iPhone 17 Pro vs. BlackMagic Pyxis Camera | Prove It
iPhone 17 Pro vs. BlackMagic Pyxis Camera: A Creative Showdown
In the latest episode of “Prove It,” we explore a bold question: Can the iPhone 17 Pro truly replace a professional cinema camera? To find out, we staged a video shoot featuring a coffee roastery in Edinburgh called Santo, putting Apple’s powerful device head-to-head with the BlackMagic Pyxis 6K camera. Capturing stunning visuals, the iPhone 17 Pro boasts a trio of cameras, ProRes RAW capabilities, and advanced color grading options.
Expert director of photography Cal Hallows joined the challenge, employing both the iPhone and a full cinema rig equipped with premium lenses. Throughout our shoot, it became evident that while the iPhone’s quality was impressive, particularly in dynamic shots and ease of rigging, it still faced limitations with focal lengths and professional-grade depth of field. The BlackMagic’s superior lenses outshone the iPhone in creating beautifully blurred backgrounds, essential for cinematic storytelling.
Ultimately, the iPhone excels in versatility and convenience, making it an excellent addition to any filmmaking toolkit. While it may not fully replace a dedicated cinema camera, its compact size offers creative opportunities that a bulky rig cannot match. Aspiring filmmakers can confidently start with an iPhone, embracing its potential for creative storytelling while considering professional setups for more advanced needs.
Watch the video by CNET
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Video “iPhone 17 Pro vs. BlackMagic Pyxis Camera | Prove It” was uploaded on 12/13/2025 to Youtube Channel CNET



































"Roll that beautiful bean footage!"
Thanks for the review. I wounder if there may be a video comparison with iPhone uses 3rd party add-on lenses that may produce better results?
For those of us who use the iPhone professionally, a basic question arises: why not use add-on lenses, often costing around $300, to approximate the prime focal lengths used on the Blackmagic camera? There are several well-established lens options for the iPhone, including probe lenses, and using them would have addressed some of the limitations being discussed.
No not really
Excellent video, gets right to the point while providing necessary details.
probably one of the best CNET produced videos… all the other CNET contributors should take note.
I don't think so, camera and lenses cost only a fraction of the whole budget when it comes to professional filmmaking. And even if you use an iphone to shoot a film, you still have to use tripod , cage and other gears for your iphone, still the quality would be far cry from professional cameras and lenses.
The difference between using an iphone and Alexa camera in most main stream projects wouldn't be considerable in overall cost of the project
These comparisons are soooo stupid. And yet I watch and enjoy them for no reason…
All pro iPhone models are made for film making, portable and has good detailed cameras
The answer is yes! I made my short film using Iphone 15 pro