FiLMiC Pro is the industry leading mobile video & filmmaking app utilized around the globe. This is the camera app regularly used by the BBC. Hollywood director Steven Soderbergh also used it on two of his recent movies. And the great thing is it's available for anyone and everyone to do the same using iPhone or Android.
In this guide we'll start with the basics of getting to know the app, then learn how to use it to shoot professional quality video with your smartphone.
FiLMiC Pro is the industry leading mobile video & filmmaking app utilized around the globe. This is the camera app regularly used by the BBC. Hollywood director Steven Soderbergh also used it on two of his recent movies. And the great thing is it's available for anyone and everyone to do the same using iPhone or Android.
In this guide we'll start with the basics of getting to know the app, then learn how to use it to shoot professional quality video with your smartphone.
Starting with V7 FiLMiC Pro (November 2022) is now a subscription app, however, they still allow current users to download legacy V6 and this course relates to that version of the app. This course doe not cover FiLMIC Pro V7.
Covers these topics and more:
Choosing resolution and frame rate
Manually control white balance, exposure and focus
Using histograms, zebra stripes, and focus peaking
Setting up and shooting slow motion
Using presets to quickly repeat different shooting setups
Best audio settings
HDMI and wireless video monitoring
Timelapse settings
Best ways to transfer the video files from your phone for editing
Shooting with the Cinematographer Kit and log footage (plus a bonus color grading tutorial)
Hands-on gear demos (suggested camera rigs, gimbals and third-party lenses)
Overall Best Practices for before, during and after your FiLMiC Pro shoot
Top mobile filmmaking accessories (with direct links to Amazon and/or B&H)
Also included are any future key feature updates to the V6 app. Including Ultra Wide lens compatibility with the later iPhone models (now the iPhone 14) and info about the FiLMiC Pro DoubleTake app, 10-bit HDR and LogV3, etc.
Student Feedback:
- "" -Rico Y.
- "Extremely clear. The instructor clearly speaks at an excellent pace - not boringly slow or (worse) so fast that he cannot be understood." -George B.
- "Best produced course on FiLMiC Pro I've seen." -Eliot F.
- "Crystal clear. Great job. Thanks a lot for this course." -Antoine G.
- "Finished the course in roughly a weekend and learned at least 15 new things (actually stopped counting) that will help my filmmaking. Would recommend to anyone, of any level. " -Thomas M.
Welcome! This is a short introduction and setup for what to expect in this FiLMiC Pro V6 guide.
A quick run down of things to know before you start the course.
This is a nuts & bolts look at the app interface and controls for FiLMiC Pro V6. Even if you are already familiar with the app we would still suggest watching this as a refresher before moving on to the "How To" section.
Make sure to download and refer to the included PDF in the Resources section below for recaps of each main segment within this video. Also, be sure to watch for any new features in Section 4 of this course. We add lessons there when new things are released such as Ultra Wide lens compatibility on later iPhones or the updated look and functionality of the Library.
In this segment we go into detail on choosing the shooting resolution, frame rates, shutter speed and ISO settings.
Note: Locking the shutter to set the ISO (and ultimately the exposure) on a smartphone is a very important aspect to understand for shooting professional quality video.
Shooting in low light will cause FiLMiC Pro to increase the ISO and create unwanted video noise. In this example we show how adding light and then keeping the ISO under 100 will produce cleaner, more professional images. And by the way, you don't have to add artificial light like in this example - it could be sunlight or any other kind of light that will help lower the ISO.
PLEASE NOTE: To best see this example make sure the video player is set to 1080 HD (choose setting at the bottom right of the player) and watch in full screen. Also, if viewing on a small screen mobile device it is unlikely you'll be able to see much of a difference in the video noise levels.
Shooting in bright conditions will often cause FiLMiC Pro to increase the shutter to a very fast speed to obtain the proper exposure. This is largely due to the fact that smartphones have fixed apertures and so exposure is set using ISO and the shutter. The big negative to this is the footage will have not have motion blur. To remedy this situation you need to use neutral density filters and try to follow the "180° Shutter Rule" (shutter equals double the frame rate to create ideal motion blur).
FiLMiC pro offers professional level controls to perfect the look of your footage. Our most used are the histogram, zebras and focus peaking.
Note: If when using zebras and the red stripes are present on screen we suggest dialing them back (by manually lowering the exposure) until you can't see them anymore - especially on skin tone. That way this will protect the highlights and help create the most professional looking footage. And always remember to LOCK the white balance!
