If you’re looking for the best camera app for iPhone right now, you’re in the right place!
Your iPhone camera is super powerful out-of-the-box. But by doing a quick install of an iPhone camera app, you can instantly unlock a TON of advanced functionality that will take your iPhone filmmaking to the next level.
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Whether you’re looking for the best free iPhone camera app or something more professional, there’s a DSLR camera app that will suit your needs!
In this complete review, we’ll take a look at all the leading alternative camera apps right now including our top pick for the BEST iPhone camera app in 2023! You’ll learn how to level up your iOS camera app AND some great iPhone filming tricks along the way.
After all the usual testing and research, we narrowed it down to just TWO iPhone camera apps:
Let’s take a deep dive into both.
Best iPhone Camera App #1: Cinema P3 Pro
Cinema P3 Pro is an awesome option. It has an amazing & really easy to use interface. This iPhone camera app is super easy for you to jump in and quickly find out where everything is.
Cinema P3 Pro Features
There are some awesome features in this camera app that make it so much more powerful than the built in camera app. We won’t have time to cover off all of them, so these are our favorites.
Interface
The main interface provides direct access to all of the most commonly used functions. This means you can easily access all the tools you’ll be using regularly.
The video format and video settings are visible at any time. But this isn’t just a visual display – it’s also a button. So all you need to do is tap on one of those settings and you’ll be able to make adjustments.
This can save you a bunch of time as you don’t need to go diving into different menus to adjust the settings!
The user interface of the app is also customizable. You can enable or disable a bunch of settings depending on which ones you actually want to use.
Filming Controls
This iPhone camera app allows you to adjust things like the:
- Focus loop size
- Tilt sensor
- Distortion correction (this one is awesome if you’re filming with a wide angle as it removes that fisheye look)
- Zoom speed
Preserve Camera Settings
One of our favorite settings in Cinema P3 Pro is the ability to preserve camera settings. This means you can use the same settings for each of the different camera modes.
Control Dimming & Brightness Display
You can disable your phone screen from automatically dimming AND control display brightness when using the app – this saves you from jumping back and forth between the iPhone settings and the app.
Other Awesome Settings
You can automatically lock your white balance when you hit record – this is great for running gun situations.
Plus there’s hardware support for things like anamorphic lenses.
Cinema P3 Pro Pricing
There is a free version of Cinema P3 Pro available which is awesome if you want to jump in and have a play around.
In order to unlock all of the features, you’ll need to jump on the Pro Version.
This is currently selling for $8.99.
Overall, this is an awesome camera app with a bunch of features and controls.
It’s super easy to use, making it one of the best camera apps for anyone from an absolute beginner to an intermediate user.
Whether you’re used to shooting in automatic mode or have experience in manual mode, it won’t take too long to figure out.
Especially if you’re looking for the best free camera app – this could be the one for you!
But if you’re looking for something more advanced, the next option would be more up your alley.
Best iPhone Camera App #2: FiLMiC Pro
This is one of the original advanced iPhone camera apps. FiLMiC Pro been around for a while now and it’s even getting some pro-grade usage as well.
There are people using this camera app for movies and documentaries because of the amount of awesome features that are available.
Before we dive into this one, there is something we should mention upfront…
FiLMiC Pro Overhaul
This camera app recently had a big overhaul, not just in the FiLMiC Pro app itself but also of their pricing model.
It was previously a one-time fee for lifetime access to the app. But they’ve now transitioned over to a subscription model for the new version.
So, they’ve ruffled a few feathers for people who paid the lifetime access fee and now don’t have access to the newer version.
Anyone that purchased the previous version can still download and use the legacy app.
But if you want access to the new interface with all the new features, then you’d need to make the new purchase.
So we’re essentially looking at this as if it’s a new app altogether. Plus, if you ask us, the new version is a BIG step up.
So, let’s jump into the features.
