What phone models have shutter speed control on their native camera app?

Android Shooter · 22 Oct 2019 at 08:47

Hi people, I want to buy a budget (low to midrange) smartphone with a stock camera app that allows the user to manually adjust shutter speed and frame rate for Video recording.
Now, I am aware that there are third party apps on the Google Store that allegedly offer this functionality, however third party camera apps are notorious for behaving weird depending on the phone you install them on. My own experience with them shows that they cannot be trusted (couldn't make FilmicPro shoot in 24p).

I know that LG V20 has an awesome app for video recording that offers Manual/Pro controls, however all LG phones have ridiculously small batteries, so LG is not an option for me.
I also noticed that some Nokia phones offer shutter speed control, but the shutter speed dial on those Nokia's doesn't offer a 1/48 or a 1/50 setting for shooting cinematic video in 24p.
I need a phone that has a large battery and that would allow me to use the famous 180-degree rule at 24p.
Can you guys list a few such phones? Thanks!

Smeghead · 22 Oct 2019 at 13:14

V20 has a 3200mah battery, which isn't amazing but kind of standard, plus being able to swap batteries to get back to 100% in 10 seconds kind of negates any downfalls of the small battery.

Android Shooter · 22 Oct 2019 at 14:46

Smeghead said:
V20 has a 3200mah battery, which isn't amazing but kind of standard, plus being able to swap batteries to get back to 100% in 10 seconds kind of negates any downfalls of the small battery.

Thank you for your reply, Smeghead.
I can't swap batteries, because I will be using the phone in a stabilizer cage/case that allows the use of external lenses and microphones. Taking the phone out of the cage in the middle of a set and then re-adjusting it back in, just to change the battery every time it goes out, would be a major pain in the neck.

Video recording has to be the most energy consuming task for a phone and it drains your battery like nothing else, so, for increased productivity and convenience, I simply need a phone that can last long time without the need to change the battery. One that already has a huge inbuilt battery.
3200mah isn't remotely enough for my needs.

Em3bbs · 23 Oct 2019 at 16:56

Is a phone really suitable for this kind of thing anyway? What are you trying to film?

Spidey sense is tingling that you are somehow involved with that stabiliser cage and have just joined to post it.

Android Shooter · 23 Oct 2019 at 19:19

Em3bbs said:
Is a phone really suitable for this kind of thing anyway? What are you trying to film?

Spidey sense is tingling that you are somehow involved with that stabiliser cage and have just joined to post it.

I am trying to film a short movie using nothing but a smartphone camera. I got inspired by director Steven Soderbergh who went from filming huge budget productions like "Ocean's Eleven" to making films using nothing but a very small crew and... an iPhone (see Unsane and High Flying Bird).
My idea is to make a film using an even cheaper smartphone and even smaller crew.

I have nothing to do with that stabilizer cage (mine is completely different make and model from the one I posted).

Em3bbs · 23 Oct 2019 at 20:04

OK, sorry then - you do get a few like that join here.

Thanks for the links too.

Android Shooter · 28 Oct 2019 at 07:06

Anyone?

Heisenberg · 28 Oct 2019 at 07:35

Can you access the charge port while in the cage? Just buy a large power bank to keep it topped up?

Earth[Tera].bin · 28 Oct 2019 at 08:13

There's lots of phones out there with massive batteries (5-6000mah) but that seems their focus,I imagine they would lack the video adjustments you require and not a decent camera either.

Use a power bank as suggested above, pairing it with a V30 sounds a good solution to me.

Out of interest how did Soderberg get around the iPhone's battery limitations?

Android Shooter · 28 Oct 2019 at 19:37

Earth[Tera].bin said:
There's lots of phones out there with massive batteries (5-6000mah) but that seems their focus,I imagine they would lack the video adjustments you require and not a decent camera either.

Use a power bank as suggested above, pairing it with a V30 sounds a good solution to me.

Out of interest how did Soderberg get around the iPhone's battery limitations?

Yes, you are right, Android phones that have large batteries normally have very weak camera specs.
I will see if I can somehow use a power bank with my rig.

For the shooting of the "Unsane" movie, Soderbergh used three rotating iPhones - this way he always had a phone with a fresh battery at his disposal. He also used a DJI gimbal for video stabilization.
My project will be shot on just one single Android phone (hopefully I will be able to find the perfect model).
Still looking for something suitable.

FreeStream · 29 Oct 2019 at 14:32

I don’t think your going to get what your looking for in all honesty.

I used an app on an iPhone 8 last year (Filmic Pro?) that was excellent and does exactly what you want. Id imagine a second hand iPhone XR would be the best bet there given it has the best battery life of the past gen.

Filming is going to hammer any phone, so a phone with an efficient screen and SOC (which basically Apple has had for the last few generations) means your going to struggle with any phone...

Budget + good camera + big battery + good app seems like a very unlikely combo.

If you want android then I’d just use the LG and have to suffer with the charging/cable dangling...

Android Shooter · 5 Nov 2019 at 12:03

FreeStream said:
Budget + good camera + big battery + good app seems like a very unlikely combo.

Yes, I think you are right. Was not able to find such thing so far. The search continues, but I am losing hope. Will probably get a V20 with a power bank.