Your Comprehensive Guide to Apple's ProRes Log

iOS videography and photography have dramatically evolved over time. So, if you've recently come across ProRes Log for the first time, it's understandable if you wonder what it's all about? Well, this is a feature available on some of the latest iPhones, and this article is going to help you demystify it.

We'll explain its role in video production and how it can enhance your videography. Read the entire guide to learn how to use this formidable tool to enhance your videos.

Part 1. What Is Apple ProRes Log?

ProRes Log is a video format that offers an image packed with more dynamic range. That translates to much more detail in the highlights and shadows compared to conventional video.

Log maximizes the data captured by the camera. It spreads the love equally between mid-tones, shadows, and highlights instead of just the mid-tones. What's more, Log has much more color information in the image. That offers enhanced flexibility with color grading, enabling you to create a stylistic look.

Without this dynamic range, fine-tuning colors and exposure could create unwanted, artificial artifacts and digital noise in the image.

At the time of this writing, only the following iPhones support recording in the ProRes Log format:

• iPhone 16 Pro
• iPhone 16 Pro Max
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max

Part 2. Why Would the Apple ProRes Log Be Desirable?

First, Log isn't for everyone. It's for Pros who color-grade their video and do intensive edits to achieve a specific visual mood or style.

So, here's what makes ProRes Log unique:

Log Has No Local Tone Mapping

Many filmmakers are thrilled by ProRes Log's ability to style footage and make it look cinematic. The feature allows videographers to get the most out of their iPhones. In the Apple ProRes Log, there's no local tone mapping.

Local tone mapping happens when your iPhone selectively lightens or darkens certain sections of the image automatically. When shooting a video, you usually have to deal with scenes with a lot of contrast. For example, consider a dramatically lit interview. If you point the iPhone at it, an automatic process happens. You may or may not get the look that you're looking for.

Tone mapping works great for most scenarios. However, what if you want a contrasty-looking image? In ProRes Log, this automation is disabled, giving you complete freedom to create the look and feel you want.

Image credit: Zy Cheng.

Color, Sharpness, and Film-like Quality

Another interesting Log characteristic is its unprecedented ability to produce color, sharpness, and film-like quality. It's hard to recognize the footage and iPhone product. The automation of saturation and contrast isn't the only thing there is of mobile phone footage.

There's also a hard-to-miss digital sharpness in videos and photos shot on a phone. But in Apple Log, the subtle and less destructive look on details provides videos with a more film-like quality. You're also free to sharpen the footage in post-production.

Enhanced Post-Production Editing

As mentioned, Log footage offers more information to work with when color-grading. Its ability to retain details in shadows and highlights also provides more flexibility in editing colors in post-production.

Part 3. How to Turn on and Shoot ProRes Videos on Your iPhone?

The iPhone's Camera app isn't set up to utilize ProRes Log by default. Of course, there's a reason the device isn't set to take advantage of this superior provision right out of the box. First, Log takes up a lot more space; it could occupy 10x more than the regular formats!

Shooting regularly with ProPres or ProRes Log formats can fill your iPhone storage way quicker. The good thing is that you can always turn the features yourself whenever you want.

Here's how to turn on ProRes Log on your iPhone:

Step 1. Go to Settings, tap Camera, and select Formats.

Step 2. Enable Apple ProRes under "ProWAR & Resolution Control."

Step 3. Select the Log option within ProRes Encoding.

When recording videos in Log format on the iPhone, users often report that when shooting straight from the default Camera app, the iPhone tends to overexpose the image. Thus, (counter-intuitively to videographers) adjust the exposure to -1EV - underexposing the device by one stop.

To do that, tap the subject on your iPhone screen, then press and hold on it. That appears to be exposure and focus on the subject for consistency. To underexpose by one stop, tap the arrow at the upper section of the screen to change the menu or options at the bottom. Tap the plus and minus icons and dial down to -1.0.

