How to shoot better videos on a smartphone?

[Honest G33K]

Hi guys and I have a quick question. I've been wanting to make videos a whole lot more, but when you don't have anyone around to help with shooting, it's kinda a put off. How do you take good videos with a smartphone camera(that is the only thing I have right now). How to adjust the focus? How to make sure your rule of thirds is good enough?

 

[Seansie]

I don’t know enough about shooting with an iPhone to go full in depth, but I just had this come to mind: There’s some lenses you can buy for cheap that attach to iPhones. That way you can get stuff like wide angle shots to possibly change things up a bit in your videos.

 

[Honest G33K]

I don’t know enough about shooting with an iPhone to go full in depth, but I just had this come to mind: There’s some lenses you can buy for cheap that attach to iPhones. That way you can get stuff like wide angle shots to possibly change things up a bit in your videos.

A brilliant suggestion! Never thought of using lenses before. Thanks!

 

[Highfalutin' Low Carb]

Download a secondary camera App like FilmicPro or Camera 360. These apps bypass the built-in camera software and allows you to adjust virtually everything about the camera - much like a DSLR or other traditional cameras. You’ll be surprised by how much control you get over the video quality by using a third-party app for the camera. I’ve personally used FilmicPro on an iPhone and it’s great.

Those lenses that clip onto an phone for wide shots and zoom are frankly awful. I’ve tried the $20 sets as well as a $200 set and they just aren’t worth it. The glass is so cheap, it negates any benefit you get from the wider or narrower angles. Lots of outer edge distortion. That was my experience, at least.

 

[Honest G33K]

Download a secondary camera App like FilmicPro or Camera 360. These apps bypass the built-in camera software and allows you to adjust virtually everything about the camera - much like a DSLR or other traditional cameras. You’ll be surprised by how much control you get over the video quality by using a third-party app for the camera. I’ve personally used FilmicPro on an iPhone and it’s great.

Those lenses that clip onto an phone for wide shots and zoom are frankly awful. I’ve tried the $20 sets as well as a $200 set and they just aren’t worth it. The glass is so cheap, it negates any benefit you get from the wider or narrower angles. Lots of outer edge distortion. That was my experience, at least.

Hey and thanks for the awesome advice! I'm trying this one out right now and I have a feeling that it's gonna be awesome!!

I totally agree. I've tried the lenses and unfortunately enough, they are terrible

 

[Rickeo]

One huge tip I can give to you.

Get a phone tripod, I bought one called a
Manfrotto Mini Tripod

It's expensive but really is worth the money, I don't just use it for taking/making videos but I also use it to prop my phone up as I watch videos in bed and stuff.

It's honestly the best purchase I've ever made. it a must for makig videos and keeping your video steady.

As for the rest it really does depend on your phone and specs and stuff, but honestly having a good quality tripod that you can stand on your desk is essential.

Also having a selfe stick is a good choice as well, helps when you want to film out and about or just get shots from different angels,

 

[KatyAdelson]

I moved this to the video editing / recording discussion forum.

 

[Magic Pete]

Hi Honest,
Although I have a smartphone I never use it for ‘serious’ videos. Yes, I know many folk make some first class videos using such phones, but having been in the video making scene (as a keen amateur) for many years I have always used what I would call a ‘proper’ video camera. However, you have what you have, so let's go from there and please don’t think I’m talking down to you.

The first question I would ask is ‘What sort of videos do you like taking?’ Just as a few ‘for instances’, are you interested in taking family videos of the children at play – indoors or out? Maybe holiday videos in exotic places? Team sports games, again indoors or out, the list is endless. As already suggested, having a decent tripod will improve your videos 100%. A tripod with a proper pan/tilt head will be the best.

However, in all the above ideas for videos, the use of a tripod, especially a substantial one, would be inconvenient at least. One of the great advantages of a smartphone camera is its portability. Take from the pocket and it’s ready to go.

So I would like to suggest putting in lots and lots of practice in holding your camera as steady as possible. Using the W/Angle whenever possible will give you steadier shots as opposed to telephoto where every little shake will show up in the video. For the moment, forget spending good money on extras, but spend much time learning to use what you have much better.

You ask about the focus of your camera and I can only say RTFM. (For those not sure of that meaning it’s Read The Flipping Manual). Re the rule of Thirds. There are so many YouTube videos explaining all about this sort of thing and there are many tutorials on YT to assist in getting better results from a phone camera. Viewing these is much better than any of us trying to explain in words. Making good videos is something that takes a lifetime to learn - and even then there will still be a lot more to learn.

Back to square one . . . Tell us the sort of subject matter you are keen on and we can discuss further.
With best wishes. Pete.

 

[Gorgi]

I would say that if he has tripod to buy it is better to get than some of those small black mics and usb external card and have at least audio as required. Make sure to know the resolution in which your phone records, have few of them use some books for adjusting them somewhere around buy the cheap mic or use headphones with mic get the help from the Sun and that is like everything you can do for now. Than be creative in your editing software and i say that is like the max you can get with basically no budget. It is so hard compared to like having switcher,pro cameras monitor someone adjusting cameras lights around you,green screen but what can you do. So my advice is put them somewhere,if you know about positioning that is even better get some nice audio and light from Sun and record and than painfully edit in software.

 

[videoeditgr]

How to adjust the focus? How to make sure your rule of thirds is good enough?

common joke, "...don't worry, it can be fixed in post!..."

Explore the possibility to use noname actioncam acessories with an adapter from e.g. gopro to 3/4inch (as far as I know) screw adapted smartphone holder. A tripod is limiting movement. Browse actioncam acessories and you might find interesting that they can be hand held, mounted literally everywhere etc. etc. The reason I am suggesting noname acessories is that i assume that in time you will move to a camcorder