14 DAY TRIAL // DxO says the iPhone X has the best camera for photos (despite the Google Pixel 2 remaining the best camera phone overall), but as far as video capabilities are concerned, Apple’s new model is more or less behind its rivals due to several factors like stability.
Professional photographer Lee Morris of FStoppers tried to determine the actual video power of the iPhone X not by putting it against other flagships like the Google Pixel 2 or the Samsung Galaxy S8, but by running the common tests side by side with a mirrorless camera.
The professional camera being used for the test is the Panasonic LUMIX GH5, which for $1,999 promises to offer “professional photo and 4K video performance in a durable magnesium alloy body.” The iPhone X cost “just” $1,000 for the base version and promises similar results, only that it all comes in a glass body.
The comparison test involved shooting videos at various resolutions, including 4K 24fps and 4k 60fps, in both cases the iPhone X performing very well, but showing its limitations when it comes to sharpness and bitrate, which can’t yet match the ones of a professional camera.
Proper light, stunning iPhone X videos
The test particularly praises the performance of the iPhone X when using 1080p 120fps recording, as the difference between the two devices is substantially less noticeable with the proper light.
And speaking of light, this is where the iPhone X needs to improve a lot, according to the test findings. The iPhone footage proved terrible at the maximum ISO level, while the Panasonic camera did much better (though not perfect) even in low light.
The conclusion is as simple as it could be: the iPhone X has a pretty good video camera as long as the proper light is available. Whenever you step in a darker environment, the small-sensor camera easily shows its limits. The photographer, however, admits that you can actually take some pretty professionally-looking videos with the iPhone X and all you need is more light.
