Essential iPhone accessories for video production
The iPhone and comparable flagship smartphones are ready to create high-quality, captivating video for social media, marketing, and vlogging. We’ve put together a list of essential accessories to jumpstart your video production kit using the phone you carry everywhere.
iPhone 14 video quality has improved immensely over predecessors
The new iPhone 14 features a 48MP quad-bayer main camera, which is a huge increase from the standard 12MP sensor of the previous generations. As such, Apple has also included ProRes support and 10bit color for their Pro versions - though the standard h.265 codec is a good compromise between file size and ease of use. The iPhone 14 has also added excellent image stabilization on a cropped 2.8K resolution. Sebastiaan de With over at Lux has a great in-depth review of the sensor and the photographic specs.
Audio quality is paramount
It’s weird to start off a video production accessories list with this statement, but it’s true. The most important aspect that can make or break your content is the audio quality. Poor audio quality - distorted, noisy, tinny, or quiet voices - will distract or cause your audience to turn away from your video, no matter how good the video is. That’s why our number one add-on to any smartphone video production kit is a good microphone solution.
The two main categories of audio recording hardware that we’re concerned about for iPhone video production are on-camera or on-subject (lavalier) microphones. We don’t need to concern ourselves with boom mics or other more complicated solutions at the moment.
Gone are the days of a 3.5mm audio/mic combo jack included standard on our smartphones, so most solutions will plug directly into or use an adapter for the Lightning (or USB-C) port. As a result, we also suggest using a splitter (like this) in order to charge during extended recording sessions.
Rode VideoMic Me-L ($79)
This on-camera directional microphone plugs directly into the Lightning port and shares the high-quality construction and audio fidelity of the entire Rode family of products. This is a great option for at home or indoor filming, as well as higher quality environmental audio. The included wind protector helps to cut out wind noise for outdoor shooting. There is also an included 3.5mm jack built into the rear of the microphone for plugging in wired headphones for easy audio monitoring. A great all around choice. (There are also USB-C and 3.5mm jack options available)
Hollyland Lark M1 Solo ($89)
This simple 2.4GHz transmitter and receiver pair is a great ready-to-go solution for wireless audio recording. The lightweight, portable M1 Solo works for 8 hours of continuous recording with a 650ft line-of-sight range. The omnidirectional microphone provides clear hi-fi audio for creators on the move. This is a great choice for live streaming, vlogging, video tours, and interviews. There is also a Duo version which includes 2 transmitters and a charging case for all the components (found here). The Axo has a great in-depth review of the system here.
Support & stabilizers bring everything together
Having the proper way to stabilize or position your rig is crucial to accomplish your creative vision. The most basic essential is a tripod to frame and shoot locked-down content, but new ways to add handles and gimbals to your rig offer even more variety to your shot options. Of course, the specific rigging choice will be dependent on the type of content that’s being produced, but we have collected a group of essentials that will help tackle most real estate and vlogging needs.
This pocket sized tripod is perfect for stabilizing your iPhone on a table or holding an external light. The easy to use ballhead allows for precise angling and positioning and the legs can be used as a comfortable handle when closed. Manfrotto also offers a universal mount that can be used with most smartphones (view here), but we suggest the Moment tripod mount below to pair with the iPhone.
Moment Pro Tripod Mount ($60)
This tripod mount is made exclusively for iPhone MagSafe (meaning the iPhone 12 and later) and features strong magnets built into a sleek, sturdy frame. The mount is easy to use and features an adjustable cold shoe mount to add an audio or lighting accessory for both vertical and horizontal shooting. Note that some cases may block the strength of the magnetic strength.
SmallRig iPhone 14 Cage ($79)
This cage kit is designed to offer a stable shooting platform with multiple ¼” threaded holes as well as two cold shoes for accessory attachment. This cage is made specifically for the iPhone 14 Max and Pro versions, and also features a lens backplate for attaching M-mount lenses if desired. The cage also comes with a side handle with wireless control to start and stop recording. There are other cage options available, such as a universal rig (here), but the bottom line is the added protection and ability to attach the necessary accessories for every type of content.
DJI OM5 Smartphone Gimbal ($129)
This gimbal provides 3-axis stabilization for your smartphone for buttery smooth movement. This can be combined with the software stabilization available on the iPhone to minimize the z-axis bounce and create exceptionally stable footage. This newest version of DJI’s smartphone gimbal includes ActiveTrack 4.0 to quickly track a moving subject as well as a built in extension rod for unique perspectives of real estate or group selfies.
External LED lighting for illuminating your subject
Shaping light is the key to great video content and starting out with lighting and modifiers can be a daunting task. There are a huge range of lighting products from massive studio lighting kits down to the humble video LED panel. For the iPhone content creator, the probable use of lighting will be to illuminate the speaker or subject of the video. Of course, some types of content won’t require external lighting, but we think having a good, portable light or two in your kit is essential for many types of content.
SmallRig RM120 LED Panel ($59)
This small LED panel is an excellent all-in-one light source with a built in battery for easy use. The panel itself has excellent color clarity with a 98+ CRI and max brightness of 1580 lux @ 0.3m. The panel features bi-color adjustable LEDs, meaning you have complete control of the color temperature from 2500K-8500K. The built-in screen and controls make the light easy to handle and adjust, and the excellent build quality of SmallRig extends to their lighting products. Note that this light doesn’t come with any mounting solutions, so an additional cold shoe or tripod adapter might be needed. Unfortunately, this light cannot be charged and used at the same time, but with 3 hours of battery at maximum brightness, this shouldn’t be a problem for most vlogging.
Aputure AL-F7 LED Panel ($99)
This slightly larger LED panel is an excellent step up from the SmallRig RM120 and features a detachable battery slot for common Sony NP-F batteries as well as D-Tap and USB-C plug power options. Aputure offers an complete line of lighting solutions and all are dependable and well built at their price points. Like the RM120, this panel features bi-color LEDs and can be adjusted to match lighting conditions. The panel lasts around 3 hours at full brightness using a 7200mah NP-F970 battery, with ability to easily swap batteries.
Bottom Line
At the end of the day, it’s important to create a kit that suits your needs, whatever that means for you. Hopefully this collection of accessories and add-ons helps you get started with video production and using your iPhone to the best of it’s abilities. On-site video production is just one component of producing quality content and we strive to provide the resources, consultation, and services necessary for modern video content and marketing.
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