iPhone Filmmaking Settings You Need to Know (Blackmagic App Guide)

Cinematic footage. Pro audio. Perfect exposure. All shot on your iPhone. This guide walks you step-by-step through the most important settings inside the Blackmagic Camera App — so you can create professional-looking videos with the device already in your pocket. By the end of this breakdown, you’ll know exactly how to choose the right lens, frame rate, exposure settings, audio levels, and stabilization options… without getting overwhelmed.

Lens Selection: Choose the Right Field of View

Tap the lens selector in the top-left corner to see all available iPhone lenses.

Lens	Best Uses	Style
13mm Ultra Wide	Tight spaces, landscapes, dynamic motion	Dramatic & energetic
24mm Wide	Everyday filming	Natural & versatile
48mm Telephoto	Portraits, close-ups, isolating subjects	Cinematic depth
120mm Super Tele (Pro Max only)	Long reach, distant subjects	Intense subject separation

There’s also a front camera toggle just below if you’re vlogging or shooting solo.

FPS: The Setting That Changes Everything

Tap FPS in the top-left menu to select your frame rate.

Frame Rate	Look / Usage
23.98 / 24 fps	Classic cinematic feel
30 fps	YouTube content, interviews, everyday video
60 fps	Fast motion, crisp slow-mo
120 fps	Ultra slow-motion effects

Off-Speed Recording (Instant Slow Motion)

Record at 60 fps while your project is set to 24 fps — the slow motion is baked in automatically.

✔ Perfect when no synced audio is needed

✘ Avoid if you need precise slow-mo in post or dialogue recording

Shutter Speed: Motion Blur + Exposure Control

Follow the 180° shutter rule:

Shutter = 2 × Frame Rate

Lock your shutter to avoid fluctuations mid-shot and adjust exposure with ISO or ND filters instead.
ISO: Keep It Clean

ISO: Keep It Clean

Tap ISO at the top of the screen to adjust sensitivity.

Lower ISO = cleaner image
Higher ISO = more noise

✔ Best practice: keep ISO low + use ND filters

✔ Fix lighting before you crank ISO up

White Balance: Lock It Before Recording

Color temperature appears as a number like 5600K.

Common presets:

5600K – daylight
6500K – overcast
4000K – mixed/fluorescent light

Pro Tip:

Lock WB when possible — only use auto outdoors as a last resort when lighting changes fast.

There’s also a tint slider for fine tuning. Use it sparingly.

Essential Monitoring Tools

Tool	Location	Why It Matters
Recording Timer	Center top	Track clip length down to the frame
Histogram	Bottom left	Most reliable exposure indicator
Storage Timer	Bottom center	Shows remaining record time
Audio Meters	Bottom right	Prevent clipping by staying out of the red

Auto Focus + Exposure Lock

Tap to autofocus, then Tap + hold to lock AE/AF. Great for interviews and controlled shots

Stabilization Modes

Mode	Best For	Notes
Off	Tripod or locked camera	Most accurate image
Standard	Everyday handheld	Best balance of smoothness
Cinematic	Glide-like movement	More stylized look
Extreme	Maximum shake reduction	More crop + possible warping