iPhone 15 Pro vs ZVE10
Dec 15, 2023Choosing the perfect camera can be a bit overwhelming, but let's think outside the box and approach it with an open mind. In this blog post, I'll take a different approach to answering the classic question of which camera is better for you.
We'll put two cameras, the iPhone 15 Pro and the ZV-E10, to the test in real-world scenarios to evaluate their usability and image quality. Our main goal is to find out whether you can shoot with both and get a similar-looking picture.
We'll provide side-by-side comparisons of the two cameras, along with lens options and total pricing. We'll use different lenses on the ZV-E10, including the Sigma 18-50 F2.8, the prime Sigma 30 millimeter f1.4, the Siri 35mm f1.4 Anamorphic lens, and the Freewell 1.55x anamorphic lens for the iPhone.
My aim is to offer you a wide range of lens options so you can see which look you prefer on the ZV-E10 compared to the iPhone 15 Pro. We'll focus heavily on skin tones, low light, and usability, instead of getting too technical with the specs.
Skin Tones
When it comes to choosing the right camera, skin tones are everything. In this blog post, we'll compare skin tones produced by the ZVE10 and the iPhone and see which one is better.
First, let's talk about the technical aspect. The ZVE10 is an 8-bit camera, so there's less room to grade while shooting in SLog3 compared to Apple's ProRes log. However, I made a conversion LUT for the iPhone while shooting in ProRes, so you have a good base to start your grade. For most of these shots, they shot straight out of camera on both cameras to get a good idea of what cameras produce the most realistic-looking skin tones.
I noticed that the iPhone produces plasticky-looking or some type of digital softening to people's faces. The ZVE10 has a similar skin-softening effect, but you can turn it off. You can't turn off the skin-softening effect in the iPhone's native camera app.
If I were to use either camera in professional work, they would shoot in ProRes log with the iPhone, which gives them a lot of room to grade or S-log3 on the ZVE10, which will give them more room to color grade in post.
In my opinion, the ZVE10 is the clear winner, especially against the iPhone's cinematic mode. The cinematic mode on the iPhone really makes the plasticky look on the skin stand out more. However, if the iPhone is all you have to film with, it can work. Just shoot in ProRes log.
Usability
Now we'll take a look at the differences between using an iPhone and a dedicated camera, specifically the ZV-E10, for video creation. While it's a controversial topic to compare a phone to a dedicated camera, many people may be on a lower budget and need to know which one is right for them.
First, let's talk about storage and battery life. You can't switch out your storage media or change the battery on an iPhone like you can with the ZV-E10. One minute of shooting in 4K24 Prores Log internally equals 5.8 GBs of storage space. If you're shooting in Prores Log with a 256 GB iPhone 15 Pro, you'll only be able to shoot for about 36 minutes. In contrast, when shooting with S-Log3 in 4K24 with the ZV-E10 and a 256 GB SD card, you'll be able to shoot for over 5 hours, and a 1-minute clip is only 763 MBs.
While you can record externally with both cameras, that can also come with limitations, such as the need to bring an external charger or portable charger for the iPhone. The iPhone's fixed lenses are convenient, but they also come with limitations on creativity, unlike the ZV1. One of my favorite things about the ZVE10 is the ability to interchange lenses, which offers endless possibilities, but that also comes with a higher price as you purchase more lenses.
I used the Freewell external lenses with the iPhone 15 Pro and found them amazing for getting better image quality without any digital zoom. However, when you attach an external lens to the iPhone, you're now shooting through two pieces of glass, whereas the light only has to travel through one piece of glass with the ZVE10.
Finally, the ZVE10 is built purely for photography and video creation, so it has better exposure tools. I used zebras, the exposure compensation display, and the histogram for exposing and focus peaking to ensure they're focused on the proper subject in the frame. While you can download a third-party camera app like Black Magic Camera App to use the full functionality of the iPhone's camera, I find that these apps tend to be buggy and require closing and reopening them, which is a hassle.
Conclusion
In today's world, it's crucial to consider the safety and efficiency of our smartphones. One aspect often overlooked is the durability of the device's glass. While the ZVE10's closed display offers protection, the iPhone's exposed glass puts it at risk of damage from even a minor drop.
Another factor to keep in mind is the cinematic mode, which some users find unconvincing at lower F-stops. However, at higher F-stops like f5.6, the resulting blur effect appears more cinematic.
When it comes to camera quality, the iPhone 15 Pro has a smaller sensor with 48 megapixels, while the ZVE10's sensor is APS-C with 24.2 MPs. However, what's more important than the number of megapixels is the color science used in the sensors and the resulting image quality.
Thus, it's essential to consider the pros and cons of both devices before making a decision. When choosing between an iPhone and a ZVE10, factors such as the glass durability, cinematic mode effectiveness, and overall image quality should be thoroughly assessed.
