Apple Introduces True ProRes RAW Video Capture on iPhone 17 Pro Max
Apple has integrated true ProRes RAW video capture into the iPhone 17 Pro Max, marking the first time a smartphone features unbaked raw sensor data recording for video. By preserving camera settings like white balance and exposure as separate metadata, the new feature allows mobile filmmakers to grade phone footage similarly to professional cinema cameras.
Key points
- Apple, the consumer electronics multinational, equipped the iPhone 17 Pro Max with true ProRes RAW video recording capabilities.
- The new feature bypasses baked-in camera decisions such as exposure curves and color rendering, retaining raw sensor data instead.
- Essential shooting parameters like ISO, shutter speed, and white balance are saved as separate, adjustable metadata.
- Reviewers note that the format enables mobile footage to be graded in editing software like DaVinci Resolve similarly to high-end cinema equipment.
Apple has introduced true ProRes RAW video capture to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, bringing unbaked sensor data recording to a smartphone for the first time. Unlike previous video formats that baked white balance, exposure curves, and color rendering directly into the footage at the moment of capture, the new feature preserves raw sensor data as adjustable metadata.
This technical shift mirrors the functionality of professional cinema cameras costing tens of thousands of dollars. By maintaining separate data for ISO, shutter speed, and white balance, creators can manipulate mobile video footage significantly further during post-production without experiencing highlight clipping or shadow blocking.
Early testing using editing software such as DaVinci Resolve indicates that the format withstands aggressive color grading without breaking down the image quality. This development bridges the gap between conventional smartphone video limitations and traditional professional cinematography workflows.
Sources
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