If you're used to using autofocus on a DSLR or mirrorless camera then you'll really like the Auto Mode autofocus in FiLMiC Pro. And don't forget about sound! FiLMiC Pro offers several great options to record professional quality audio.
Note: We often leave the Auto Mode autofocus on, but LOCK the auto exposure. Exposure shifts are usually a sign of less professional work - along with having poor quality audio (get a good mic!).
Easily recall complex settings using Presets and then save them to the Cloud using FiLMiC Sync. And with the CMS menu you can have lots of control over the file names and even timecode that's embedded into the video files.
UPDATE: Now in v6.13.4 FiLMiC Sync is new & improved for saving presets to the cloud... You can sign in with Apple, Twitter or Google accounts and you can now do password resets within the app.
The Device tab has several interesting features that can really add professional level functionality to your smartphone.
FiLMiC Pro offers lots of advanced control and professional features.
For example, the app offers really great electronic image stabilization which pairs perfectly with the various third-party hardware that it integrates with (like gimbals and lenses).
We suggest leaving Image Stabilization on all the time even on gimbals. The only exception would be if you're shooting something static and on a tripod then we'll turn it off (this will give the best image quality as stabilization does zoom in and slightly degrades it).
Update note: If you own an iPhone 11 the Camera tab on your device will look slightly different than this one as there is now an Ultra Wide lens option. FiLMiC Pro 6.10.2 supports this and we have a lesson covering it in Section 4 (New V6 Features).
PLEASE NOTE: In FiLMiC Pro version 6.10.5 they have updated the Library. It still more or less functions the same, so we still advise watching this video - but a few things have been removed and a few things have been added.
Make sure and watch the UPDATE VIDEOS in Section 4 where we demo this and other updated features.
The FiLMiC Library is where all the clips you shoot will reside and so it's something you'll interact with a lot. Definitely get to know it well.
FiLMiC Pro offers a timelapse mode that can really add (easy & affordable) production value to your video projects.
Here we walk through the steps of how to shoot a simple timelapse using FiLMiC Pro with a photo tripod and an ND filter. In this example we show how a 2 second and 10 second interval setup will each look.
When FiLMiC Pro releases new features to the V6 app we will add lessons pertaining to those here in this section (and include them for no additional charge).
Starting with FiLMiC Pro 6.9.3 on iOS (and on Android too) there is a White Balance Auto-Lock. This is a great feature for "everyday" kind of videos. If you want your white balance to adjust to the surroundings, but you don't want it to shift while recording, then use this setting (the button will be orange).
The iPhone 11 introduced an Ultra Wide lens as one of its key features - and not only for photos, but video too. And the iPhone 12 and 13 continued this and has improved that lens/camera. So here we take a look at how the Ultra Wide works with FiLMiC Pro including stabilization along with supported 3-axis gimbals (does the lens see the arm and/or motor?).
Please note: We mention the DJI Osmo Mobile 2 here and not the Osmo Mobile 3 as the latter gimbal was not yet supported by FiLMiC Pro when we shot this (it is now though).
FiLMiC Pro version 6.10.5 of the app included a few changes and additions - mainly they updated the Library. It's functionality is very similar as before, but it has been refined and made better. Btw, we still suggest watching the original video in the main lessons (2.7 Using the FiLMiC Library) for details on using this since the primary functions are still more or less the same.
Also included in this release the ability to switch between their standalone app DoubleTake and the main FiLMiC Pro app.
To learn more about the DoubleTake app watch this video from our YouTube channel. And if you want to add DoubleTake to your device then go here on the App Store. Again, currently this is a standalone app, but in the future it could be part of FiLMiC Pro and if that happens we'll include training within this course on it too.
These features are part of FiLMiC Pro version 6.12 or later (on iOS). Not sure of the version number on Android.
The biggest thing in this update is you can send a "clean" video signal out via HDMI. This means you can now use your smartphone and FiLMIC Pro for live streaming, Zoom calls and more. You can also capture video to an external recorder, however, the video is only 1080 HD 60fps (not 4K). This is a limitation of the Lightning port. If you use FiLMiC Pro on an iPad Pro you can output 4K via the USB-C port, but note that the signal is compressed, so according to FiLMiC Pro internal recording is higher quality.
Additionally, the app now supports all DJI Osmo Mobile gimbals - and that includes the most recent OM models.
This update is for the iPhone 12 or later ONLY. But it does work on all models... iPhone 12, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, 12 Mini and now 13 series phones, too.
With this update you can shoot 10-bit HDR footage with FiLMiC Pro.
