Apple kept a little secret about filming the latest event, the iPhone got a lot of help to make it happen
The weekend is coming and it’s it’s time to think Apple’s special event “Let Loose” which gave us the launch of the new iPad Pro, iPad Air and the update of its accessories like the surprising Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard. In this case, We will see a very different angle focusing on filming the event. Remember that since the pandemic, Apple has gotten us used to seeing their pre-recorded events and apparently they are very comfortable with that. At the end of the event, You could see the whole event was filmed with the iPhone but it could have had some extra help.
The Apple event was filmed with an iPhone 15 Pro Max and Panavision lenses in some scenes
According to a confirmation from Apple to journalist Stu Maschwitz, those from Cupertino used the lenses in some of the shots of the event. Remember scenes with shallow depth of field? This was not due to post-production but quite the opposite. Apple achieved this by using Panavision lenses.
Shallow focus that could not be taken with the iPhone without the help of other lenses
“Apple informed me that for several shots where a shallow depth of field was desired, Panavision lenses were attached to the iPhones using a mount called the “Lens Relay System”, available for rental although it’s not listed on their website.”
The explanation is simple, according to Maschwitz a shot is created as if it were some sort of aerial image captured with another lens system. It’s like your cell phone hitting a pair of binoculars, it’s a lens relay system. They avoided focusing the image as if it were a film shot as is usually done.
Panavision equipment with director’s viewfinder
The Panavision lens system helps the iPhone lens capture this type of image, and then the final capture is Apple ProRes.. There are several interesting details in Maschwitz’s publication that are worth reading. He also highlights that the ProRes that the iPhone 15 Pro has has a very valuable basis for achieving truly impressive quality.