Lastly, if you're shooting Log when it's bright outdoors, avoid blowing out your highlights. When shooting in low light, expose your subject properly, mindful of the shadows or darkest parts of the scene. Ultimately, you want to bump up your shadows minimally in the post, or you'll get too much noise.

Part 4. How to Repair a Corrupt Apple ProRes Log Video?

Like any other video file format, the Apple ProRes Log videos can also get corrupted. That can happen due to many reasons, including:

• Sudden shutdowns: Abruptly switching off your iPhone can damage your media
• Bugs in iOS: Glitches in the iOS operating system can impact how videos are saved and accessed
• Poor network connection: An unstable or intermittent network connection can lead to corruption

If your ProRes footage becomes damaged, you might think that there's no way to repair and recover it. But that's not true; you have several options to consider. One, you use an online AI video enhancer that fixes blurry videos. Two, you can convert the video to another format using the VLC Media Player.

However, if the video is severely damaged, your best bet is to go for Repairit Video Repair. This robust and reliable desktop app allows you to repair your ProRes videos in a few clicks. What's more, Repairit can simultaneously fix multiple damaged ProRes videos, saving time and effort. Its exclusive advanced repair mode can repair severely corrupt videos with a higher success rate than its rivals.

Wondershare Repairit - Video Repair

Try It Free Try It Free

1,010,994 people have downloaded it.

• Repair damaged videos with all levels of corruption, such as video not playing, video no sound, out-of-sync video or audio, playback errors, header corruption, flickering video, missing video codec, etc.

• Repair full HD, 4K, and 8K videos and support 20+ popular formats, including MOV, MP4, M2TS, MDT, RSV, WMV, MPEG, AV1, etc.

• Repair damaged or corrupted videos caused by video compression, system crash, video format change, etc.

• Repair critically damaged or corrupted RAW/Log/HDR videos from professional cameras such as Blackmagic Design, RED Digital, and ARRI, etc.

• Repairit has a quick and advanced scanning mode. You can use either depending on the level of corruption the video file has undergone.

• No limit to the number and size of the repairable videos.

• Repaired videos are more compatible with professional editing software such as DaVinci, Composer, Final Cut Pro, and Premiere Pro.

• Support Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista, Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019/2022, and macOS 10.12~macOS 15.

So, if you have several damaged videos on your iPhone, you'll find this tool very helpful. You can install the software on Mac or Windows and repair your videos in these easy steps:

Step 1. Open Repairit and select the Video Repair mode. Hit the Add button to add your corrupted video(s).

Step 2. Click the Repair button for Repairit to start repairing your files.

Step 3. Once the repair process is complete, preview the repaired ProRes videos. Then, save them in your preferred location.

That's it! You've restored your valuable videos and can transfer them back to your iPhone.

Part 5. Expert Tips When Shooting in the Apple ProRes Log

While shooting the ProRes Log video, experts recommend downloading a third-party Camera App. That could be the Moment Pro Camera App or Blackmagic Camera App. Using a third-party app helps in two ways:

• Shooting in ProRes Log produces massive files
• The Apps have extra exposure features that will help you get the most out of your production.

Using an External Drive

In the meantime, you can plug an external drive, a memory card, or an SSD drive into the USB-C connector. If you don't like having a dangling external drive or drive, consider using an additional app. An app will allow you to use a more manageable file size while still using Log.

Install a Third-Party Camera App

With an application like the Moment Pro Camera App, you have advanced features to work with. These include manual control over ISO and shutter speed, a waveform, and a histogram. These features are invaluable for achieving the perfect exposure.

The waveform and histogram help you ensure your footage isn't too bright (far right) or too dark (far left). Ideally, keep the levels in the center or Ideally, keep the levels in the center or slightly to the left to conserve highlight details.

Conclusion

Apple ProRes Log is a revolutionary video format. It's here to take your filmmaking on iPhone to the next level. However, this advanced feature is only available in a few select iPhone models. These include iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone Pro Max.

If you've got one of these flagship phones, follow the simple steps explained above to turn on the Log feature. Then, apply the tips offered to shoot your video in the highest quality possible!