As I'm considering FCx trial via M1 imac.
Is existing devices such as iphone12 mini/ipad 11" enough to get started.
When is Video Camera/Mic required.

re posted as required.

thanks

Certainly any video source should be just fine for deciding if you like the editing workflow and features of FCPX. Apple have long promoted the ability of the iPhone to shoot "professional" video. An app like Filmic Pro gives you a lot of features like push and pull focus and manual control over exposure, etc that can make your footage look very professional.

Many/most will agree that good editing skills are as important if not more important than the original footage.

Next step would be getting into at least DSLR cameras, likely full framed with expensive lenses, rigs, tripods, steady cams, and preferably separate audio recording with boom and remote mics. Sky's the limit. Audio is very important, while we all like to concentrate on the video quality, sound very often makes or breaks the film, it imparts as much or more of the feel than does the video.

Great info Hunter5117

fcpX is seriously fun even using iphone12 mini camera shots.
It's going to take some learning with 'building' home upgrade movies.
Thinking over some before and after shot's be it home improvements and maybe my due to be soon returned accident repair e.v.
I searched uk Amazon, cameras in high hundreds of pounds are unrealistic during 2022, is there a great deal of feature loss if dropping down to mid hundreds of pounds, such as Cannon, Panasonic etc.
Seems their all digital, what features should I be considering mega pixels etc.

thanks

Forgot to add my 1st trial movie for a few secs, one frame flickers very early into playing.
I think I seen a youtube fix recently, fcpX -Is it Video format or similar that fixes it.
Last using HDR setting.

thanks

Before you dive in spending $ (or pounds) on new gear, you should search YT for "Filmic Pro" and see what folks are getting done with that. Honestly, iPhones in the 12/13 range have wonderful capabilities. A lot of that comes from software manipulation of the images rather than super hardware, but who cares especially when learning. Filmic Pro will give you a lot of features that come with fancy cameras and lenses that are rigged out specifically for video.

Most cameras these days are mirrorless and that gives them a lot of flexibility regarding lenses and setting them up for video. Full frame is what is used at the pro level, especially when shooting 4K or higher resolution. Back in the day, smaller sensors were used and gave very good professional results, aka the Panasonic GH3 (and the 4 and 5) was very popular using a micro 4/3 sensor roughly 1/4 of full frame. Smaller sensors generally allow more choice of lenses and may be cheaper. Pixel count is a rabbit hole, individual pixel size tends to be more important, hence full frame sensors can pack in more, high quality pixels so you get best of both.

Brand wise, probably Canon and Sony are the pick of most serious small camera shooters. Sony makes some really good sensors and have really moved into this market.

Sorry, I am not familiar with the flickering issue.

As no one mentioned, iMovie is free and with new features “Coming in April”
iMovie https://www.apple.com/imovie/
iMovie User Guide for Mac https://support.apple.com/guide/imovie

Donfor39 said:

I searched uk Amazon, cameras in high hundreds of pounds are unrealistic during 2022, is there a great deal of feature loss if dropping down to mid hundreds of pounds, such as Cannon, Panasonic etc.
Seems their all digital, what features should I be considering mega pixels etc.

MacRumors has a Digital Video special-interest forum. You can ask about choosing cameras there. You can also discuss video software there. The "Mac Apps" forum, where this thread currently resides, is more generalized.

thanks it does indeed point to newer iphones being suitable for dv starters such as myself.
Prob go for new iphone once next version arrives, maybe return to larger reading screen and decent lens such as Lidar...
Lot's to shoot and learn with 12 mini photo's and some 1080 video for starters.

thanks each reply.

bogdanw said:

As no one mentioned, iMovie is free and with new features “Coming in April”
iMovie https://www.apple.com/imovie/
iMovie User Guide for Mac https://support.apple.com/guide/imovie

Excellent youtube often refers to iMovie.
I'll try very soon, should I be shooting photo's and video's then edit to create home movie.

thanks

If you were in the U.S. when you are ready for a DSLR I would recommend getting a used body and appropriate lenses from KEH. They have an excellent guarantee - 21 day returns and a 180 day warranty. As you gain experience you can then trade in what your purchased for something with more capabilities. They do ship internationally, but with customs, etc. don't know if it would make sense. Maybe there is a similar site in the U.K.

There is one gotcha with DSLRs - the lenses. Different cameras have different mounts so you are locked in once you buy your first body/lens combo, unless you want to switch out. There are converters between mounts, but they can reduce quality or slow down auto focus. There is an some excellent books which can help you choose and use your equipment when you are ready: (Comments about the authors not appropriate here. Some people go ballistic for some reason hearing their names.)

They have a ton of videos on his Youtube channel, evaluating, and comparing cameras from different manufacturers. Which manufacturer has the best camera for video, for wildlife, etc.

