Autum Tesky
Mar 25th, 2022Recording video clips on your iPhone device is one of the easiest ways to get started creating content. With just a few accessories, your time, and your trusty camera you can create a high-quality video.
Before you tap the record button on your first video, you’ll want to research everything you need for success. The difference between having the right accessories to make a video on iPhone and having no accessories is clear in the quality of the final product.
Investing in high-quality smartphone accessories can have a huge impact on how your videos perform. If you want to break into the ever-competitive scene of social media videography, you’ll need a video that wows. With just a few easy-to-use and relatively inexpensive accessories, you can completely transform the way your phone records video.
There are so many reasons to record videos using your smartphone. No matter where you are, you can always take out your phone and record precious memories, unique experiences, and special events. Thankfully, learning how to master the basics of shooting video from your iPhone is now easier than ever!
The latest Apple iPhone comes with enhanced shooting capabilities, especially when compared to earlier generation phones. When combined with premium camera apps and software, the technology within the device will allow you to record and edit near-professional level quality videos and photos!
This can be a game-changer for everyone from at-home bloggers to podcasters. Especially those looking to branch out into a new project by making videos and photos they can upload to their own youtube channel or Facebook account.
Let’s take a look at the basic features that make shooting video on iPhones a great choice for content creators:
If you have access to professional recording equipment, you will likely rely more on your smartphone for the spur-of-the-moment ideas that come with content creation. However, the camera provided in your phone has many more uses than just an expensive web camera. It’s helpful to supplement the built-in features of your smartphone with accessories. You can record extremely high-quality videos at a fraction of traditional costs.
There may be a stigma in certain professional circles about smartphone recorded content. Yet with careful videography and video editing it can be difficult to tell the difference between professional equipment and your phone.
As you learn how to shoot and edit video, always be willing to tweak and review your process. This can be done in the form of upgrading equipment, researching editing techniques, and learning new skills! The more you know about how to use your accessories to their fullest potential, the more your investment in your phone video recording will pay off.
There are a few simple accessories you can buy that make shooting a video on iPhone easier than ever. There are a wide variety of apps and software available to download for editing on the Apple store. This makes it a no-brainer to shoot videos on iPhone or iPad. However, it’s important to have the highest base footage possible. This allows you to get creative, reuse footage, and create an end video that wows.
One of the biggest things an accessory for shooting a smartphone video can do for you is stabilize your phone for a crystal clear shot every time. Many professionals choose to get a tripod or stabilizer regardless of whether their smartphone is their main shooting equipment or secondary. This makes it easy to grab footage regardless of where you are and what you’re doing.
Lens kits help enhance the image quality of your footage as well. They also make it much easier to zoom in without losing focus. Many varieties today are clip-on style kits that provide the ultimate flexibility. If you need to zoom frequently, a lens kit should be one of your first priorities.
Finally, for videos where audio matters more than visuals, you’ll want to purchase a lavalier microphone that connects to your iPhone. With a simple lavalier mic, you can create iPhone videos with a crisp, easily heard audio voice-over. While this accessory may cost a bit more in the long run, most lavalier mics that are compatible with a phone also work well with computers.
When learning how to shoot video on iPhone, it helps to have gear that increases your video quality. This gear will help support you through the learning curves and can save you when your image quality can suffer. As you learn, these accessories will teach you new ways to record the best possible footage on your smartphone.
Remember to keep in mind the purpose of your recording before you start researching accessories. Certain types of accessories are limited in their situational usefulness. If you’re planning on adding background music in post-production, it makes little sense to invest in a microphone. Have a creative vision in mind for your video before you start filling your shopping cart!
Price: $16.99
This gimbal stabilizer is the perfect option for those shooting video on iPhone for the first time. As one of the cheapest gimbals in its class, it only has a single axis which limits mobility. However, its duality as a selfie stick makes it a perfect choice for the smartphone videographer.
With two hours of battery life, there is plenty of time to capture perfectly stabilized footage. Thankfully, even when the battery dies this gimbal can still function as a pseudo-tripod. When looking for accessories for video production, buying tools with multiple functions can save you in a pinch.
Price: $99
This gimbal stabilizer offers everything you need to record active footage during outdoor and indoor events. With careful attention to balance and stability that many cheaper options take for granted, this gimbal offers a wide range of customization to fit your specific iPhone model. It features a control panel to make switching between gimbal modes easier than ever.
