Last Updated: March 25, 2024
While the latest top iPhones offer many native features for mobile filming, adding a few accessories can make your shots even more cinematic.
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max were launched in September with many new features, including titanium, USB-C and some state-of-the-art cameras. For mobile filmmakers, this is Apple’s best device yet. Let’s take a look at some of the accessories that mobile filmmakers need to get great images, including an external SSD disk, phone support and the latest lenses. In this article I’ll show you the best accessories to film with the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.
The new iPhone 15 Pro was announced in mid-September by Apple and launched a week later. Based on conversations I’ve had with local Apple stores and other retailers, plus what’s being discussed on the popular Mac pages, it’s been a huge success. New orders won’t arrive for weeks, and many highlight not only the features and the new titanium construction, but also the USB-C port, which has replaced the Lightning port.
I have one in the natural titanium color with 256GB capacity and so far, based on my initial tests with the three cameras (and a front camera) using the built-in software, Filmic Pro and the Blackmagic Camera App, this is the best Apple iPhone yet for mobile shooting, editing via iMovie or LumaFusion and general use.
iPhone 15 Pro Mobile Shooting Accessories
Lenses
Since the iPhone 15 Pro is only a month old as of the date of this article, third parties are still working on accessories, including lenses. Moment has released an article and a video that not only discuss the new phone, but also compare how it works with the T-Series and M-Series lenses. There are some minor issues, but they have solutions.
Moment also released this ‘Cinematic Day in the Life’ video with the iPhone 15 Pro Max and its T-Series lenses, and the images look very good.
Moment’s T-series lenses include 58mm Telephoto, 18mm Wide Angle, 14mm Fisheye, 10x Macro, 1.55x Anamorphic (gold and blue flare) and 1.33x Anamorphic (gold and blue flare). The video above was shot with all the T-series lenses except the 1.33x Anamorphic lens. Moment is now selling cases for the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and the standard iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, along with a CineClear Protective Filter, Screen Protector and more. Check out their website for details on the lenses and accessories.
SANDMARC is another option and the company has lenses for the iPhone 15 Pro/15 Pro Max and other accessories available.
Mobile Stabilization & Support
Although shooting manually with the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max isn’t a problem, getting a more stable image is preferable. The good news is that there are now stabilizers compatible with all the new iPhones, including the 15 and 15 Plus.
The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is one of my favorite smartphone stabilizers. It’s easy to hold, folds up small, has 3-axis stabilization and you can control your phone remotely. It works with many different Android and iOS devices, including the latest from Apple. It costs just $149 and you can find out more here.
Other gimbos that are compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro include the DJI OM 5, Zhiyun Smooth 5S, Insta360 Flow and Zhiyun Smooth-Q4.
External SSD for Post-Production and Storage
If you’re shooting a lot of footage, even an iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max with 1TB of space will quickly fill up. That’s why it’s essential to have an external SSD to download those clips. The USB-C port allows 10Gbit transfer, so it’s very simple and quick to transfer images and organize your clips for editing.
Options include the Crucial X8 and X9, the PNY Pro Elite V2, the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro (and Mobile SSD) and the Samsung Portable SSD T7 Touch. Prices vary according to storage size, but expect to pay between $80 and $200, with the ‘sweet spot’ being around $160. All the drives are available from major e-commerce stores such as Amazon.
Conclusion: Making the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max Cinematic
Although ‘out of the box’, the iPhone 15 Pro allows you to get great cinematic images, adding the right accessories will make it even more cinematic. Even if you’re a casual mobile filmmaker, investing in a few accessories, such as the DJI Osmo Mobile 6, will ensure smooth images. My final recommendation is to use a cinematography app, such as those from Filmic Pro, Moment and Blackmagic.
Finally, choosing the right accessories can raise the quality of your mobile footage and help create more engaging content. So consider these options to improve your video production with the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.
*(Some articles may have been written or structured with Artificial Intelligence, but they were all reviewed, improved and rewritten by a Human.)
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