Apple iPhone 13, 14, and 15 Cinematic Mode Explained
If you’ve recently picked up an Apple iPhone 13 or 14, you may have noticed a new Cinematic Mode which allows you to record videos with automatic focus racking and blurred backgrounds.
How does Cinematic mode work?
“With Cinematic mode, your iPhone camera can record videos with a shallow depth of field and add beautiful focus transitions for a cinema-grade look... Cinematic mode applies a depth-of-field effect that keeps the subject of your video sharp while creating a beautifully blurred foreground and background. iPhone automatically identifies the subject of the video and keeps it in focus throughout the recording; if a new subject is identified, iPhone automatically transitions the point of focus. You can also manually adjust the point of focus while you record, or change it later in the Photos app. Cinematic mode is available on all iPhone 13 models and iPhone 14 models.”
What is the depth-of-field effect?
In photography and cinematography, depth of field is the distance between the nearest and farthest objects in a scene that appear in sharp focus. A shallow depth of field means that only a small part of the scene is in focus, while a deep depth of field means that most or all of the scene is in focus. Depth of field is controlled by the aperture of the lens, which determines how much light is let in and how much of the scene is in focus.
What Apple is referring to as a depth-of-field effect is the blur or soft “bokeh,” in stark contrast to the sharpness of the subject.
“Bokeh balls,” soft blurring of the background from the depth-of-field effect
The neat thing about the Cinematic Mode effect is that if you have multiple subjects, the iPhone camera will figure out which subject you want to have in focus, and seamlessly shift focus between your subjects. That’s a trick that usually requires an on set “focus puller” to manually monitor and adjust in real-time. With the iPhone Cinematic Mode, simply re-center the camera towards the subject you want to have in focus, or have them walk into the frame, and the camera will smoothly pull focus to the new subject, making them sharp and blurring out the background.
Will my videos really look like a film just by using Cinematic Mode?
While filmmakers and photographers often do make use of shallow depth of field, it’s not the only technique that can make a video or photo look cinematic.
There are many factors that can make a video look cinematic. Some of these include:
The use of a wide-angle lens to capture a scene, which can give the image a more expansive and immersive feel.
Careful composition of the shots, with the use of techniques such as the rule of thirds or leading lines to create a sense of depth and movement within the frame.
The use of color grading to create a specific visual aesthetic, such as a cool blue tone for a dramatic scene or a warm golden hue for a romantic one.
The use of creative lighting techniques, such as backlighting or rim lighting, to add depth and dimension to the images.
The use of visual effects and other post-production techniques to enhance the overall look and feel of the video.
Overall, achieving a cinematic look often involves a combination of these and other techniques, as well as a strong artistic vision and attention to detail.
iPhone Product Links - Cinematic mode is available on the following iPhone models:
