Apple Releases Final Cut Camera 2.0 With ProRes RAW and More

Apple has rolled out Final Cut Camera 2.0 (this announcement was lost amongst iPhone 17 hoopla yesterday), a major update to its free video recording app for iPhone.

The new version brings features usually found on professional film cameras, including ProRes RAW recording and genlock synchronization, both supported on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

ProRes RAW gives filmmakers access to raw sensor data directly on the iPhone, allowing more freedom when editing colour, exposure, or stabilization later. Unlike other RAW formats, it’s designed to keep file sizes manageable while still offering high-quality detail. Editors using the upcoming Final Cut Pro 11.2 for Mac or Final Cut Pro 2.3 for iPad will get new tools to adjust this footage with precision.

Genlock support means iPhones can now sync video frames exactly with other cameras or graphics, which is especially useful for live-streaming or creative effects like “bullet time.” The feature is already supported by Blackmagic’s new Camera ProDock, and Apple has opened up APIs for other developers to adopt it.

The update also adds open gate recording, which uses the full camera sensor to capture a wider field of view at resolutions higher than standard 4K. This gives editors flexibility to crop or reframe shots without losing image quality, says Apple.

For the new iPhone 17 lineup, Final Cut Camera 2.0 introduces manual controls for the Center Stage front camera, which has a larger, square-shaped sensor and wider field of view. That means users can switch between portrait and landscape shots without physically rotating the phone, and they can fine-tune framing with more control.

Other improvements include Apple Log 2 recording, which captures video in a wider colour range for more accurate editing, support for timecode to keep clips organized in post-production, and the ability to shoot with the new 200mm telephoto lens on iPhone 17 Pro at up to 4K60 fps in ProRes.

Final Cut Camera 2.0 will be available later this month as a free download on the App Store. It works on iPhone Xs or later running iOS 18.6, though some of the most advanced features require an iPhone 17 Pro (so that means it’s time to upgrade, right?). Apple first debuted Final Cut Camera for iPhone back in June of last year.