7 Reasons Pros Don’t Use Phones for Video

Our phones have become an all-in-one solution for our daily lives. But like the old saying goes, “jack of all trades, master of none.” They offer convenience, connectivity, and the ability to capture moments on the go. However, when it comes to professional video production, relying solely on cellphones may not be the best choice for marketing your business. Here are seven reasons why:

1. Limited Camera Capabilities:
Despite significant advancements in camera technology, they still lack the features and capabilities of professional video cameras. From manual settings to interchangeable lenses, professional cameras offer more control and flexibility in capturing high-quality footage. Even with highly specialized apps like FilmicPro or the newly released Blackmagic Cam you must understand the features and manual controls if you hope to get great quality. Full Disclosure, I use both of these apps regularly when I’m traveling light and don’t feel like carrying my Sony FX3, but I’ve also spent a few years learning the ins and outs of camera controls.

2. Image Quality:
Professional video cameras produce higher quality images because of a single reason; sensor size. The larger sensor found on Cine and DSLR cameras provide greater depth of field, better ISO controls, and dramatically better low-light performance.

The image above provides a quick example of the difference in various sensor sizes. You can quickly see how much more room a large sensor has to capture data. Almost 50 times the size.
So, depending on the lighting and lenses, the two cameras can produce dramatically different results, even when you shoot them side by side.

This also seems like a good time to mention recording format. Phones often have limited functionality in terms of recording options, unless you use a specialized app. Most professionals use LOG or RAW formats to expand dynamic range and get the absolute most out of the recorded image. This usually happens during the color grading process, but your ability to grade all your footage begins with the format you capture when you press record.

3. Lack of Stabilization:
Much like life, we want stability in our footage. While some phones have built-in stabilization features, they can't compare to the effectiveness of dedicated stabilizers and gimbals used with professional cameras. I’m sure if you open your phone now, you’ll quickly find a lot of unusable shaky footage that you’d never use to represent your business. That’s why even when you see YouTubers or content creators out on the streets, they usually have their phone mounted to a gimbal to smooth motion and reduce jitter.

4. Limited Audio Options:
Sound quality is as important as the visuals in professional video. Cellphones typically have limited audio recording capabilities, with built-in microphones that may not capture high-quality sound. Professional cameras, on the other hand, offer various audio input options and the ability to connect external microphones for better audio capture. And while many manufactures now develop upgraded microphone designed for smartphones, these too are much more limited than their professional counterparts.

5. Battery Life:
Think how quickly your phone drains just from daily usage. Now think about using it all day long, with screen at full brightness, while using one of the most power intensive apps on your phone. You’ve got 2-3 hours tops before you need a charge. Professional video cameras, designed for extended shoots, typically have longer battery life and spare battery options to ensure uninterrupted recording. When one of these batteries die, production halts just long enough to change it and then they’re up and running again.

6. Storage Limitations:
Did you buy the highest storage capacity available on your iPhone? Probably not, and that’s a huge downside if you plan on using it to shoot video. Cellphones often have limited storage capacity, which are quickly filled when shooting high-resolution video. Professional cameras usually offer dedicated memory card slots and the option to record on external storage devices, providing ample space for extended recording sessions.

Not only that, but unless you have the latest iPhone 15 with USB-C good luck getting your precious footage off the device. I personally used my older iPhone 14 Pro on a trip and spent about $150.00 on adapters and chargers to create a Frankenstein like rig that still took at least an hour to transfer 5-10GB of data to my incredibly fast SSD hard-drive.

Thankfully, this is an issue that will quickly become a thing of the past as USB-C removes the need of adapters, has a much higher transfer speed, and allows you to directly record to an external drive.

7. Professionalism and Perception:
When creating videos for professional purposes, using a cellphone may not convey the level of professionalism expected. Sure you may save money upfront on equipment rentals, but getting everyone back on sets for a reshoot with the real equipment later is only going to double your production costs.

Clients, colleagues, and audiences also tend to associate professional video production with dedicated equipment, and using a cellphone may give the impression of cutting corners or lack of commitment. If you don’t want to invest in your business or product, why should they?

Now, I’ll try to end on a positive note. Can you achieve high-quality, professional looking video from a phone? 100% YES.

But, and a huge BUT…You’re still going to need most of the equipment professionals use anyway. From lights, to rigging, to stabilization, to microphones. The phone really only replaces a single aspect of the process. The camera.

Apple trusts the quality of iPhone footage. So much that they have launched a number of commercials and short films shot on them. But these aren’t budget DIY productions. They are often still full scale big budget productions, shot by big name directors. And the only thing that’s different is using an iPhone vs an ARRI.

So, decide the end results you want to achieve. And ask yourself if you feel you can achieve it using phone as your primary camera. If ultimately all you save is the cost of a camera rental, maybe ask yourself, “what will be the best investment for my business?”

If you have questions about production or need help for your Bay Area business, contact Onassis. We have experience helping client both big and small reach their production goals based on their individual project.