Thanks to the efforts of the developers of an open source camera application, it is now possible to record RAW videos on Android. To be more specific, the developers have made it possible to shoot 10-bit CinemaDNG RAW videos on your Android phone. If this is something that interests you, read on to learn how you can shoot RAW videos from your smartphone.
Record RAW Videos on Android (2021)
Aspect PetaPixel reports, Motion Cam is the first app to enable RAW video recording on Android. However, it is currently experimental and requires a well-equipped smartphone to use the feature. Moreover, the application does not record audio for now. Ignoring these limitations, here’s how to get started:
1. Download and install Motion Cam from Google Play Store (free). Since it is an open source application, you can also choose to sideload the application from its own site. GitHub page.
2. When the app opens, switch to “RAW VIDEO” from the bottom navigation bar. Now you have access to RAW video mode with options to control FPS, resolution, ISO, stabilization and more. Select the appropriate resolution and FPS according to your phone’s hardware and press the record button to shoot.
3. After saving the video, the app saves it as a ZIP file. you belong Tap the ‘Manage Videos’ button Click on the upper right corner to convert the ZIP file to DNG format.
4. You will see the recorded RAW video file in ZIP format on your Android phone. Next, you must create a path to store the processed DNG file. press the ” keyOrderClick the ” button and the app will automatically take you to your phone’s system file chooser. Here you have to create a new folder to save the DNG files.
5. Name the folder and press “Use This Folder” to define the destination location of the processed DNG files.
6. After selecting the folder, the application will take you to the video management screen and start processing your video. This takes a few seconds or minutes, depending on the video duration and your phone’s processing capabilities.
7. After the process is complete, you will find multiple DNG files in the folder you created to store these files. You can then export these CinemaDNG files to a professional video editing software that supports the format, such as DaVinci Resolve.
There were frame drops when I tried to record RAW video on a OnePlus 7T at default settings. If you are facing the same issue, lowering the resolution should help. If you’re in doubt about the results, check out a sample RAW video shot from a smartphone below:
Record 10-Bit CinemaDNG RAW Videos From Your Android Phone
While RAW video recording is still somewhat problematic at the moment, it’s a fascinating development and something creative professionals will appreciate. Try Motion Cam’s RAW video recording and let us know in the comments how it went for you. By the way, if you’re an iPhone user, you might find our list of the best RAW photo editing apps for iPhone and iPad helpful.
