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MichaelMidnight

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Feb 20, 2008
400
115
Los Angeles
Hi guys! I'm hoping y'all can shed some light on this question I'm wondering about, which is what's the overall best settings to shoot video on an iPhone XS Max? Now I'm not looking for the highest quality which some say are 4k 60fps via Filmic Pro with the highest settings, etc but rather the best settings that has all the features within an iPhone and optimal for maybe today and the next few years, so not really future proofing. I've been doing some reading and I had heard that shooting in under 30fps and perhaps 1080p will unlock the best optical stabilization and cinema/HDR modes AND will work great on YouTube/Instagram/Facebook since most people view things on their phone or don't have the fastest internet connections to view things at say work.

So I ask yet again, what do YOU view as the overall best settings for shooting with in iPhone XS Max for capturing those great and random everyday moments!
 

acorntoy

macrumors 68020
May 25, 2010
2,038
2,307
I use 4K 30FPS. 60 looks too smooth to me, bothers me.

Seems like 1080P would be a good choice for you though, it isn’t massive, and you’ll be able to use the “most compatible” format without it creating massive files.
 

now i see it

macrumors G4
Jan 2, 2002
11,257
24,289
1080P 30 FPS is the norm. It will always look good. DVDs by comparison have a much lower resolution.
 

Farsider

macrumors 6502a
Jul 30, 2014
630
308
London, UK
If you film in 1080p at 30fps, the Camera app can lower the FPS in low light to 24fps....and in my experience that works really well to prevent low light video looking really grainy.

Any resolution at 60fps will result in grainer images in lower light situations as the sensor is exposed to less light and so ups the ISO to compensate.

There’s less dynamic range at 4K and I also believe that 4K recording disables the software stabilisation...but I can’t remember where I read that so it could be lies.
 

alpi123

macrumors 68020
Jun 18, 2014
2,023
3,377
30 fps looks too choppy for me. If you shoot at 60 at least you have the option to lower it in post.

I personally shoot in 4K60 but I rarely shoot any video.
 

sparksd

macrumors G4
Jun 7, 2015
10,022
34,469
Seattle WA
Which setting takes more memory to store? 1080p 60fps or 4k 30?

upload_2019-5-12_9-11-36.png
 

Infinite Vortex

macrumors 6502a
Mar 6, 2015
541
1,108
While other people's opinions can put you in the right direction, there's nothing better than going out for yourself and doing some tests to see what exactly looks best to *you*. As with all things, if you don't go out and practice and learn for yourself then when the moment comes you really want to be sure you're getting the results you want then it is this experience that you're wanting to fall back onto… rather than thinking "what exactly did that guy on MR say??".
 

Aftermath747

macrumors 6502
Sep 16, 2015
264
211
I personally use 1080p60 as I value the smooth frame rate more than increasing the resolution and 4k60 takes way too much space, but some people don’t like how smooth things are in 60 FPS. 1080p60 or 4k30 are the best choices IMO depending on whether frame rate or resolution is more important to you.
 

sparksd

macrumors G4
Jun 7, 2015
10,022
34,469
Seattle WA
I personally use 1080p60 as I value the smooth frame rate more than increasing the resolution and 4k60 takes way too much space, but some people don’t like how smooth things are in 60 FPS. 1080p60 or 4k30 are the best choices IMO depending on whether frame rate or resolution is more important to you.

1080p60 & 4k30 are the two settings I bounce between.
 
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loybond

macrumors 6502a
Aug 1, 2010
857
631
The True North, Strong and Free
Normally, I would have said 4K60 for sure, because you can slow-mo the video later on if you like, or downsample it to 1080p, or crop into 1080p afterwards for zoom. However, the XS and XS Max have a little-known feature, expanded dynamic range in video, that works only in 4k30.


I would suggest using that, as it really preserves highlight detail and keeps your shadow detail too. It's like a video version of smart HDR.
 

alpi123

macrumors 68020
Jun 18, 2014
2,023
3,377
And below. 1080p gets the extended dynamic range love too.
And a weird issue that if you shoot in 4K60 you don't get to switch lenses when recording. You have to do it before hitting the record button. This doesn't happen on any other setting.
 

loybond

macrumors 6502a
Aug 1, 2010
857
631
The True North, Strong and Free
One more thing is that in certain cases, 4k60 offers a benefit.

In 30p mode, the iPhone is happy to drop the shutter to 1/30, to keep the iso as low as possible. This happens pretty fast if you're indoors.

However that's a relatively low shutter speed, and it shows quite a bit of motion blur. You'll notice this in videos (for example where you're walking) and lights or lit-up signs will blur and "distort." It drives me a bit nuts, dead giveaway that it's a cell phone video.

By using 4k60, you can get crisper/sharper video in some situations, but with one extra stop of noise as well. And the lack of expanded dynamic range.

Hope the new phone gives us the full Monty at 4k60!
 
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