UPDATE: Oct. 31, 2023, 5:20 p.m. EDT A quote attributed to Brian Oakes was corrected.
My jaw dropped when I read the final words of Apple’s “Scary Fast” Mac event: “This event was shot on iPhone.”
You mean to tell me that while Apple showcased its refreshed M3-series MacBook Pros and iMac, and even dropped a stunning new Space Black colorway for the M3 Pro and the M3 Max Macs, all of that spooky pomp and circumstance was filmed on a smartphone? No way!
Tim Cook walking into the ‘Scary Fast’ Mac event
Credit: Apple
Which iPhone did Apple use for the ‘Scary Fast’ Mac event?
Apple used the iPhone 15 Pro Max to film the Apple ‘Scary Fast’ event and we are shook. I mean, we knew that the iPhone 15 Pro Max had industry-leading camera specs. Check out some of the top-notch features below:
4K video recording up to 60 fps
Cinematic Mode (a rack-focus feature introduced with iPhone 13 Pro models) up to 4K HDR at 30 fps
Action Mode (a feature that introduces stabilization for high-activity recording) at 60 fps
HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 fps
ProRes video recording up to 4K at 60ps (ProRes is an Apple-developed compressed video format that produces high-quality files for video production)
Macro video recording, including slo-mo and time-lapse
Slo-mo video support for 1080p at up to 240 fps
Plus, as we tested in our review with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the Pro camera system blew us away with its sharp 48MP wide camera and 12MP ultra-wide shooter. It’s also packed with two telephoto cameras — one of ’em consists of Apple’s star-of-the-show “tetraprism design” that enables up to 5x optical zoom.
However, by putting these envelope-pushing specs into practice, Apple really put iPhone 15 Pro Max’s capabilities into perspective.
A professional filmmaker directed the event
Apple tapped into Brian Oakes, the man behind Jim: The James Foley Story and Living with Lincoln, to film the “Scary Fast” Mac event.
“We were able to get the same complex shots with iPhone 15 Pro Max,” says Oakes. “Everything is there to be an extension of someone’s vision or personality. The image quality of iPhone definitely democratizes the access.”
Jon Carr, Apple’s Pro Workflow Video Specialist, was flabbergasted that the event was filmed with a “tiny little iPhone” that powered 50 monitors with USB-C out. “This whole piece was low-light, and low-light is a little bit more challenging. And we nailed that.”
Scary Fast livestream filmed with iPhone 15 Pro Max
Credit: Apple
But of course, Apple still deployed some of the traditional top-level equipment you see on any major film set, including cranes, dollies, drones, and more.
Apple transparently revealed that it used the Blackmagic Camera app, an iOS exclusive, to film “Scary Fast,” which adds Hollywood feature film-esque digital camera controls.
The new iDevices Apple revealed at the event include the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro, the 14-inch and 16-inch M3 Pro and M3 Max MacBook Pro models, and an M3 iMac. For a more in-depth look of everything announced at the event, click here.
