Blackmagic Camera review
Free cinema-style camera controls for your phone
- Blackmagic Design
- Free
- iPhone & iPad, Android
Does it deserve #2?
The verdict
Blackmagic Camera turns a recent iPhone or supported Android phone into something close to a cinema camera. You get manual control of shutter angle, ISO, white balance and focus, plus pro recording formats and Blackmagic Cloud sync for sharing footage with an editor. It costs nothing. The catch is a dense interface built for people who already know their camera settings.
- Shutter angle and manual exposure
- Pro codecs including Apple ProRes
- Zebras, focus peaking, frame guides
- Blackmagic Cloud media sync
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What we like
- Completely free with no ads or upsells
- Familiar controls if you use Blackmagic cinema cameras
- Pro recording formats cut straight into DaVinci Resolve
What could be better
- Busy interface is hard going for casual shooters
- Android version only supports select phones
Filmmakers who want cinema-style manual control on a phone, for free
you just want quick, good-looking clips without touching settings
Questions about Blackmagic Camera
Is Blackmagic Camera free?
Yes, the app is free with no subscription or in-app purchases. Blackmagic Cloud, used for syncing footage with editors, is a separate optional service.
Does Blackmagic Camera work on Android?
Yes, but only on a limited list of recent phones, mainly Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel models. Check Blackmagic's supported device list before you rely on it for a shoot.
What are the best alternatives to Blackmagic Camera?
The closest alternatives are Halide, LumaFusion and Adobe Lightroom. See all of them ranked on our Blackmagic Camera alternatives page.
Where does Blackmagic Camera rank?
Blackmagic Camera ranks #2 of 8 in our Photo & Video ranking, with an overall score of 8.9 out of 10.