Filmmakers! Meet the most powerful and most capable camera app for Android devices: MotionCam Pro. This brilliant app lets you capture true RAW video data straight from your Android device’s sensor. Then you can transcode it to whatever you’d like, including ProRes HQ, and even DNG files! Take a look.
MotionCam: Capture video straight from Android device’s sensor
MotionCam brings professional tools for photography and videography to smartphones. It is the first and only app to allow RAW video capture on a smartphone. The app is developed by one man. There’s no fancy company behind it, but only one developer that disrupts the filmmaking industry and helps smartphone filmmakers all over the globe to capture professional imagery. This is how MotionCam Pro is defined: “MotionCam Pro is a revolutionary app that is created for videography and photography enthusiasts. This innovative solution enables users to capture raw videos or images using their Android smartphones. It stands apart from other apps of its kind by offering users a way to bypass the stock processing engine and avoid common issues such as excessive noise reduction and over-sharpening. This results in stunning, high-quality video footage, perfect for elevating your videography skills”. Here are some screenshots from the app:
Explore the video below which demonstrates the most recent version of the app:
Here’s a demo of iPhone 15 Pro vs Older Android Smartphones using MotionCam Pro
And here’s another demo of iPhone 15 Pro vs Samsung S24 Ultra: Captured with MotionCam Pro: Direct Log Mode Video Capture: Encode RAW to LOG on-the-go, with hardware acceleration for HEVC 8 or 10 and ProRes (Gen2 device recommended).
World First: 120 FPS RAW capture on Android devices
As stated by the developer: “Today, we were pleasantly surprised when a user reported an exciting discovery about the functionality of their OnePlus 11. It turns out, that by using a custom ROM, they were able to capture video at an impressive 120 FPS in 4K resolution! Even more astonishing, we later learned that the device supports capturing video in stunning 8K resolution at 24 FPS!”. Check it out below:
How can it be achieved?
It appears that the developer has cracked the right methodology to capture the data straight from the sensor. As seen in the demonstrations, all features and parameters on MotionCam Pro are defined by raw data derived from the camera sensor. Hence, you can get DNG files even on older smartphones, and convert them to video by AE, and/or transcode these files to a broad range of other codecs and ProRes flavors. The details are amazing and significantly surpass the most robust iPhone model. Moreover, the app has a solid community base that helps to improve it via Discord and other platforms, so the update frequency rate is very impressive. Nevertheless, capturing 4K RAW DNG on the app takes about 1.5 Gigs for just 13 seconds. So think about that. You can still capture proxies to reduce the data rate. Anyway, the app gives endless possibilities to smartphone filmmakers.
Deals & Specials for filmmakers
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Great app. Truly. Amazing acquisition. What’s not to love about 10bit/12bit RAW? Very malleable stuff.
That said, the developer is hostile and tends to focus too much on everything but RAW these days. They also inject their own personal values and interests into the app instead of truly listen to their user’s needs.
They charge $30 for the app but very much treat it like an open-source project in the context of “as is”, so if you don’t like the app as is, or want to see it improve in a more professional direction, that’s too bad for you, I guess. They don’t seem to understand the basic tenants of supply and demand, because they’re effectively running a passion project instead of a business.
If you’re a causal shooter, hobbyist or tech enthusiast, and just want to play around with a higher fidelity image that your device is otherwise not giving you with native tools as a neat party trick, it’s a really great app for that end use.
HOWEVER, if you’re pro or independent filmmaker and feel it’s important for an app that delivers RAW acquisition to be wrapped into a more professional user experience, with a professional toolset, the app is NOT ready for reliable production where controlling costs matter. And any attempts to educate or convince the developers to focus in that direction are currently met with hostility or dismissal, or a combination of both.
The MC community has a strong Discord tech enthusiast community, and is helpful and knowledge in that realm, but sorely and sometimes rudely turns away more professional users and their experience. Filmmakers will find the community a bit lonely and underserved.
I’m only reporting this having been a member of that community as a professional, and also using the app on a short, working with some serious limitations, so other professionals don’t waste their time, which is often limited, or at least understand the current limitations and possible bottlenecks in working with the current state of the app and its developers so they can highlight or mitigate these concerns in pre-production with their clients and producers. Also, YM Cinema Magazine is a publication for pros, not tech nerds in their basements shooting holiday videos.
The travesty of course is the app has the potential to change the mobile filmmaking game, because the image is that undeniably strong. But the developers are currently the biggest blocker to their own success because they are not professionals themselves and therefore don’t understand nor empathize with the needs and desires of professionals, nor are they business orientated.
All this said, there’s nothing stopping a more professional developer from repeating the same process but with better vision and business sense. Capturing RAW steam is not trademarked. So, who knows what the future holds.
*Raw Stream (not steam)
Hi there! First, thanks for acknowledging the strengths of MotionCam. We’re genuinely pleased to hear that you recognize the value of our 10-bit and 12-bit RAW capabilities, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.