See the video link below for sample HDR footage mentioned in the video. Make sure and watch this on an HDR capable screen.
Another great update for FiLMiC Pro and this time to the Cinematographer Kit. You can now shoot 10-bit log footage using LogV3.
This video is a "First Look" at the abilities of this new feature.
One important note is this update is ONLY for iPhone 12 series phones or later, along with select Android devices. This will not work on previous iPhone models.
However, the good news is the venerable LogV2 is still an option and appears it will continue to be. This is still great for shooting log on your phone, too. It shoots in 8-bit color versus 10-bit for the latest devices. And it's also still available on iPhone 12 and later models, so you can choose to shoot with whatever works best for your project.
Another new app update from FiLMiC Pro that we wanted to include here... Version 6.14 for iPhone and Android (different version numbering for Android though).
This update includes a new UI look with a camera picker and then new features added to the CMS menu (content management).
Now in version 6.16 (or later) Filmic Pro has added "Film Looks".
These are in-app purchase options that allow you to create "looks" in-camera, so that means no post-production color grading (although you might still need to do some exposure or white balance correction depending on how it was shot). Look at these like "filters" that you apply while shooting, but remember, they are a baked-in look and probably best used for social media or quick turnaround jobs.
This was something that I had always dreamed of but didn't actually think would happen. Pretty crazy to have a professional video codec like ProRes in the palm of your hand!
NOTE: This feature currently ONLY WORKS on the iPhone 13 Pro & Pro Max using FiLMiC Pro v6.17 or later.
FiLMiC Pro version 6.7.17 brings Apple's "Cinematic Stabilization" to the app.
In my experience thus far this works best when shooting handheld and wanting shots to be very stable - almost like being on a tripod. Using it in the place of a gimbal works okay, but it's not the same (nor is it the same as the native camera app). But it's a great feature to have in the tool kit and definitely helps a lot depending on what you're shooting.
Now with FiLMiC Pro v6.19 you can shoot "Camera-To-Cloud" with Frame.io integration. You must have an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription and a Frame.io account (Frame.io is now included within Creative Cloud for no extra charge). If you don't use Adobe then you'll need a standalone paid Frame.io account.
Yes, finally! We can now swipe left or right to scroll through shots in the FiLMiC Pro Library. This is a great new feature in v6.19 of the app.
You can now shoot 4K 60FPS in ProRes with app version 6.19.3. But please note this feature does require using an iPhone 13 Pro or Pro Max (or later device).
In Filmic Pro version 6.19.3 or later you now have global & local tone mapping controls and so in this lesson we look at what those are with an iPhone and how to best use them to get the highest quality image from Filmic Pro.
Doing automated focus pulls with your smartphone is a really cool feature and something you can easily do to create instant production value.
Being able to externally monitor the video signal from FiLMiC Pro is a great feature and can really make it easier when shooting projects in more professional environments.
One note: You can also use an Apple Watch wirelessly with FiLMiC Pro for monitoring and simple start/stop abilities, however, we don't have one to demonstrate this.
See downloadable PDF below too for further guidance on connecting FiLMiC Pro to FiLMiC Remote.
PLEASE NOTE: FiLMiC Pro version 6.10.5 and later NO longer supports using the WD Passport Pro in this fashion. You can still use it for file management, but you go through the iOS Files folder to do this instead of directly within FiLMiC Pro. Have no idea why they stopped supporting this, but at least it does still work. The info in this video above still applies as it relates to using the wireless drive, but again, not directly within FiLMiC Pro.
DOWNLOAD and watch the screen recording below to see how to now use the iOS Files directory to transfer footage to the drive.
This wireless SSD is a really handy accessory that can be used for a lot more than just transferring files from FiLMiC Pro (which is cool by itself). It can also charge your phone out in the field, work as a traditional drive with a computer or can be used on location to download SD cards (from other cameras). And it also works with LumaFusion for previewing files for editing.
There is a link for this drive in the Additional Resources at the end of this section.
The Cinematographer Kit is a must-have addition to FiLMiC Pro if you want to unlock the potential of your smartphone and shoot the most cinematic looking footage.
Why a must-have? It allows you to shoot log footage with your phone. Shooting log gives the most dynamic range and then the most latitude in post-production to color grade the footage. And this isn't just for filmmakers and movies. More dynamic range can be a great thing for all types of productions.
NOTE: This video looks at LogV2, but the concepts and applications are the same for the new LogV3 (this update was recently announced for the iPhone 12 series phones, along with select Android devices).
