What is iOS Cinematic Mode? iPhone Camera Mode Explained

If you’re shooting with your iPhone 13, you might want to try Cinematic Mode. Here’s what it is and how it can change your video.

There are many different camera modes available on your iPhone, and one of the latest additions to this selection is called Cinematic Mode. Apple describes the feature as allowing it to “record video with shallow depth of field and add beautiful focus transitions for cinematic quality.”

Basically what this means is that the objects in the foreground are sharply focused and when you change the subject it’s done smoothly and softly rather than clicking from one to the next so it’s more like a cinematic selection in a movie.

At launch, Apple showcased the feature in a short tribute to Rian Johnson’s 2019 film. Get the knives:

How can I use cinematic mode?

When you’re in the camera app, simply swipe right across the screen until cinematic mode is used. During movie recording, you can tap the subject to switch focus to it during recording, or double-tap the subject to lock the focus on it.

Tap the arrow at the top of the screen and you can make additional adjustments to the depth of field, change the lens you’re using, change the exposure, or turn on the flash.

By using these tricks, you’ll be able to make the most of your iPhone’s Cinematic Mode to make your videos look like mini movies.

Which iPhones support Cinematic Mode?

Cinematic Mode was introduced in 2021, and at the time of writing it was exclusive to iPhone models released in that year (that is, the entire iPhone 13 line). This may very well change with the release of the iPhone 14, which may also support this feature. All of the following models currently support Cinematic Mode: