Blackmagic Camera app introduces Apple Watch remote for solo creators
The new companion application allows vloggers to monitor feeds and toggle recording directly from their wrist, while digital stabilisation is now supported for ProRes RAW capture on specific iPhone 17 models.
Blackmagic Design has released version 3.3 of its free Blackmagic Camera app for iPhone, introducing a dedicated Apple Watch companion application. This update is designed to assist vloggers and solo creators who often lack a camera crew, allowing them to monitor video feeds, start and stop recording, and adjust settings like LUTs directly from their wrist.
The new Apple Watch interface provides a compact view of essential information, displaying the active LUT, autofocus settings, lens selection, resolution, and battery level. Users can also toggle key functions such as autofocus, auto exposure, auto white balance, stabilisation, and the iPhone's flash without needing to look at the main phone screen.
A significant technical addition to this release is the support for digital stabilisation during ProRes RAW capture. This feature is specifically available for iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models running iOS 26.1 or later. Previously, the app lacked stabilisation for this high-quality format, a gap that has now been addressed for the latest hardware.
The Blackmagic Camera app remains a popular third-party alternative to the native iOS camera, prized for its manual controls, professional monitoring scopes, and open-gate capture capabilities. Unlike many rival camera apps that require subscriptions, the Blackmagic Camera app remains completely free, offering access to codecs including 10-bit ProRes, H.264, and H.265.
During testing, reviewers noted that while the remote control functionality is effective, users may experience occasional lag or freezing on the Apple Watch display. To mitigate this, it is recommended that users configure their device to prevent the screen from dimming too quickly to ensure the interface remains responsive while shooting.
Beyond the wrist-based remote, the update maintains the app's versatility for professional workflows. The software continues to support features such as false color scopes, histograms, and the ability to capture 10-bit ProRes 422 log video, ensuring that creators retain granular control over shutter speed, white balance, and filmic looks.
