For the filming of the movie "Formula 1", Apple created a special camera based on the iPhone

The publication Wired reported that Apple developed and assembled a camera based on the iPhone specifically for filming the movie "Formula-1". The company’s engineers tried to bypass the limitations that prevented them from installing a professional film camera on the racing car.

In the summer of 2025, the film "Formula-1", produced by Apple Studios — a subsidiary of Apple responsible for content development — will be released internationally. Journalists note that the team used real racing cars in the filming.

Director Joseph Kosinski and cinematographer Claudio Miranda wanted to capture first-person shots, which frequently appear during live race broadcasts. For these tasks, lightweight, shock-resistant action cameras are usually used. These are fine for live broadcasts but are not suitable for filming cinematic shots. Additionally, the team could not attach expensive and bulky film cameras to the racing car. It would negatively affect the car’s speed, and in the event of an accident, the operators would risk losing their equipment.

To solve this problem, Apple engineers developed a streamlined camera module that attaches to the left side of the car's stock panoramic camera module. Its shape is also similar to the stock device.

Camera mounting

Inside the module, as Apple engineers note, there is an iPhone camera and an A-series processor. Journalists speculate that it is a 48-megapixel sensor from the iPhone 15 Pro and the A17 Pro chip. There is also a battery and ND filter. The only limitation is that the camera cannot be controlled remotely or by buttons. To start recording, stop filming, copy data, or change settings, the module must be connected to an iPad via a USB-C cable.

Engineers also note that the camera for the race cars operates on a modified version of iOS, with unnecessary features removed. The device records video in ProRes — Apple’s proprietary format. The film crew mentioned that Apple’s engineering team’s solution turned out to be better than the devices usually used for live broadcasts.