Challenge: Produce a bike action video with an iPhone SE
2.10.2020
Translation: machine translated
Video: Thomas Kunz
The challenge is set. Filming with the iPhone SE. You have voted. The decision was about as close as the vote on the revised hunting law. It's going to be a bike film.
The challenge is set. Filming with the iPhone SE. You have voted. The decision was about as close as the vote on the revised hunting law. It's going to be a bike film.
I meet Fiona Kälin, 24 years old and a long-time biker. She takes part in enduro races in Switzerland and neighbouring countries and is always on the podium. The project cannot fail because of the rider.
Recordings cannot be used
Filming only with the iPhone? Not quite. I allow myself a few aids. Among other things, I use the DJI Osmo Mobile 3 gimbal with the corresponding free app "DJI Mimo". The camera settings can be changed manually in this app. Apple still considers a Pro mode in the standard camera app to be unnecessary in its devices. I also use a Wiral Cable Cam to produce dynamic, fast images in the middle of the forest.
The gimbal works really well. It's an essential tool for producing steady shots. Without a gimbal, handheld shots quickly look shaky and unprofessional. With the gimbal, I run after Fiona, do beautiful panning shots or mount it on a monopod to extend my arm and get longer tracking shots.
The Wiralcam, on the other hand, is a different matter. The setup is very simple. One end of the rope around a tree, the other around another trunk up to 50 metres away. The small, mobile device can then be attached. Using a remote control, I can slide the camera back and forth on the rope. A few tests later, I realise that every shot is shaky. The iPhone can't cope with the fast movements. It's probably too light or the stabiliser can't cope with the speed. Or both. Thomas Kunz has an idea: the gimbal attached to the Wiralcam could fix it. Unfortunately, that doesn't work either. The image shakes a little less, but still far too much. Will Armin be able to do anything with these shots? I am sceptical.
Limited possibilities with a lot of potential
The iPhone SE is only equipped with one lens. I never zoomed in to always maintain the best possible quality. But I didn't miss it. I move around with the camera more often when I can't zoom and switch to other lenses. So I have to use the iPhone differently than I'm used to with my Sony. At the same time, it encourages creativity as I have to deal more with the available resources and the surroundings.
Overall, I am impressed with how well I was able to use the iPhone and how easily I was able to create shots. Because of the small sensor, the shots can't be blurred at all. Thanks to the DJI app, I still had all the options I needed to create the image I wanted. So I didn't have to trust any automatic settings. I'm happy with the pictures I took. It remains to be seen whether Armin will be able to do anything with them in the edit. The challenge for him will be to edit on the iPhone and select the best shots from a total of 170 clips. Because even our editor will not be spared from the iPhone SE challenge.
Photographer Thomas Kunz has also worked with the iPhone SE. You can find out how he went about it and what kind of pictures he took in his articles. You can find the finished bike action video in the link below.
Manuel Wenk
Communications Manager
Manuel.Wenk@digitecgalaxus.chAs a Multimedia Producer, preparing multimedia content and knowing about cutting-edge technology is my business. My main focus at digitec is producing videos. I can’t wait to try out new products such as cameras, drones or smartphones as soon as they’re launched. This is where being at the source comes in rather handy. When I’m not working, I’m probably skiing, biking or hiking – the mountains are my place to be.