Lux, the startup behind the popular professional photography app Halide, is expanding into the video space with its latest app release. The company on Wednesday announced Kino, a new video capture app aimed at both professional and amateur videographers. The official release comes six months after Lux teased a December 2023 release date.
Halide users have long been calling for Lux to add video support to its popular photo app, but the startup didn't want to clutter the platform, leading it to launch a dedicated video app.Given that Halide, which originally won an Apple Design Award for its RAW photo support on iPhone, already has a loyal and prominent user base, Kino could have a shot at success.
With Kino, Lux aims to make it easier for videographers to shoot cinematic videos with their iPhone. While Kino won't be used to shoot your next feature film, Lux recognizes it's a useful app for anyone who wants to get more out of their camera. The startup designed the app to be feature-rich enough for professionals, but not too intimidating for amateurs.
The app allows users to choose their experience as soon as they start using the app, which determines which settings will be enabled. Kino offers in-app lessons and tips on video basics for beginners.
Image credit: Lux
Kino's Instant Grade feature allows users to press the record button to create cinematic videos with color presets applied to their recordings. Lux says that Apple's decision to launch support for log video encoding on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will enable users to capture video with much less processing.
Lux explains that Apple's cameras can shoot in log, but this is encoded in Apple ProRes, resulting in larger file sizes, whereas Kino shoots in HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) to reduce file sizes, and the color preset you choose is applied directly to the recording.
The Kino also comes with an AutoMotion feature that lets you set a 180-degree shutter angle on your footage without having to fiddle around with settings, resulting in cinematic video with just the right amount of blur, Lux says.
Image credit: Lux
Kino gives professional photographers full control over automatic and manual modes. The app offers features such as audio levels and device notifications, recording format presets, easy check of remaining time, RGB waveform, manual focus with focus peaking, and a lockable UI.
Lux says Kino works especially well with the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max because those devices can shoot Apple Log, but the company says Kino will also work fine with older iPhones.
Users can access Kino for a one-time payment: the app was released on Wednesday at a discounted price of $9.99, with the price expected to drop to $19.99 in the coming days.