been used with a 6k Pro to record several 2hr+ shows with no problems at all.

On the app, I can select them fine, but trying to record even ProRes Proxy, I get warnings after 11-20 seconds. Stopping the video after 30 seconds, the timecode and drive indicator will flash for 3+ minutes as it looks to be trying to save to the drive. It then locks up the app and it seems the drive unmounts because Files won't find it either and locks up. And boy does it drain battery!

The file that ends up on the drive seems like an incomplete file that pauses and stutters all throughout. The proxy has issues too and a massive audio white noise spike most of the time. App works fine with the (very limited) internal drive, but REALLY doesn't like these two externals I have.

iPhone 15 Pro
OWC USB/TB 4 Cable
Sandisk Extreme Pro v2 2TB (Model SDSSDE81-2T00)
BMC App 1.1
Recording ProRes 422 Proxy - Apple Log HDR - 24 fps

Edit: After a little bit of googling, I found this:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/25 ... 9724865022
Moral of the story, don't use Sandisk Extreme Pro v2 with your iPhone - looks like it want to draw too much power

My experience is different.

Recorded an electronic clapperboard with the iPhone 15 Pro Max for two hours, from time to time I stepped into the frame and clapped my hands. This is what I got: VFR with minimum of 24 fps and a maximum of 26,087.
I was recording at 25 fps. Sound is PCM with 48 kHz.
Over the first three minutes the visible TC was slightly late, about half a frame (the numbers flickered between two values), around 6 minutes it had itself averaged out and was spot on again. But over an hour it was behind by two frames and about 3 after two hours. The sound was fast, obviously DR had an issue adapting to the VFR as we have already learned from other cases. My handclaps were about 4 to 6 frames early in the end.

So, definitely not for concert recordings, but short clips should be fine.

Now, what absolutely surprised me was energy consumption. I was recording to a Samsung T5, plugged into the phone. No external supply. After two hours and 7 minutes the phone had 60% battery left (of course, fully charged before the test). 65% of that was used by the SSD, 24% by the camera app.

Well, you have the Pro, but I doubt that it behaves that different.

hello,

when I'm on the blackmagic camera app on my iphone, and I turn the phone landscape so that the volume control buttons are are at the top of the iphone, the display screen is upside down and even the footage is upside down.
the only time it works is when I turn my phone to the left so that the volume control buttons are are at the bottom of the iphone and that's not how it's supposed to work.

it should work like the camera app inside the iphone. can anyone help to make this an update as soon as possible.

also, it would be great to have a clean screen when shooting. I don't want to see the ISO or the FPS. I want it clean like on the iphone in camera app.

let me know if anyone can help. thank you!

[Peter Chamberlain]

Try v1.2 just released.

[CaptainHook]

Version 1.2

• Control dials now offer haptic feedback and higher accuracy.
• Support for 6 additional languages including Chinese, Japanese and Spanish.
• Improved layouts for iPhones with display zoom enabled.
• Improved animations for player and slate views in all iPhone models.
• Improved animations for stealth mode in smaller iPhone models.
• Improved organization and grouping of camera settings.
• Support for selecting a specific onboard microphone.
• Support to maintain zebra, peaking and false color during recording.
• Support for flipping the image for SLR lenses.
• Support for flicker free shutter presets for 50 and 60 Hz settings.
• Support for recording clip with LUT and tagging color space.
• Ability to export and import camera settings presets.
• Improved grid controls with horizon detection.
• Selectable time lapse duration in settings.
• Ability to drag clips between projects in the media panel.
• Support for iOS shortcut automation workflows.
• Multiple fixes for recording HUD.
• Apple Log to Rec.709 LUT is now included.
• Ability to turn off uploads when on data.
• General performance and stability improvements.

Wow, you guys are really serious about this app.
Thank you!

Great improvements, however, I still have no audio level control on my iPhone 12 Pro Max. Is this generally the case with other users?

Neither do I have audio level control on my 15 Pro Max.

Neither do I have audio level control on my 15 Pro Max.

Ah - thanks Uli - I thought maybe it was an 'older iPhone' thing.

Short video posted on some of the features in 1.2

Good on ya, BMD! Thanks!

Tried a little experiment with Timelapse Recording to emulate a stills camera so I can grade the 4K ProRes 422 HQ Rec.2020 images in Resolve.

Set the interval to 10 minutes, set Timelapse On.

Hit Record to begin recording and then immediately hit Record again to end the recording. Repeated a few times quickly so I had new clips with each one consisting of one ‘still’ frame.

Conclusion
So you can take individual stills with Blackmagic Cam using a long Timelapse interval. I’m going to try that probably on a client shoot in December that will include real motion video day one and the ‘stills’ clips on a new Reel the next day.

Edit
This post was edited to correct an erroneous assumption on my part.

@adrien
You can swipe up or down on the monitor to see only your video.

That's super interesting. Thanks fo rthat tip for stills capture.

Tried a little experiment with Timelapse Recording to emulate a stills camera so I can grade the 4K ProRes 422 HQ Rec.2020 images in Resolve.

Set the interval to 10 minutes, set Timelapse On.

