Getting professional results from what you have.
WHAT PHONES DO WELL
Resolution and detail in good light Stabilisation Convenience and immediacy
WHAT THEY DO POORLY
Low light Shallow focus, genuinely Audio, without an external microphone
WHAT TO FIX FIRST
Audio. An external microphone transforms phone video more than anything else.
WHAT TO USE
Manual controls, through an application that provides them.
WHY
Automatic exposure shifts mid-shot, which is the clearest sign of amateur video.
WHAT TO LOCK
Exposure and focus, before recording.
WHAT SETTINGS TO CHECK
Resolution and frame rate, set deliberately The highest quality mode available
WHAT TO AVOID
Digital zoom, which simply crops Vertical video, unless the destination is vertical Shooting into bright light Dirty lenses
WHY DIRTY LENSES SPECIFICALLY
Phones live in pockets, and a fingerprint produces haze across everything.
WHAT TO DO
Clean the lens before every shoot.
WHAT STABILISATION TO ADD
A small tripod, or a gimbal for movement.
WHAT STORAGE TO MANAGE
Free space before shooting, since recording stops when full.
WHAT TO DO IMMEDIATELY AFTER
Transfer and back up, before the phone is lost or damaged.
