Australian filmmakers James Ballard and Paul Henri have launched a new LUT for the Apple iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The duo claim that The One LUT for Apple Log will transform your iPhone footage to match the world’s most highly regarded digital cinema camera: the ARRI ALEXA.
Apple Log
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are the first Apple iPhone models to offer Apple Log when you record in ProRes. A log or logarithmic color profile, delivers video footage with a higher dynamic range than standard video. However, log video looks flat with muted colors straight out of the camera. You need to color grade your clips or use a LUT (look-up table) to restore the true colors in your video.
The One LUT
On The One LUT website, Ballard and Henri say that Apple’s standard Rec709 LUT gives footage that is too saturated and that skin tones look artificial. As a result, the filmmakers set out to create their own LUT and tested the iPhone 15 Pro side by side with the ARRI ALEXA cinema camera. They also modeled their LUT to match ARRI’s official Alexa K1S1 Rec 709 LUT.
Results
Ballard and Henri claim that The One LUT matches the ALEXA’s color response and gives pleasing skin tones. They also say that it delivers the most cinematic image possible on an iPhone. If you use the Blackmagic Design Blackmagic Camera app for iOS then you can use The One LUT as an in-camera preview LUT. In addition, you can use the LUT to grade your footage in post-production.
What we think
Apple ProRes Log recording on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max is a great feature for anyone serious about shooting video on their smartphone. Unfortunately, the results can be disappointing using Apple’s own LUT, meaning you need to spend time grading your video for the best results. However, the video and image samples on The One LUT website look very impressive. If you own an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max and want a LUT that mimics the ARRI ALEXA look, the One LUT for Apple Log could be a great investment.
Pricing and availability
The One LUT for Apple Log is available now from the One LUT website. It retails at $25.