We understand that our app may not be a one-size-fits-all solution, especially for users with specific professional demands. That said, it’s important to highlight that MotionCam is unique in its approach to RAW video capture, and our development choices are made with a clear vision in mind.
Why MotionCam RAW is Unique and Groundbreaking:
MotionCam is currently the only mobile app that enables true RAW video recording at such a high level. Our proprietary MCRAW format captures RAW sensor data directly, preserving all the dynamic range and color information your device is capable of producing. Unlike other apps that apply heavy compression or limit bit depth, MotionCam provides a fully malleable, 10-bit or 12-bit RAW stream, which is unparalleled in the mobile filmmaking market.
Moreover, our app is built to handle this data in a way that maintains the integrity of the footage. It’s not just a ‘party trick’; it’s a serious tool that, when used correctly, can produce results that rival even more traditional cameras. The ability to export directly to DNG frames for integration with professional tools like DaVinci Resolve or transform MCRAW into various log formats — such as HLG HDR with BT2020 or S-Log3 with S-Gamut3 — means our users have a depth of creative flexibility unmatched by any other mobile app.
Why We Prioritize Our Vision:
We’re a small, dedicated team focused primarily on pushing the envelope of what’s possible with mobile video technology. While we genuinely appreciate all feedback, we have to balance many factors, including the technological feasibility and the broader needs of our user base. It’s not about ignoring user requests; it’s about carefully considering how each feature and improvement aligns with our mission to provide an innovative and cutting-edge app.
Our latest feature, DirectLog mode, is a perfect example of our innovative spirit. It allows on-the-fly conversion of RAW data into video streams with multiple log profiles, providing powerful real-time processing options such as custom tonemapping, sharpness control, and even 3D LUTs. This is effectively like having a professional-grade image signal processor (ISP) inside your phone — something no other mobile app offers at this level. By leveraging the smartphone’s hardware capabilities for HEVC encoding (supporting both 8-bit and 10-bit) or CPU encoding for ProRes, we allow unprecedented flexibility and quality for those who want it.
Addressing Your Concerns About Professional Use:
Regarding your points about professional usability: we recognize that some professional users may find certain aspects of the app’s workflow or interface to be different from what they’re accustomed to. However, it’s essential to realize that we’re pioneering a new way of capturing and processing video on mobile devices, which naturally requires a different approach. The fact that we are the only app offering this level of RAW video capture on mobile already speaks volumes about our commitment to innovation and serving professionals who want the utmost control over their footage.
However, we also understand that expectations differ, and not all professional users may find MotionCam aligns perfectly with their specific workflows or desires. We’re open to hearing constructive feedback, especially when it’s clear and actionable, and we welcome all professionals who wish to contribute to the discussion on how we can improve.
Community and Professionalism:
As for our community, it’s true that we have a strong and vibrant Discord community filled with tech enthusiasts, hobbyists, and some professionals. Our goal has always been to foster an inclusive environment where everyone can learn, share, and grow. We don’t intend to turn away professional users, but we also won’t change the core direction of our app based solely on demands that don’t align with our vision or values.
We are continually looking for ways to improve and refine MotionCam, and we’re aware of the balance we must strike between making the app accessible to newer users and meeting the advanced needs of more seasoned professionals.
The Path Forward:
It’s worth noting that, while capturing RAW data from a mobile sensor might not be trademarked, the knowledge, expertise, and innovation that we’ve poured into MotionCam make it a unique tool that will be hard to replicate. The RAW_SENSOR mode, a 16-bit container that holds 10-bit worth of data to match sensor capabilities, is just one example of how we’re using technology to get the most out of mobile devices. Our app continues to push boundaries that others have not yet touched, and we’re not stopping anytime soon.
So, if you feel there’s something specific that could make MotionCam even better, we’d love to hear from you in a way that helps us understand how it could benefit a broad range of users. We’re always open to constructive conversations, and we believe that by working together, we can make MotionCam even better for everyone — from casual shooters to professionals looking to do something extraordinary.
Thank you for being part of our journey. We hope you’ll stick around to see where we go next.
Best,
Sebastian
MotionCam Team
Hello Y.M.Cinema Magazine,
I forgot the most important thing, thank you for mentioning us, also you can find our latest VS with a better camera (with sources):
https://youtu.be/yf_aWH0sjpk
Thanks
Sebastian
Hi, i am on the fence here. I use Vivo X100 ultra as it is a powerhouse of a camera phone. I tested the demo version of Motioncam pro app and i loved it but i am left with wanting for more. There is no Prores log support (it shows software, no hardware encoding) and the file gets corrupted. HEVC 4K 10 bit works fine. I tried many times. No 60 fps support in tele lens (though 48 fps is available). Samsung galaxy S24 ultra has received much love. Vivo X100 ultra has a very capable hardware and processor. I am really surprised why i cannot get prores log recording. If Motioncam pro is optimized for Vivo X100 ultra i will buy the full version immediately. Cheers.