FiLMiC Pro Features
Again, we’ll just cover the top features we think will apply to most people but there’s tons of things in here! You might notice the list of FiLMiC Pro features is a lot longer than Cinema P3 Pro’s… And that’s because FiLMiC Pro has a lot more to offer.
Interface
One of the best FiLMiC Pro features (and biggest areas of improvement since the overhaul) is the overall user interface. You have quick access to a lot of the major controls that you’d use on a regular basis.
This includes things like:
- Easily adjust audio inputs and volume level
- Quickly customize things e.g. switching between basic audio bars and pro-level audio bars
- Adjust the focus and exposure points by moving the circle or square on screen (or you can get more granular control by accessing the sliders)
Just like Cinema P3 Pro, you can see all your recording settings and formats (ISO, shutter speed, etc.) along the top of the interface. Again, this isn’t just information but buttons that you can tap to make adjustments.
You can change things like the picture profile from natural, dynamic, flat or even log profile all from the main screen.
Easy Navigation
The Settings menu has also been overhauled making it much easier to navigate without needing to dive into menus upon menus to find things (it’s all logical and fast).
Custom Function Button
This gives you fast access to one of your most used features. You get to choose what happens when you tap this button (again, saving you from diving into the menus).
Color Settings
FiLMiC Pro offers great control over things like your white balance. You’ll find presets that are available, but you also have the ability to create your own custom presets.
You can manually set color temperature and tint as well.
Hardware Integration
A lot of apps out there now support different hardware integrations (gimbals, lenses, etc.), but FiLMiC Pro by far has the most.
It also supports Clean HDMI Output and the ability to use anamorphic lenses (while also saving an anamorphic preview version of your video).
Different Aspect Ratios
Another awesome feature we love is the ability to apply overlays of different aspect ratios in FiLMiC Pro. You can either use it as a preview of how your video will look OR you can actually crop your video to those aspect ratios.
This means you can create videos in a range of different formats including square, full cinematic widescreen and other options.
FiLMiC Remote App
This is something Justin uses all the time, especially if he’s filming solo. It allows you to monitor and control FiLMiC Pro from another device. So this is really powerful!
FiLMiC Pro Pricing
As we mentioned earlier, this is no longer a one-time fee. It’s now a subscription model.
There are two pricing options:
- Monthly: $2.99/month
- Yearly: $49.99/year
While that does make FiLMiC Pro one of the more expensive options out there, we think it’s a pretty fair price given what you get access to. I mean, people are making movies using this app!
Overall, this is an awesome option with a huge amount of features and controls. It might seem a bit expensive but when you compare it to a dedicated filming device, it definitely is a more budget friendly option.
Best Camera App For iPhone?
The best camera app for iPhone users will come down to your particular skills and use case.
If you’re a beginner to intermediate user then Cinema P3 Pro could be the best camera app for you.
Or if you’re looking for more advanced features, controls, the ability for remote controlling (FiLMiC Remote App) and the largest range of hardware integration then it’s likely that FiLMiC Pro will be the best camera app for your needs.
Now that you know the best iPhone camera apps that are a massive step up from your native camera app, if you want to learn how to get the most out of iPhone when you’re creating videos, check out our Ultimate iPhone Filming Guide.
FAQ
What is the best camera app for iPhone?
This depends on your skills and use case. The best iPhone camera app for beginners is Cinema P3 Pro but if you’re looking for a more advanced option, you can’t go past FiLMiC Pro.
What app turns iPhone into DSLR?
FiLMiC Pro is currently the most advanced iPhone camera app that gives your iPhone camera DSLR-like settings.
Which app has good camera quality?
The best camera apps that will increase your iPhone camera quality are Cinema P3 Pro and FiLMiC Pro.
How do I make my iPhone camera clearer?
Using a third party iPhone camera app is a great way to level up your iPhone camera. They can be installed super quickly & easily and majorly improve the quality of your camera.
Recommended Gear & Resources
Check out an up-to-date list of all the gear, software & tools we use and recommend right now at Primal Video on our resources page here!
