Vlogging with your smartphone has never been easier before the release of the iPhone 11 series which includes the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max. It has a host of features that improves video quality and provides you with great control over your videos. In this article, we'll be weighing the pros and cons of using the iPhone 11 for vlogging.

Is the iPhone 11 Good for Vlogging?

If you’re wondering if you could ditch your big camera for the much mobile iPhone 11, the answer is a whooping yes. iPhone 11 vlogs are good for beginner vloggers who are currently learning the ins and out of the trade. Not to mention that it is quite intuitive to figure out. It has a lot of advantages and a few disadvantages which could be overcome using some cell phone accessories.

PROS

Video Quality

The iPhone 11 has a superb video quality with its 4K resolution at 60 frames per second which translates to videos with smoother transitions and more accurate colors. Compared to other smartphones, videos can be taken using this resolution for a much longer time usually about 4 hours (5 hours for the Pro and Pro Max). It also captures perfect slow-mo videos. 

Smart HDR sensing technology automatically detects light levels and preserves highlights and shadows when shooting videos. You could check out videos by Cody Wanner to see how he vlogs using his iPhone 11.

Battery Life

The iPhone 11 has an extended battery life lasting up to 7 hours which means that you do not have to make a detailed plan on placing priorities on what scenes to record. This makes it suitable for all day travel vlogs which is quite a lot compared to regular cameras used for vlogging which lasts for about two hours and require an extra battery pack. That’s a lot of luggage.

Read how iPhone 11 can charge from 0% to 50% in only 30 minutes with a USB-C charge.

Wide Angle

The wide-angle view used in iPhone 11 vlogs allows vloggers to shoot videos while capturing a whole lot of scenery. It achieves this without having that fish eye effect that most wide-angle cameras seem to have. It also allows vloggers to video objects that are far away without any distortion whatsoever. While in motion the videos captured are stable without any digital warping.

Portability

 The iPhone 11 is a mobile device and it fits into your pocket allowing you to carry it around with you everywhere you go. For a travel vlogger, this is a bonus as there is no need to carry heavy cameras. Also, it provides you with a lot of opportunities to vlog because there have been instances where vloggers have been told not to bring in their cameras but no one ever says anything about a mobile phone.

Ruggedness

The iPhone 11 is quite rugged as it has seemingly high water resistance. You could vlog your fun activities in the water for some time. If using the iPhone 11 then the maximum depth it can go in the water is 2 meters for about thirty minutes while for the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max models it could go as deep as 4 meters for thirty minutes.

CONS

Sound

iPhone 11 vlogs are lacking in the audio department. Although the iPhone 11 has a lot of upgrades and its built-in mic has been improved, it isn’t enough for vlogging. The sound options are not very adequate and need to be enhanced with a smartphone mic. In a review given by DXOMARK, the iPhone 11 was not great at reproducing background sounds. Also when recording at an initially high volume and switching to a low volume it takes a while for the iPhone to adjust. While capturing videos it is slightly inaccurate in capturing high-frequency sounds.

Night Mode

The night mode feature is perfect for capturing images in low lighting but isn’t quite up to par while recording videos and extra lighting is required. For iPhone accessories to improve lighting you could check out Unlimited Cellular.

 Costly

If you're considering making iPhone 11 vlogs then you know that they are really expensive to buy but the fact that it doesn’t require a lot of accessories for vlogging makes up for it.

Basic iPhone 11 Vlogging Setup

The iPhone 11 vlog setup is pretty easy compared to using technical and professional cameras. Here are a few DIYs to get you started:

Adjusting the Wide Angle Lens

The iPhone 11 has three possible views – the wide view, ultra-wide view and the telephoto view (which is only available on the Pro and Pro Max models) – which vloggers could switch between to record videos. To select which lens you'd prefer, go to SETTINGS and enable PHOTOS CAPTURE OUTSIDE THE FRAME. Also to zoom in and out of images, tap the button and select either of the .5x, 1x and 2x options which represent the ultra-wide camera, standard camera, and telephoto camera respectively.

Setting up the Smart HDR (High Dynamic Range)

This feature is a default setting of the iPhone 11 series, however, if you'd like to disable this feature go to SETTINGS, head to the CAMERA section and turn off the Smart HDR.

Night Mode

This appears like a crescent moon icon in the top left corner on the screen. It comes on automatically when low lighting conditions are detected. To disable it, just tap on the crescent moon icon.

Selecting 4K Resolution at 60FPS

To enable this feature, go to SETTINGS, select CAMERA, and then select RECORD VIDEO. Several options pop up such as 720 HD at 30fps, 1080 HD at 30fps, 1080 HD at 60fps, 4K at 24fps, 4K at 30fps, and 4K at 60fps of which you can select your much-desired option.

Zooming While Recording

By tapping on the center button, the zoom wheel is displayed which provides the option of selecting intermediate zoom levels and focal lengths. You can also simply pinch the screen with two fingers to zoom in and out.

Vlogging Software

To produce recorded videos iMovie is a very good app. It is very easy to use and you can export directly to YouTube.

Common Vlogging Setup Problems

The iPhone 11 vlogging setup problems aren’t much and it is pretty easy to deal with. For instance, while the iPhone 11 vlog camera has a fantastic video quality you might require smartphone lenses for improved video quality and the following are a few tested and trusted lenses on the market:

• SonyQX10
• Olloclip Mobile Photography Box Set
• Olloclip XS Max Clip
• Moment Tele Lens
• ExoLens with Optics by Zeiss Wide-Angle

Also, the iPhone 11 built-in mic isn’t so great against background noise either and some external mics might be required. Here are some top-worthy mentions:

• Shure MV88 Digital Microphone
• PowerDeWise Lavalier Lapel Microphone
• PoP Voice Lavalier Microphone
• RODE VideoMic Me-L

CONCLUSION

 Using the iPhone 11 smartphones for vlogging is a stress-free process because it is easy to set up and intuitive in its application. There is no need for a whole lot of accessories while vlogging. Its long-lasting battery life makes it the perfect travel vlogging camera and if you like to vlog about swimming, waterboarding it's the perfect option for you because of its high water resistance. 

Besides no one tells you to not vlog when you are seen with your phone compared to when you're seen with a camera hanging around your neck. Yes, it is expensive but its video quality is spot on with its optimal image stabilization for smoother videos and its Smart HDR for preserving the best highlights and shadows. What's not to love about it?

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