Hit Record to begin recording and then immediately hit Record again to end the recording. Repeated a few times quickly so I had new clips with each one consisting of one ‘still’ frame.

Conclusion
So you can take individual stills with Blackmagic Cam using a long Timelapse interval. I’m going to try that probably on a client shoot in December that will include real motion video day one and the ‘stills’ clips on a new Reel the next day.

Edit
This post was edited to correct an erroneous assumption on my part.

You’re welcome. My batting average seems to be sinking this season so hopefully this is a hit and BMD may release their Resolve friendly version of normal stills capability in a future update.

I’m so impressed with what they have done with the Blackmagic Cam app and it continues to improve. Rather amazing. BMD isn’t just known for one of the best image processing capabilities but also widely admired for the ease of use of their cameras to provide what really seems to be common sense and elicits the “why didn’t I think of that?” response.

Version 1.2

• Support for flicker free shutter presets for 50 and 60 Hz settings.

Very much appreciated - thanks for all this effort! If you now can please have a look at the "volume button shutter" option. It doesn't work if an external HDMI device is connected.

Am I the only one in Germany who cannot see an update being available in the AppStore?

Neither do I.

@Adriano
Look for the BM Camera App in System Settings and switch your Preferred Language.

[CaptainHook]

Hi, merged/moved a few posts to try make the various discussions a bit easier to track.

Please if possible use the following topics where it makes sense:

Blackmagic Camera App - General discussion and Releases
Blackmagic Camera App - Feature Requests
Blackmagic Camera App - Issues/Bugs

Today it arrived in Germany, thanks.
When I wanted to do some exposure bracketing, I noticed that not all typical values are offered.
When I'm at 25 fps, I can get 360 or 90 degrees, but no 45. At 60 fps, there are no 90, neither 45. I'm assuming a limitation on Apple's side, so I won't make this a feature request.

Uli. when using Blackmagic Cam, I switched to using Shutter Speed rather than Shutter Angle. Seems to work better.

It's only less obvious that some values are missing. You can go for 1/50, 1/100, but not for 1/200.
Apple seems to use the typical photographic scale, since there's 1/125 and then 1/250.
No biggie, but you can't get precise exposure bracketing this way.

Sorry I just noticed once they get to 1/125th, each setting is a full stop change. There are several choices from 1/64 to 1/125th but it is strange no multiples of 1/100ths say up to 1/2000th. After all it’s not a Cinema Phone. But it feels like the Blackmagic Cam could have need branded the Blackmagic Cinema Cam (unless there’s an unannounced plan to also support stills photos).

I don't think they'll waste time on that. There are dozens of photo apps, some of them quite capable.

...unless there’s an unannounced plan to also support stills photos.

PetaPixel, The Best iPhone Camera Apps of 2023: https://petapixel.com/best-iphone-camera-apps/

That list was published in May and doesn't mention Capture One.

Filmic Pro has separate apps for video and still photography.

Great to see Artist's Viewfinder on the list. I shoot some 8x10 and 4x5, and for large format film it's indispensable. Bit of an improvement on a piece of string, the length of the lens's focal length, running from your nose to a coat hangar bent to the dimensions of the film

...unless there’s an unannounced plan to also support stills photos.

PetaPixel, The Best iPhone Camera Apps of 2023: https://petapixel.com/best-iphone-camera-apps/

That list was published in May before Capture One launched its app.

Filmic Pro has separate apps for video and still photography.

Great to see Artist's Viewfinder on the list. I shoot some 8x10 and 4x5, and for large format film it's indispensable. Bit of an improvement on a piece of string, the length of the lens's focal length, running from your nose to a coat hanger bent to the dimensions of the film

I found some time to make two more tests for sync.

One recording of over one hour was frame accurate at 1 hour, but one frame off (audio early) at 30 minutes.
Trying to test a theory, I set the phone to airplane mode, so no communication goes on. The result was still VFR, but with very small variation. between 24.979 and 25.021 fps. Sync was frame accurate after 20 minutes.

I'd still consider this gambling if you shoot anything that long, when sync is critical.
But to exclude sample variation, I'd like to hear from others.

BTW, recording of ProRes 422 HQ was stable on a T7 (non-shield) from the phone.

Airplane mode! Thanks for the insight.

My goodness, what a great app! The new 'notchy' control dials are a great UI improvement. As is the artificial horizon. AND, viewfinder LUT! My H.265 Log shooting experience is much improved.

Now that the time lapse function has variable intervals available, hopefully I can quit shooting 30fps live video and speeding it up in post.

Interestingly, my Bluetooth hearing aids are detected by the camera app. If I walk out of range, the "camera app shutting down" notification chimes in my hearing aids and the app displays a flashing red exclamation mark and flashing timecode display. Fortunately, this doesn't seem to affect the recordings, despite the app's dire warning. I can avoid this error by staying next to the camera and not strolling around during the shot.

Thanks again, BMD. If there's a "Studio" version of this app in the future, count me in.

Trying to test a theory, I set the phone to airplane mode, so no communication goes on. The result was still VFR, but with very small variation. between 24.979 and 25.021 fps. Sync was frame accurate after 20 minutes.

