Sony Xperia Pro-I as a video camera

Cinema Pro app

Sony first introduced the Cinema Pro app on the Xperia 1 (Mk 1), and we've been trying to explore what it offers every time we've had the chance. It's the most advanced app that Sony has and offers nuanced control over all aspects of the shooting process.

Having said that, there aren't any major differences in the version we find on the Xperia Pro-I, compared to what we had on the latest non-so-Pro Xperias, other than the added provision for switching the aperture on the main camera and the addition of the mic mode in the viewfinder.

Cinema Pro UI

Cinema Pro unlocks frame rates and resolutions not available in the basic app, including 4K up to 120fps, albeit in 21:9 aspect ratio - that's really the only ratio in this app. You get the final say on the shutter speed (which you pick by shutter angle), ISO and f-stop (where applicable), as well as white balance and 'look' - sort of like a color profile of which there are a bunch (Venice CS, Opaque/BU60YE60, Bright/BU20YE60, and so on). A -2 to +2EV indicator scale in the bottom left of the viewfinder will tell you how far off you are from the metered exposure level.

Settings

One of Cinema Pro's most useful features is the ability to rack focus between pre-set focus distances (A-B) with control over the duration of the transition. There's also tap to focus functionality, but there's no tracking, so if your subject moves within the frame, the phone won't follow it - instead, it will focus on whatever is in the box where you tapped.

One major omission when it comes to focusing aids, and it's a persisting one, is focus peaking. Manual focus would benefit greatly from it, but as it stands, it's a hit-and-miss affair.

There's no change in the availability of Eye AF in Cinema Pro either - you have it for stills in both Photo Pro and in the main camera app's photo mode, but it's not available for video recording in any of the three apps you can use for video yet.

IMPORTANT: Sony did confirm to us that EyeAF and Tracking AF for video will be available in the final retail product. It's just a limitation of our early review sample.

Focusing: A-B racking • Focus pull 'speed' (more like duration) • No eye AF • Tap to focus

You get the option to set a white balance by pointing the phone at a gray card. Additionally, you get sliders for tweaking the WB along the Blue-Amber and Green Magenta axis.

Custom white balance • Sliders for WB too (but no light temperature setting)

The largely unchanged state of the Cinema Pro app and certain seemingly obvious flaws that Sony refuses to address are leaving us a bit disheartened. The app is very feature-rich and has plenty of potential left to tap into, but it's not getting enough attention from the dev team.