One major perk of the Smooth 4 gimbal is its increased capacity. As modern smartphones grow heavier, a more powerful motor and stronger gimbal construction are required to maintain perfect stabilization to capture every moment with clarity. This design has also placed a focus on longevity, with a nearly 12-hour battery life per charge.
Price: $79.99
This high-end lavalier microphone is one of the best quality microphones you can buy at this price range. With its small size and high-quality recording, it can be a game-changer when you record video clips on iPhone. This microphone does a great job reducing background noise, crackle, and feedback despite its small size.
This price may seem steep for “just an iPhone accessory”. Keep in mind that this lav mic can be used for recording audio on computers as well. As a multi-purpose accessory, this helps improve the quality of your video clips without compromising on your at-home recordings.
If you are a professional who plans on recording in a variety of settings, the versatility of a lav microphone both technically and style-wise can’t be understated.
Price: $80
This compact and simplistic lavalier mic is the perfect accessory for shooting iPhone video on the go. It can pick up crystal clear quality audio with little background noise. Despite its simple interface, it can record high-quality audio no matter where you are. Its minimal design makes it a great choice for video calls, conferencing, mobile interviews, and going live on the web.
This lav microphone functions best when paired with your smartphone and additional JOBY products. However, on its own, it can be an excellent tool in the newbie videographer’s toolkit.
If you want to vastly upgrade the quality of audio for when you record, this lav mic is likely to meet all your needs and more. Like other lav mics on our list, it also doubles as a functional extra microphone in a traditional recording session.
Price: $44.99
This all-in-one lens kit is perfect for the videographer focused on using their smartphone to its max. These lenses allow you to zoom in up to 15 times greater than what the iPhone offers. The wide-angle lens allows you to record nearly 50% more of the image than you can normally, which is perfect for capturing memories made at social gatherings.
Whether you’re recording video or capturing photos on your smartphone because you’re a hobbyist or a professional, this lens will meet many of your needs starting out.
Being able to record crystal-clear images no matter where you are is essential. This lens kit packs plenty of components into a small package that can be taken anywhere.
Price: $109
This mobile phone lens attachment allows you to shoot crisp, cinematic images in a staggering 2.40:1 aspect ratio. This changes everything for videographers looking to increase the image quality of their widescreen content. The artistic perspective offered with this lens can turn everyday occurrences into timeless pieces of video with the classic cinematic black bar look.
While one of our most expensive accessory recommendations, this anamorphic lens offers higher quality images and footage and durability of the accessory itself. For those who plan on using their iPhone as a long-term solution to video recording (such as many podcasters, YouTube, and Facebook media makers) it can be a worthwhile investment.
If timeless footage is important to you, this lens helps you achieve that style with minimal editing and guesswork involved.
Accessories help you learn how to make your videos and photos stand out from the crowd. As you learn what your videography style is, having accessories to help keep the quality of your video constant is a no-brainer.
While the latest iPhones have amazing native photo and video capabilities, taking your quality to the next level requires attention to audio, video quality, and more.
With a proper set of gear, you can turn your smartphone into a powerful way to create a video clip no matter where you are. This is one of the biggest reasons that professionals choose to shoot videos on smartphones: the ability to take your camera nearly anywhere without extra planning and packing is invaluable. With a small assortment of gear that can fit in the standard size glove box, purse, or backpack you can create nearly studio-quality footage out on the road.
In the end, however, it makes the most sense to invest in accessories if you plan on using your smartphone to shoot videos for a long period of time. If you are using your phone to dip your toes into the world of videography and plan to upgrade to a videocamera in the future, make sure your upgrades will be compatible! iPhone-specific accessories have only one use, whereas more general accessories can be useful in more situations than it is possible to list.
When learning how to make a video on iPhone, you’ll often be bombarded with ideas and gear recommendations. One of the most important things to note is where, when, and why you’re recording on your phone. Knowing the purpose of the videos you create helps you better identify which gear you’ll need the most.
If you plan on creating mostly stationary videos such as interviews, for example, you may not benefit from buying a gimbal designed for heavy outdoor use. A lavalier microphone may not suit your needs if you plan on using little raw audio from your video anyway.
Knowing how you want to design, customize, edit, and stylize your video before you record is essential to knowing what accessories will help you best.
Overall, however, nobody learning how to record on iPhone can go wrong with a good gimbal stabilizer, lavalier microphone, and lens kit. These small accessories can be easily packed to take anywhere you go. Additionally, they are low-cost ways to greatly improve the quality of the videos you upload.
If you are taking your videography on your smartphone seriously, investing in good accessories can make all the difference. Now all you need to do is open your photos app and tap that record button.
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