iPhone 16 Pro Max vs RED Cinema Camera: 4K 120fps Comparison

FUTC

Summary:

The video compares the 4K 120fps recording capabilities of the iPhone 16 Pro Max and a RED Epic Dragon cinema camera, revealing surprising results.

The iPhone utilizes an Acasis Magsafe SSD enclosure for external recording, which unlocks additional high-quality video modes. While the RED Epic Dragon, a former $35,000 cinema camera, offers a stylized film look, the iPhone 16 Pro Max footage showed significantly more clinical detail due to its 48-megapixel sensor likely oversampling for 4K 120fps. Technical issues with the SSD and RED camera's EVF were encountered during filming.

Introduction [00:00:00]

• The presenter introduces the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the RED Epic Dragon cinema camera, both capable of recording 4K at 120 FPS.
• The aim is to compare the video quality of the two cameras.

  

Unboxing the iPhone 16 Pro Max and SSD Enclosure [00:00:20]

• The presenter unboxes the iPhone 16 Pro Max, humorously noting the high cost for a small box.
• He expresses disbelief at spending over $1000 on a phone.
• The presenter introduces an Acasis Magsafe SSD enclosure for external recording.
  • It attaches magnetically to the iPhone.
  • It uses a short USBC cable.

    

    

  • It contains a standard m.2 SSD.

    

The RED Epic Dragon Cinema Camera [00:01:44]

• The presenter introduces the RED Epic Dragon, a cinema camera used in Hollywood movies.
• It originally retailed for $35,000, with a full setup costing around $50,000.

  

  • The presenter notes that the screws on the top plate were loose.

    

• The camera is capable of shooting 6K and 4K at 120fps in 16bit raw.

Setting up the Shoot [00:03:15]

• The presenter states his plan is to film cool 4K 120fps footage and compare the results.
• He prepares a bowl of berries and water for the shoot.
  • He adds ice, which melts quickly.
  • He uses a fork to stir the mixture, joking about not having a dishwasher.
• The presenter uses the Black Magic Camera app for recording on the iPhone.
  • He records in Apple ProRes 422 HQ, 4K resolution, and Apple log HDR.

    

Filming and Technical Difficulties [00:04:56]

• The presenter films the berries and water with both cameras.
• He encounters several issues:
  • Problems with the RED camera's EVF.
  • Errors recording to the external SSD on the iPhone.

    

    

  • The SSD he installed in the enclosure, despite being a fast m.2 NVMe SSD, was reported as too slow.

    

  • Limitations of shooting 4K at 120 FPS only on the iPhone's primary 1X camera, which has a wide 24mm equivalent focal length and a minimum focus distance of 20cm.
  • He was battling a cold.

Footage Comparison [00:08:11]

• The presenter compares the footage from the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the RED Epic Dragon.
  • He states that the RED footage is straight out of camera in red gamma 4 and dragon color.

    

  • The iPhone footage has only been slowed down from 120 FPS to 24 FPS and converted from Apple log to rec 709.

    

• Surprisingly, the iPhone footage has more detail than the RED footage.
  • Cinema cameras prioritize a pleasing image over clinical sharpness.

    

    

  • The RED footage has a stylized look, while the iPhone footage is cleaner and more neutral.

    

Oversampling on the iPhone 16 Pro Max [00:10:55]

• The presenter believes that the 4K 120 footage from the iPhone 16 Pro is oversampled.
  • The main camera has a 48-megapixel sensor, and 4K resolution is 12 megapixels.
  • The iPhone likely uses pixel binning of four pixels to one in 4k in 120 FPS in ProRes and in Apple Log.

    

• This oversampling results in incredibly clean and detailed footage.
• In contrast, the RED Dragon 6K camera crops by 1.5x when shooting 4K.

  

Conclusion [00:11:35]

• Despite both cameras capturing the same 4K resolution, the iPhone footage has significantly more detail.
• The presenter is impressed with the quality of the iPhone 16 Pro Max footage.