Apple has a free new app for professional videographers that goes a step above the normal camera app. It’s called Final Cut Camera, and not only does it offer more advanced controls for recording video, but it also pairs well with Final Cut Pro for iPad to let you record a multi-camera session. Final Cut Camera supports up to four cameras for the Live Multicam feature in Final Cut Pro for iPad, and you can record using any iPhones or iPads that support the app, as long as they’re logged into the same iCloud account.
The advanced controls in Final Cut Camera
Credit: Pranay Parab
Final Cut Camera is targeted specifically at those who record videos for a living, and gives you advanced features such as finer control over zooming in, an overexposure indicator, and controls to let you adjust exposure, white balance, and focus.
You can adjust all of these settings easily with the viewfinder enabled, and you’ll even get live feedback on all of your changes. Final Cut Camera makes it quite easy to get your exposure and white balance just right, which isn’t always possible with the default Camera app.
Put your old iOS devices to good use
Credit: Pranay Parab
Your latest iPhone is probably getting a lot of use, but you may have older iPhones and iPads lying around unused. If you record lots of videos, you can use use Final Cut Camera and your older iOS devices to set up a Live Multicam session with Final Cut Pro for iPad. Most people probably don’t have all the devices needed to make this setup work, but videographers are highly likely to be able to use this to their advantage.
Why Final Cut Camera is worth checking out
Credit: Pranay Parab
When you’re recording videos and want more control over your iPhone’s camera, Final Cut Camera is a great option. The stock Camera app does allow you a lot of freedom to control your video recordings, but Final Cut Camera takes it a notch further. It’s highly configurable and has been designed to let you make more precise adjustments to each element of video recording. Even if you’re not a professional videographer, I suggest trying out Final Cut Camera once to see what it can do. Perhaps it could be a great tool when you’re recording clips for your next TikTok or Instagram Reels video.
It’s great that this app is available for free, which makes it very accessible to a large audience. Of course, the real differentiating feature—Live Multicam—requires you to have an active subscription to Final Cut Pro for iPad. That costs $49 per year and requires a powerful M-series iPad, too.