This is a bonus post-production tutorial for those shooting LogV2 with the Cinematographer Kit.
Here we do a general overview of using LUTs to color correct and grade FiLMiC Pro log footage within Adobe Premiere Pro (although the techniques can apply to other software such as Final Cut Pro X, Davinci Resolve, LumaFusion and more). And please note, there are lots of different ways to approach color grading and the end results can be subjective. This method is just one that we've found works for us.
UPDATE: This tutorial is for LogV2, but the techniques will apply to the original LogV1 and to the recently announced 10-bit LogV3 for the iPhone 12 series phones.
Now you can shoot ProRes LogV3+ using FiLMiC Pro and iPhone 13 Pro or Pro Max models.
NOTE: This lesson could also be included in the "New Features" section of the course (added in v6.19 of the app in April 2022), however, it is more of an advanced topic and felt it fits well here with the other log video lessons.
If you travel and shoot video in a different country with a different electrical frequency (NTSC 60Hz or PAL 50Hz) then you might encounter flickering in lights. To help prevent this FiLMiC Pro allows you to adjust the shutter frequency.
A hands-on demo setting up both the Beastgrip and Helium Core rigs in cinema-style & mobile journalism configurations.
Please note: This segment is presented in a "real time" fashion so as to demonstrate how quickly (or not) the setups can be built and then disassembled.
Also, keep in mind that phone models change, but the info in this video on how to build out a rig remains the same regardless of the devices.
A hands-on demo setting up two "Everyday Carry" rigs using a Moment case and lenses, along with a Shouldpod and Tarion tripod mounts. Please note: This segment is presented in a "real time" fashion so as to demonstrate how quickly (or not) the setups can be built and then disassembled.
Also, keep in mind that phone models change, but the info in this video on how to build out a rig remains the same regardless of the devices.
A hands-on look at three gimbals that integrate with the FiLMiC Pro app.
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2020: Please note that there are now newer versions of the DJI gimbal that both work with FiLMiC Pro. The Osmo Mobile 3 and the OM 4. They are more or less the same as the Osmo Mobile 2 gimbal but they fold now and will hold a bit more weight - and hold most lenses better depending on the size (it might need counterweights). We've added links to these in the Additional Resources for those interested. And again, they are now ALL supported within FiLMiC Pro.
Note: If you are an iPhone 11 or 12 user and want to use the Ultra Wide lens on these gimbals then make sure and watch the update video we added to Section 2A for New Features. Basically, the Smooth 4 works the best, the Osmo Mobile 2 works okay and the Movi doesn't work without a lot of hassle utilizing counterweights (if at all).
For detailed info and review videos of more gimbals check out our Gimbal Buyer's Guide on our website (link in Additional Resources below).
A general look at third-party lens choices for varying mobile filmmaking setups.
Please note: For iPhone 11 Pro or 12 Pro users these lenses will work fine on the Wide and Tele, but do NOT work with the Ultra Wide.
FiLMiC Pro best practices for BEFORE, DURING and AFTER your shoot. Make sure and download the PDF version of this list that is available below. And please note, we ALSO include additional Pro Tips, notes and some troubleshooting info that was not mentioned in the video segment (so definitely check it out!).
Note: For Mac users now running iOS 13 and Catalina you no longer use iTunes to transfer files from iOS apps like FiLMiC Pro - you use the Finder for file sharing.
These are the top mobile accessories we recommend to help shoot professional level video with FiLMiC Pro (not including FiLMiC Pro or a smartphone of course). Please refer to the Additional Resources in this section for direct links to these products and others.
Please note: Some of these products might have been discontinued or updated. And so we always try to keep the info and product links updated, but they can change frequently. :)
Produced this short film for the Moment Invitational. Shot on an iPhone XS Max with FiLMiC Pro LogV2 using a PolarPro ND filter and a Movi Cinema Robot.
This is an example of mixing affordable smartphone tech with high-end filmmaking gear. This video was shot on a RED Weapon camera ($45,000 setup) and an iPhone 8 Plus shooting FiLMiC Pro Flat and using a Smooth 4 gimbal (all the dolly/tracking shots are from the iPhone - and later in the video all the close-ups are, too). Using smartphones as B cameras is something we've started to do more and more on our projects like this.
This is an experimental short film shot & edited in only one day. Used an iPhone 8 Plus and the Moment Macro lens
This travel-style video was shot during a July 4th lake party. Used FiLMiC Pro shooting 4K 60fps (for slow motion) with a PolarPro ND filter and a Zhiyun Smooth Q gimbal.
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