Before you make an investment exhaust the capabilities of your iPhone. Determine what you like to shoot as that will influence what you buy. Portraits - a relatively short range lens might do. Landscapes - a wide lens might be best. Bird Photograph - you need the longest lens you can afford and likely a tripod as well. Here the prices can be well into the 6 digits just for the lens - $17K for the Canon RF 800 5.6. But if you decide that the absolutely best sharpness isn't necessary, you can get the 800 RF for $999. You likely wouldn't want either if you aren't shooting sports or wildlife. Another example is the Canon EF 300mm f/4L lens which lists at $1400. You can buy it used at KEH for $800. But since it is an EF mount when you go to mirrorless you might consider getting the RF version, or you could just get an EF-RF converter.

There is no reason to insist on getting mirrorless either. Why pay extra for that when you can get a conventional used DSL for much less to do your learning. The learning curve can be huge for just using all of the features of the camera, ignoring the issues of getting a good shot. The Canon R5 manual is 920 pages long! Unless you are doing photography full time it would be hard to know (and find!) all of the settings.

Another point is that camera and lens prices are increasing. In the past after a release prices would drop but that is not the case now.

In my case I discovered that ease of use trumps having the sharpest lens. Rather than having a fixed lens I go for zooms which allow me to avoid the preparation necessary to choose which lenses to bring on a shoot. In addition I don't want to hold a heavy 400 mm lens or use a tripod. I am not good at hand holding a heavy camera/lens combination. So my preference is lightweight lenses and luckily Canon has just added number of light RF lenses. The lightweight RF 24-400 is my go to lens when traveling as I don't know whether I'm taking a close up or a long shot.

So, in short, USE your iphone as much as you can to determine what you want to shoot. Buy used equipment to try things out and sell back what you don't like. Don't buy anything until you have determined your preferences (what you are going to shoot, whether you need a lens that performs in low light, is sharp or is heavy, etc.

Thanks HDFan

Initial shots indoors with some limited outdoors shots.
I intend to practice with 12 Mini until I start to consider DSLR Options.
Not convinced if 12 Mini can cope with recent years very low light from darkening clouds.
I'm top of three floors apartment from which light is very limited until sunnier months arrive

thanks

Maybe consider starter pack...

HDFan said:

There is one gotcha with DSLRs - the lenses. Different cameras have different mounts so you are locked in once you buy your first body/lens combo, unless you want to switch out. There are converters between mounts, but they can reduce quality or slow down auto focus.

Yes and no on lenses. One reason to go mirrorless is that it does allow you to use lenses originally designed for mirrored SLRs with a cheap, non-optical adapter. You could use a vintage Leica lens on your modern mirrorless body.

You generally lose any automatic functions (focus and aperture) but in cinematography, this is very often controlled manually anyways. Since the adapter has no glass in it you get the full quality of the original lens.

@HDFan

Ive started 1st of suggested Tony.N books via Kindle.
Getting a much better idea of some mid range Camera examples, and reminder not to go OTT budget wise.

Low Light features are Essential during home shoots.

thanks

Hunter5117 said:

Since the adapter has no glass in it you get the full quality of the original lens.

My understanding is that you get the best quality with a lens which was specifically designed for that camera (mount), depending on the lens of course.

Donfor39 said:

Low Light features are Essential during home shoots.

TN has just posted another youtube video which touches on the best cameras for low light photography.


For low light pictures computational photography on a smart phone camera is generally going to be better than that of a DSL, particularly a DSLR kit which costs less than $1k. He compares low light photos taken with an $8k DSLR camera vs the top camera models available today, iPhone 13 Pro and a Pixel model. The phone photos are better. The only place where Phone cameras are still lacking is in wildlife photography, but he gives one example where a Phone gives rather good long range results.

1. Learn your smartphone camera. How do adjust the exposure, shoot raw, learn all of the video modes, HDR, how to creat bokeh, how to use cinematic mode. Explore some of the iPhone photo applications which give you access to more controls.

2. Understand when the smartphone camera is better than a conventional camera such as for live streaming, low light conditions

In short don't get hung up saying that a phone camera isn't a real camera and you need to have a DSLR.

Decided to allow time to consider iphone14 Pro.
Is it correct that DSLR's are being fazed out for Mirrorless Versions.
Only slight disappointment is that the Periscope Lens won't make it until iphone15.

thanks

Donfor39 said:

Is it correct that DSLR's are being fazed out for Mirrorless Versions.

So says Canon. Dunno about other manufacturers. Likely will always be a few DSLRS though.

HDFan said:

So says Canon. Dunno about other manufacturers. Likely will always be a few DSLRS though.

It was new news to me, from another forum not to Dis DSLR fanatics.
Mirrorless was mentioned as latest type.
I'll go with iphone14 idea and use 12 mini for software practice, starting with my returned repaired EV yesterday.

Lots to learn from ps/lr/fcpX.

thanks every reply.

Donfor39 said:

thanks every reply.

You're welcome!