Industry Leading tech in the palm of your hand
June 2021 | Read time: 12 minutes
These days if you’ve got a mobile phone, it will almost certainly be fitted with a camera lens - probably two, possibly three, maybe even four! They are an integral part of the technology within a mobile phone and are increasingly the key feature for many. In fact, over 50% of participants cited the quality of the camera as the main reason for buying a smartphone in a recent study - increasing to 60% for those under 24.
There’s no doubt that camera technology is a key battleground for the mobile phone giants of today - with the likes of Apple, Samsung, Huawei & Google innovating and driving technology forward in a bid to win sales. You only have to look at the way they market their new releases to see how much emphasis they put on camera technology.
Cameras within phones are not a new thing of course. A camera was first built into a phone back in 1999. The Kyocera VP-210 with a 100k pixel camera capable of storing a whopping 20 jpegs. Since then the exponential development of smartphone technology, the cameras, the huge amount of storage space & faster processing speeds have fundamentally changed the way we capture content & share it.
The Kyocera VP-210 released in 1999.
The rise of social media has undoubtedly been the key catalyst for this as well. Us Brits spend on average nearly two hours a day scrolling our social feeds, with over 50 million active users. And it’s easy to see why. As a platform, it is incredibly engaging. It taps into our innate need to interact with others and to be inquisitive. It connects us with our surroundings, helps us share ideas, discover new things and express ourselves. Our phones are now the key enabler of these interactions and as a result, smartphones have arguably become the most important piece of tech we own.
So, as our relationship with social media deepens so does our desire to share better, more creative content, driving manufacturers to push the technology forward. As a result, shooting professional-quality video on your smartphone is now very much a thing. Camera quality has accelerated past 1080p (HD) to 4K and even 8K. Some phones also offer higher frame rates of 60, 120, 240, and even 960 fps (frames per second) in lower resolutions for shooting in slow-mo. Cinematic software modes provide additional settings and options. Automatic scene selection and image correction and stabilisation are commonplace. Many of these features call on some degree of artificial intelligence, meaning in many ways the capabilities of smartphone cameras are more advanced than dedicated kit.
So, just how good are the latest smartphone cameras? Let’s take a look.
The latest and greatest smartphone cameras
iphone 12 pro
The iPhone 12 Pro is capable of shooting UHD 4K video at up to 60fps and slow-motion video at up to 240fps (1/8 speed) at 1080p (HD).
Additionally, the phone features a panorama mode, a burst mode, and time-lapse shooting. It also boasts one of the smoothest video stabilisation systems you can find in a phone with facial recognition, digital, optical image stabilisation and autofocus. The superb 3D LiDAR system, lifted from the iPad Pro, also provides greater detail and sharper focus, giving you great results even in low light.
One big advantage is the Dolby Vision feature which delivers 10-bit HDR video. Essentially this is all to do with the quality of the picture with increased brightness, greater colour accuracy and better contrast. HDR is mainly utilised in cinemas and, more recently, high-end TVs. The difference in overall picture quality is dramatic and can offer a touch of cinematic quality to your clips.
sAMSUNG GALAXY S21 Ultra
One difference between the Samsung Ultra models and the iPhone is their ability to record 8K video up to 30fps. Realistically, few of us have the equipment to view 8K right now but undoubtedly this is where we are headed.
It has four cameras. There’s a main 108mp snapper backed up by a 12mp ultrawide lense and two telephoto lenses at 3x and 10x optical zoom.
The Director View mode allows you to effortlessly switch between lenses while recording, meaning you can also capture from the front-facing camera and rear-facing camera simultaneously.
While iPhones can shoot slow motion at a max of 240fps (1/8 speed), the Galaxy S21 can shoot up to an incredible 960fps (1/32 speed). The Super Steady mode enhances video stabilisation allowing you to get active while shooting.
Sony Xperia II
While Sony is way behind in terms of smartphone market share, they’re a tech giant and have been leaders in dedicated cameras for decades.
The Xperia II has been developed alongside Sony’s professional cameras. As a result, its lenses use industry-leading technology. The phone has three 12mp rear cameras with a primary wide-angle camera, ultrawide-angle camera, and a telephoto.
It’s capable of shooting video at 4K & it supports HDR for stunning colour and contrast. You can also shoot at 1080p (HD) up to 120 fps (1/4 speed) for slow-motion video. While its 4K display means you can accurately view the quality of footage once captured.
It can focus almost instantly in any level of light and the Hybrid Image Stabalisation system means you take blur-free videos in low light while moving around.
Changing the way films are made
The capabilities of today’s smartphones are seriously impressive and undoubtedly rival dedicated cameras. The fact that you can film in 8K with something that can fit into your pocket is somewhat mind-boggling as the filmmaking industry itself has only recently got to grips with 4K. The way the cameras perform on a Smartphone is no different from any other camera. In fact, they’re often more intelligent due to the higher computing power compared with dedicated cameras. The ability to shoot, view & edit Dolby Vision HDR video in real-time is a great example of this. As a result, cinematographers and filmmakers are now legitimately using these devices as part of their productions.
While the latest smartphones are starting to change the filmmaking industry, the reality is that you don’t need to splash out on the latest release to capture great quality content. Cameras with good specs have been part of smartphones for more than a decade. The Galaxy S (2010) and iPhone 4s (2011) both introduced cameras capable of capturing HD videos. So, the likelihood is that the phone in your pocket (assuming it’s less than 10 years old) is equipped with everything you need to start filming.
‘The Best Camera Is The One That's With You’
And, more than likely, you’re already doing it. After all, with the rise of Instagram, Snapchat & TikTok we’re all amateur filmmakers these days. Taking and starring in short videos is part and parcel of everyday life. And, the best thing about having a camera on your phone is that it's always on you - ready to capture our greatest hits. On the flip side, few of us will carry a dedicated camera around and as we’ve seen there’s little need to these days. The technology in your phone is on par with dedicated cameras or, at the very least, it’s more than good enough. As Chase Jarvis, a famous Photographer once said ‘The best camera is the one that's with you’.
Unique personal moments captured by those that know you best.
So, if smartphone output is good enough for cinematographers and filmmakers, is it good enough for wedding films? The simple answer is yes.
One of the best things about smartphone technology is that it allows everyone to capture cinematic quality video at the touch of a button, no matter what your skill level or experience.
Therefore in many ways, smartphones are the perfect way to shoot a wedding film. Rather than one unfamiliar videographer putting a camera in your face all day, you can have your friends & family capture the big day from all angles. After all, one videographer can only be in one place at one time. A wedding day is a hive of activity with an abundance of moments, interactions, mini-events happening at any one time - all of which combine to make it the one-off event that it is.
And best of all you probably wouldn’t even know they’re doing it. Such is the normality these days of pulling our phone out of our pocket to start snapping. Guests are simply doing what they would do anyway, which results in a far more relaxed environment for everyone, especially the bride and groom.
Crucially, it's a far more cost-effective way to produce a wedding film. Which, after more than a year of disruption and additional costs, is especially important. Ultimately, Your Wedding Story was set up because we believe wedding films should be accessible to all couples. Videography has traditionally been one of the first things to drop off the list of priorities for couples due to the cost. This will only have been exacerbated by losses caused by lockdown cancellations and delays.
So, in a world where capturing content is second nature and one in which we’ve got industry-leading tech in the palm of our hands, why not consider using Your Wedding Story to create you a truly unique wedding film at a fraction of the cost.
