Final Cut Camera 1.1 Released – Log Recording in HEVC and More

News

by Heath McKnightToday

Apple has updated Final Cut Camera to version 1.1, part of their major updates to the Final Cut Pro family of apps (ver. 11 and 2.1 for iPad). The update adds a LUT preview while filming in Log, support for filming in Log in HEVC, and more.

Final Cut Camera 1.1 – features

Final Cut Camera for iPhone and iPad debuted in May 2024 with Final Cut Pro for iPad and joins a growing list of cinematography apps for mobile filmmaking (Blackmagic Camera, Filmic Pro, etc.). While it can be used as a standalone app, it is a companion for FCP for iPad, especially for use with the Live Multicam feature. Check out my colleague Nino Leitner’s video review and tutorial of Live Multicam.

Final Cut Camera features professional manual controls, including ISO, shutter speed, white balance, focus, and precise zoom. It also supports a variety of resolutions, frame rates, codecs, and color space. Of course, some features depend on which iPhone is used, as explained below.

Final Cut Camera 1.1’s new features:

• LUT Preview during Recording
  • Enable the Apple Log LUT to preview HDR and SDR in Log while filming.
  • Set exposure and monitor footage with overexposure indicators via the LUT preview.
• Film in Log and HEVC
  • Filming in Log and HEVC helps to increase dynamic range and improve flexibility. All while keeping file sizes small.
  • Can be used while filming or with the Live Multicam feature using Final Cut Pro for iPad.
• Advanced level helps with framing and composition
  • New level features roll and tilt indicators to improve framing and composition.
  • Crosshairs indicator helps with top-bottom or bottom-up filming.
• Film in 4K up to 120 fps
  • Shoot in 4K up to 120 fps with the iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max.
  • Import the footage into Final Cut Pro and transform the clips into slow motion.

List of Final Cut Camera’s other features

• Choose the resolution, frame rate, and codec, including ProRes and Log color encoding (iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or later).
• Manual controls of ISO, shutter speed, white balance, focus, and zoom.
• Live Multicam (Final Cut Pro for iPad).
• Focus peaking and overexposure indicators.
• Stabilization.
• Lock orientation.
• Support for external drive; move files or record to it (A13 Bionic chip or later).
• Final Cut Browser allows for quick review of footage.

Price and availability

Final Cut Camera 1.1 is a free app and is available now on the iPhone and iPad App Store. The cinematography features and ability to be used with the Live Multicam feature with Final Cut Pro for iPad make this one to consider for mobile filmmaking.

You’ll need an iPhone or iPad running iOS 17.6 or iPadOS or later. Keep in mind that to shoot in 4K up to 120 fps, you’ll need an iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max. Learn more in the Final Cut Camera section here.

What are your thoughts on the Final Cut Camera 1.1 update? Are you using it or another cinematography app to film on your smartphone? Let us know in the comments below!