Edit Your iPhone Videos with this App

Shooting a film on an iPhone might not seem like the smartest idea, but for many it's a viable option for capturing decent HD quality video on the move. Monday’s Stuff to Watch featured a number of productions created using the iPhone, a few specialised apps and some extras which can really make the difference.

Today we’ll be exploring the iPhone filmmakers’ toolbox, more specifically the apps that can help you get the most of your phone’s capabilities as a video recorder, processor and editor. Tomorrow we’ll be taking a closer look at accessories, DIY kit and techniques for producing top-notch video on your smartphone, so be sure to check back.

The iPhone 4S, being the latest and greatest, will provide a superior video experience than the iPhone 4. Just so we’re straight, the iPhone 4 shoots decent raw 720p video, while the iPhone 4S can capture 1080p video. The iPhone 4S also has an inbuilt image stabiliser to reduce hand shake, and low light performance is noticeably better than its predecessor.

That said the iPhone 4 still provides good 720p HD video, and the lack of an image stabiliser won’t make too much of a difference with the right tools at your disposal. If you are considering using an iPhone to shoot your short, film, documentary or music video, then battery life and storage space are going to be of utmost concern. It goes without saying that you should probably dump existing footage and pictures to your Mac or PC, for the maximum shooting time possible.

FiLMiC Pro
Probably the most fully-featured iPhone video app, FiLMiC Pro lets you customise a myriad of options from a thumb-optimised interface for the best video possible. In addition to three separate modes for focus and exposure (including the ability to expose for one area and focus on another), FiLMiC Pro allows you to specify your own frame rate, including 24p (US) and 25p (European) film standards and user-defined video bitrate for unsurpassed authenticity.

The app also provides control over the resolution of the resulting video and framing guide overlays in 4:3, 16:9 and 2:35.1. An on-screen audio meter ensures you can see whether your sound is too loud or quiet and color bars and a film-style clapper finish off this motion picture masterpiece.

It’s not perfect, the iPhone drops frames occasionally (especially in low light situations) and 24p might end up at around 18 frames at times, but then again it offers such a leap in functionality over the plain old Camera app that the $3.99 seems almost too cheap considering the resulting footage. Check out the demo (in HD), below.

from makeuseof