The iPhone 17 Pro is a major jump in video quality in three of the areas filmmakers care about most. Compared to the iPhone 15 and 16 Pro, this easily becomes the best iPhone Apple has ever made for video.

In this post, I’m reviewing the iPhone 17 Pro specifically from the perspective of a working filmmaker who regularly uses an iPhone for both personal and professional video work. I’ll walk through the most important video upgrades Apple made and help you decide if it’s worth upgrading.

For transparency, this is not sponsored by Apple. I purchased this iPhone myself. This video is sponsored by my color presets, which work especially well with Apple Log footage and are linked below.

ProRes RAW Comes to iPhone

The biggest and most surprising upgrade to the iPhone 17 Pro is the addition of ProRes RAW video recording. This change affects nearly every other aspect of the camera system.

Since the iPhone 14, Apple has supported ProRes video. The iPhone 15 added Apple Log. Now, with the 17 Pro and Pro Max, Apple finally supports ProRes RAW.

Until recently, ProRes RAW was mostly limited to cameras recording externally to supported monitors. That limitation largely existed because RED held patents around internal RAW recording. After Nikon acquired RED in 2024, we started seeing more devices support internal or semi-internal RAW recording, and now the iPhone joins that list.

Technically, the iPhone 17 Pro cannot record ProRes RAW internally. You must record to an external SSD. While that may sound disappointing, it makes sense. ProRes RAW files are massive.

You’re looking at over 6GB per minute of footage. Even with a 2TB iPhone, internal recording would fill up shockingly fast. External SSD recording is the only practical option here.

ProRes RAW Quirks You Should Know About

When recording ProRes RAW, there are a few details worth keeping in mind.

First, while the Blackmagic Camera app reports 4K recording, it is actually capturing video in a 17:9 aspect ratio at 4224×2240. That’s slightly wider than standard 16:9 UHD.

Second, ProRes RAW maxes out at 4K 60fps. There is no 120fps option.

These quirks aren’t unusual. Many cameras that support ProRes RAW have specific resolution, aspect ratio, and frame rate limitations. Just plan for them when filming.

Apple Log 2 and Open Gate Recording

Alongside ProRes RAW, Apple announced Final Cut Camera 2.0, which introduces Open Gate recording and a new log profile called Apple Log 2.

Apple Log 2 offers a wider color space and improved flexibility when color grading. It is only available on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.

While Final Cut Camera 2.0 was not available at launch, the Blackmagic Camera app already supports both Open Gate and Apple Log 2.

Open Gate recording captures the full sensor in a 4:3 aspect ratio at 4032×3024. This is incredibly useful if you want to create both horizontal and vertical video from the same clip.

There are two downsides to Open Gate recording.

First, image stabilization is disabled. Since the phone is using the entire sensor, it no longer has extra pixels available for digital stabilization. You’ll want to use a tripod or stabilize in post.

Second, the Blackmagic Camera app does not currently allow Open Gate recording in Apple Log. You’re limited to Rec.709, which reduces grading flexibility. Hopefully, this is fixed in a future update.

Main Camera Image Quality

The main 48MP camera is unchanged from the iPhone 15 and 16 Pro. It uses the same sensor and lens coatings.

That means it still suffers from small but noticeable lens flares in darker environments or when filming into the sun. This remains my biggest complaint and something I hope Apple addresses in the iPhone 18.

That said, overall image quality is excellent. ProRes RAW does not magically add dynamic range, but it makes it easier to extract the maximum dynamic range the sensor already has.

This is especially useful when matching iPhone footage with cameras like the FX3, Z8, or ZR.

Why This Matters for Filmmakers

It’s wild how far iPhones have come!

Large cameras are often restricted in public spaces, concerts, museums, and venues that require media credentials. Meanwhile, the phone in your pocket can now record ProRes RAW and log video.

Apple already films many of its events on iPhone, and reports suggest more Apple TV productions are being filmed this way as well.

These phones won’t replace cinema cameras, but for run-and-gun filmmakers, they are becoming increasingly powerful tools.

Major Upgrade to the Front Camera

The selfie camera receives one of the biggest upgrades in years.

Apple finally replaced the aging 12MP sensor with a new 18MP square sensor. This allows the front camera to record both vertical and horizontal video without rotating the phone.

Holding the phone vertically while recording horizontal video feels strange at first, but it works incredibly well.

Video quality is noticeably improved. In the past, I avoided the front camera whenever possible. Now, I feel confident using it, even for professional content.

The larger sensor also improves stabilization, making handheld selfie footage look smoother while walking.

Dual Camera Recording Has Potential

The iPhone 17 Pro introduces the ability to record from the front and back cameras simultaneously.

This is useful for reaction-style videos and could be powerful for product reviews or behind-the-scenes content.

However, Apple currently bakes both angles into a single video file. Unlike Samsung, it does not record two separate clips.

A true pro mode with separate files would make this feature far more useful in editing.

Telephoto Camera Gets a Huge Upgrade

The third major video upgrade is the telephoto camera.

Apple upgraded it from 12MP to 48MP and increased the sensor size by 56 percent. This dramatically improves low-light performance, which was a major weakness on previous models.

The telephoto lens shifts from 5x (120mm equivalent) to 4x (100mm equivalent). Thanks to the higher resolution, you can digitally crop to a 200mm equivalent when needed.

Personally, I find the 4x focal length far more usable than the old 5x. It feels more versatile and easier to work with.

Bonus Filmmaker Features

There are several smaller upgrades filmmakers will appreciate.

The new vapor chamber cooling and aluminum body help manage heat much better. In my testing, I was unable to trigger screen dimming due to overheating, even outdoors.

Screen brightness increases to 3000 nits, up from 2000 on the iPhone 16 Pro. Combined with improved anti-reflective coating, outdoor visibility is noticeably better.

The iPhone 17 Pro also adds Genlock and Timecode support. These are niche but powerful tools for multi-camera workflows, video walls, and advanced productions.

To use Genlock and Timecode, Blackmagic is releasing a Camera ProDock that adds HDMI monitoring, audio inputs, SSD support, power, and sync ports. Once it’s available, I’ll be testing it extensively.

Final Thoughts on the iPhone 17 Pro for Video

The iPhone 17 Pro delivers three major video upgrades: ProRes RAW, a dramatically improved selfie camera, and a vastly better telephoto lens.

Add in Open Gate recording, better cooling, brighter displays, and pro-level sync tools, and this is the most filmmaker-focused iPhone Apple has ever made.

Oh, and if you like the colors in the video above, it was graded with my color presets.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the next one.