iPhone 15 Pro: Dynamic Range Test

Testing the iPhone 15 Pro dynamic range in video when recording using the new Apple Log and ProRes codecs.

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#iphone #iphone15pro #cameratest

[stalman]

I've been waiting for someone to do this properly for a decade

[tradingcafe_fr]

I just tested some shots @ 200 ISO vs 1400 ISO... the difference is HUGE.
Best practice is : 
On daylight, put ND and always shoot above 800 ISO (at least) best DR is between 1200 and 1400 ISO.
On low light, just push it to 1400 no far beyond, and apply some NR in post.

[genxtechguy]

I think the great benefit of Apple LOG is to get rid of the excessive sharpening … especially when recording in ProRes. ProRes is great for the low compression artifacts, but the excessive sharpening looks bad from my 14 Pro Max (when viewing the resulting footage on a larger screen). It’s as though the low compression reveals the sharpening even more.

[AustinZveare]

I've been messing around with image tests on my 15 Pro Max since launch day and came to a very similar conclusion (unscientifically). My main goal with ProRes Log is to get past Apples image sharpening and poor color, which for SDR is easy using the official Apple Log to Linear LUT and transform that to RED color science, which looks significantly better than regular iPhone video and much better than the official 709 LUT. Though I'm mainly targeting HDR files in the end so I just use Resolves HDR managed workflow and comes out looking great. But with regards to the best ISO, I've found 2000 to be where white can be fully saturated, which for HDR is extremely important since at 55 ISO, max luminance is about 250 nits, jumps to around 600 at ~1200, then opens up to 1000 nits at 2000, which is perfect for 1000 nit HDR10. All in all I'm very impressed by both the main and telephoto cameras (the ultra wide is the worst) and love that you can capture LOG and ProRAW on every camera, even the selfie camera! Thanks for doing a scientific test, I've been waiting for you or CineD, CVP, etc. to do a real test.

[digitaldevigner]

I actually figured out the stop values using the logarithmic equation from Apple. Used it on an app I’m working on. Apple Log is a funny little beast.

What I will say is measuring the number of stops and noise is only one factor. There is noise reduction going on all the time on these phones. Even in good lighting I have seen wood grain turn to crap. The iPhone uses very aggressive noise reduction to compensate for its very dark performance sensor. Even the Canon R5 with its 8k sensor and FF struggles for sensitivity. There is no way the tiny 8k iPhone sensor can produce clean results without some noise.

It’s that temporal and spatial noise reduction that really messes up edges, fine details and even motion blur. The fine detail will suffer even if image based measurement tools detect no noise. Those 12 stops are not the same as other cameras with 12 stops. You will notice blotchy muddied details. Details that just do not hold up very well.

Apple Log is also very strange in that it uses a middle gray point of 49% and a 90% reflectance point of 68%. That’s really high for a log format. This is also something that really kills highlight detail by putting a lot more stops in the shadows. Another reason why shooting under is important. Not only does it trick the noise reduction and ISO to not go as crazy but it helps move some of the stops below middle gray into the stops above middle gray and give a better balanced image. Without it you essentially have 8 stops under and 4 stops over. It’s really more like 3.6 stops over before clipping. I think the image based test tries to see a -9 stop which is there but it’s pretty much garbage with little to no 10bit coded values left. I think realistically we are looking at more like 11 stops. That 12th stop while maybe clean from the insanely aggressive noise reduction would have no detail and very posterized.

By shooting 2 stops under we suddenly shift the stops from -6 and +5 which is much closer to the original Canon C-log. Maybe a -7 if one really wants to count that last mush stop at the bottom. This will provide much better highlights and better rolloff for rec709 or better tone mapping for HDR.

Now the trick is to actually properly expose this beast. Right now I find the best solution is %o use my Sekonic light meter and set it to ISO 64. The lights in my studio right now allow for perfect exposure on the iPhone 15 pro at 1/50th, f1.8 and ISO 64. I chose ISO 64 because the Sekonic only works in 1/3 stop increments and the next option down is ISO 50. ISO 55 is likely close enough but to make it all fit perfectly I chose ISO 64.

The current e posture tools on the BMD app are pretty much useless. The false color is a crude one size fits all that uses the same solid light gray color for both 49% and 68%. Meaning both middle gray and diffuse white are completely lost in that color. Same for the zebras that only go down to 75% meaning they cannot be used for middle gray or 90% reflectance. We basically have to just eyeball it in the app right now. Even the display we see in the app is off right now and much brighter than what’s actually recorded.

The only real two options we have is to

1. let the app 100% auto expose and hope we can throw in enough ND to force it to a usable shutter speed.
2. Go into full manual and use a light meter and dial in by white knuckling those finicky wheels trying to nail the right values.

[john-wiggains]

Yooo I’m so glad you did this. It’s so interesting to me. I kind of wish you could do this for all iPhones going forward and maybe even the last few iPhones to see how much it’s changed.
But I also understand it’s not worth it as much for older iPhones that don’t have log

[brandonylee]

Well, I know what ISO I will be testing now. Thanks guys!

[evan]

Now we just need Apple to give us a bit more control over the settings and it’ll do in a pinch

[darylawaita]

This is why you are the greatest. Who else is going to do a dynamic range test for an iPhone camera. Gerald Undone 🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐💯💯💯💯💯💯

[mytibt]

Very precise with the language you use and I appreciate it from both a photography and research standpoint.

[jeremyjs]

I like the way Gerald slips away at weekends to quarterback the Bills and then without fanfare, slides back into this alter ego. It's impressive.

[onefilmproductions]

I've been waiting for this info – thanks! The 15 Pro has a lot of promise, but isn't a viable professional option yet IMO for two main reasons. 1) It records in a VFR (variable frame rate) and will drift causing issues if using an external recorder for audio or in a multi-cam scenario. 2) There's no way to adjust shutter speed without a 3rd party app. The only one that currently supports Apple Log is the Black Magic Camera App and in my experience it's impossible to use as a monitor. At proper exposures, the image is displayed as being overexposed and with clipped highlights. The official LUT from Apple also doesn't display properly inside the app and the only solution I'm aware of is to use an external monitor. Has anyone else had these issues?

[patrickhernandez]

EXACTLY what I needed, thanks a million

[MikeAzul]

Thanks so much for this! There's so many cameras and microphones I wish I knew the dynamic range for 💚 Particularly phones, 360 cams, and action cameras.

[andywakeman]

Please do some dynamic range tests on DJI drones and action cameras. Nice work!

[insidethebox]

When I think about Gerald Undone, I think about the extremely useful information he shares, it's a brand.

[DantheLion]

i came here and expected a joking fun video about the iphone and i got a totaly nerdy video about dynamic range, iso and stuff.
i can say im not dissapointed and the nerdy just talk about stuff style of video is better than k thought.
Keep up the good work man

[BrianPhoto]

Gerald let us know if you need a live audience at the studio

[JasonMorrisphotocinema]

Oh boy here we go 🔥 iPhone is impressive considering what it is

[umbelichtet]

greet video. Would love to see one of these for dji drones. nobody test dynamic range for drones properly. Comparing the different sensors used in dji drone line-up (3 series) would be excellent consumer advice!