The internal camera video format is set from the main app settings. This is accessed via the More button in the top button bar then tapping 'Settings'.
Camera Model Settings
Although simplistic on the surface, setting the video format for the internal camera can be complex. To better understand this complexity it's useful to understand how the Mavis camera model works.
Each iPhone contains a number of different lenses. These lenses are attached to different physical cameras and each of these cameras has their own set of capabilities and controls. Within these capabilities there is an interplay depending on what has been selected.
The overarching settings are defined by the lens/camera that is selected. Selecting a specific lens yields a particular set of resolutions, frame rates, color spaces and stabilization options that are supported. Selecting any of one these settings will change the options available from all the setting. Let's take a look at an example.
On the iPhone 16 Pro there are fours lenses/cameras - 0.5x, 1.0x 5.0x and Front and each have a different set of capabilities. When selecting the 1.0x lens/camera and then setting the resolution to 1080p, the full extent of frame rates and color spaces are available. However, changing the resolution to 4K limits the available frame rates to a maximum of 120fps (240fps is no-longer available). Similarly setting the resolution to 1080p and then setting the frame rate to 240fps limits the available resolutions to a maximum of 1080p (4K is no-longer available). Setting the resolution to 720p provides all the available frame rates but limits the available color spaces (HDR and Apple Log are no-longer available).
Each lens/camera has a different set of capabilities and what is available when one lens is selected may not be available when another one is. Moreover, each lens/camera on each model of iPhone offers a different set of capabilities. Add all this up and there are thousands of various permutations related to what capabilities are available on each iPhone / Lens / Resolution / Frame rate / Color Space / Stabilization with an interplay between all the capabilities.
Lens Selection
Resolution
Mavis Camera supports three industry standard resolutions:
- 1280x720 (720p)
- 1920x1080 (1080p)
- 3840x2160 (4K)
These all provide a 16:9 aspect ratio and they use square pixels. They are also all progressive formats. The available resolutions will vary based on the model of iPhone, the lens selected and the other camera settings being used.
Tip: Interested in 4:3 resolutions? Try our Mavis Camera Classic. Although Camera Classic has been sunsetted (no-longer actively developed), it is still a great choice for 4:3 landscape filming on the iPhone.
Frame rates
Mavis Camera supports the following standard frame rates:
- 23.98
- 24
- 25
- 29.97
- 30
- 50
- 59.94
- 60
- 100
- 120
- 240
A custom frame rate can also be entered as a whole (integer) number. The custom frame rates available are normally between 2fps and 240fps. All available frame rates will vary based on the model of iPhone, the lens selected and the other camera settings being used.
Color Space
Mavis Camera supports the following color spaces:
- SDR (Standard Dynamic Range)
- HDR (High Dynamic Range)
- Apple Log
The available color spaces will vary based on the model of iPhone, the lens selected and the other camera settings being used.
Stabilization
Mavis Camera supports optical stabilization. The aggressiveness and availability of stabilization will vary based on the model of iPhone, the lens selected and the other camera settings being used.
Lens and Format options
Mavis Camera includes two modes for handling the availability of lenses and format options. When filming requires a specific format Mavis Camera can limit the availability of lenses to match the the chosen format settings. For example, a project my require 50fps and this needs to be guaranteed for delivery; if this fps isn't supported by a particularly lens, this will be unavailable for selection.
Alternatively, flexibility and availability of lenses may be more important than guaranteeing the format. In this case Mavis Camera can always make all lenses available for selection. When selecting a lens that doesn't support the current format Mavis Camera will attempt to pick the best fit from the formats that the selected lens does support.
For example, when using the iPhone 16 Pro and selecting 240fps at 1080p with the 1x lens, going on to select the Front lens (which does not support 240fps at 1080p) will mean the frame rate is automatically lowered to a rate that is supported (e.g. 60fps).
This can have unintended consequences as the lens selection is always available, even when recording, and it is therefore important to select a lens mode that matches the priorities of the project. If you want to guarantee the format or other metadata related to the format (e.g. Timecode), don't allow the lens selection to change the format. By default Mavis Camera will not let you select a lens that changes the format.