Interesting find Uli! Anyone else was able to test/confirm this? Might be a good enough fix!

I'm hoping BMD will support the Deity TC-1 in a future release. I'm using them now to sync my cameras and it would be pretty cool to be able to sync my iPhone rig as well. I'm really enjoying playing with this app even though I'm not doing anything serious at the moment.

To contribute to the general discussion:
Is anybody seeing another advantage of the Pro Max over the Pro than the longer lens?
IMHO, the Pro is enough for video, even with the excellent stabilisation you can't hold the 120mm equivalent, while a 77mm equivalent is quite nice for portrait. BTW, it seems a bit longer, close to 80mm, compared to a Zeiss zoom I tried.

Is anybody seeing another advantage of the Pro Max over the Pro than the longer lens?

I'm about to buy an iPhone 15 and considered this question yesterday. I'm opting for a 256GB Pro Max because it costs only US$100 more than the 256GB Pro, one has to have 256GB of internal storage to record 4K Pro Res on the phone (the 128GB Pro is limited to 1080p) and I want the longer lens and larger Pro Max screen.

This morning, one can purchase a 256GB Pro in any of the four colours at any of the 12 NYC Apple stores. They only have the 256GB Pro Max in black. Now I'm deciding whether to buy black today or wait for the next inventory shipment.

Now I'm deciding whether to buy black today or wait for the next inventory shipment.

I decided to wait. Over the course of today, most of the NY stores have received more stock, making all four colours of 256GB Pro Max available. I plan to pick one up later today. In the expectation that they'll run cooler while filming, at least outdoors on a hot day, I'm going with "white titanium" or "natural titanium". Might or might not make a substantive difference, but can't hurt.

I also plan to film using a Beastcage or no case at all, and with phone functions turned off (Airplane Mode?) except for what's required for video.

On reducing load, Captain Hook said this in another thread:

Not saying this will solve it [a "System Pressure Too High" message], but having on overlays like focus peaking/histogram/etc while recording will push the performance of the phone. If there's any overlays/LUTs etc you think you can do without while recording you can try turning them off.

Black is usually better at emitting heat than white.

This applies if the heat is being dissipated. Not having sunlight shining on it for example.

JB

Black is usually better at emitting heat than white.

This applies if the heat is being dissipated. Not having sunlight shining on it for example.

JB

Thanks for the comment.

I don't see anything dissipating heat.

In a phone cage, such as a Beastcage, both the front and back surfaces of an iPhone are exposed to sunlight, and I'm sceptical about whether a Beastcage acts as a heat sink. It only frames the phone's borders, and is not in actual contact with them due to silicone bumpers. I'm also doubtful that having a standard petroleum-based phone case on a phone is good from a heat perspective.

Your view?

Absolutely, one shouldn’t have anything with bad heat conduction around it. Better only metal.
Deciding on color is difficult. Imagine a car: a white one is heating up less when standing in the sun. But a matte black one would cool down faster when not exposed to the sun.
I’d say rather decide on enough internal storage if you expect to shoot under really hot conditions. Supplying an external device will increase heat in the phone. That said, I did a test at 27 degrees with a T5 attached and the phone did not overheat when ‚naked‘. A Samsung thumpdrive should draw even less power.

Deciding on color is difficult.

You've been watching too many YouTube videos

I’d say rather decide on enough internal storage if you expect to shoot under really hot conditions.

Who cares if 512GB costs another US$200. Hell, get a terabyte

Is anybody seeing another advantage of the Pro Max over the Pro than the longer lens?

The longer lens is well worth it, IMHO, especially in a video camera. While not quite as sharp as the native "1X" camera in stills mode, it's good enough for 4K video. With video, I see no resolution differences between the various lenses.

I got dark blue because my first choice "Natural Titanium" would have added another month to delivery.

I got 512G storage, too. Well worth the $200 price increase. BMD Camera app reports over 14h of storage at h.265 log setting.

This codec looks as good to me as any of the others when viewed in Resolve. It is a little harder on the playback system - scrubbing the timeline is not quite as fluid.

The 3x lens has the same quality for video.
Yes, HEVC log is very close in quality, you can only spot differences when pixel peeping on critical scenes, like backlit moving water.

When I copy files from the phone to my PC using the "Files" app on the phone, I select all the files and navigate to the directory on my T7 Samsung drive and paste them there.

When I look at the resulting directory in File Manager on the PC, I see this:

T7 Directory.jpg (481.93 KiB) Viewed 997163 times

What are all those little MOV files? They have the same filenames as the actual video files, but are greyed out and unplayable in VLC.

So far, I've just been deleting them.

Peter,

I assume these are the Proxies ...

Not really. These files are too small even for proxies, but they have a dot plus underline in front of them. These are resource fork files used by the storage system on the Mac (where they are normally not shown).
You can just delete them on a PC, where they have no use.

hi, i download the app on a 11pro, i setup it on HD 1080P25 , i add a video assist with an lightning hdmi adapter for external recording (option hdmi clean feed) but the hdmi resolution is 1080P59.94.
if anyone can help me to fix this, thx

André