18 September 2025
18 mins read

Blackmagic Camera ProDock Supercharges the iPhone 17 Pro for Filmmaking

Blackmagic Camera ProDock Supercharges the iPhone 17 Pro for Filmmaking
  • Transforms iPhone into a pro video rig: The Blackmagic Camera ProDock (≈$299) turns Apple’s iPhone Pro models into fully rigged production cameras, adding a full-size HDMI output, BNC genlock and timecode inputs, multiple USB-C ports, 3.5mm audio I/O, and 12V DC power input provideocoalition.com cined.com. It effectively gives the iPhone all the connections you’d expect on a cinema camera.
  • Announced at IBC 2025: Debuted on September 12 at IBC, shortly after Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro launch. Apple even highlighted the ProDock during its keynote – noting that the new iPhone’s genlock feature is supported via Blackmagic’s dock appleinsider.com. Blackmagic says the unit is available now through the Apple Store and resellers (for around $295–$299) cined.com appleinsider.com.
  • Harnesses iPhone’s new Pro video features: Designed for the iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max (and compatible with 15/16 Pro models sans genlock), the ProDock works with Blackmagic’s Camera app to enable advanced capabilities like external ProRes RAW recording and true genlock sync for multi-cam setups petapixel.com nofilmschool.com. It also supports Apple Log capture and direct USB-C SSD recording, tapping into the latest iPhone’s ability to shoot high-quality ProRes video and Log gamma footage.
  • Full array of ports and power: The dock provides a full HDMI output for on-set monitoring, twin BNC connectors (for genlock and timecode in), three USB-C ports (two USB 3.2 for fast SSDs and one USB 2.0 for peripherals), plus 3.5mm audio input and output and a locking 12V DC power jack cined.com cined.com. An included 60W power supply can run the iPhone and accessories simultaneously apple.com apple.com. Standard 1/4″-20 mounting points on top and bottom make it easy to attach the ProDock to cages, rigs, or tripods apple.com cined.com.
  • Unique in the market: Compared to typical iPhone camera cages and gimbals, the ProDock is the first accessory to offer professional broadcast-style connectivity on a phone. Other rigs like SmallRig’s cages or Beastgrip’s adapters focus on mounting lenses and mics but lack built-in electronics. Even Moment’s new SuperCage (a ~$225 iPhone cage with an integrated USB-C hub) provides multiple ports – HDMI, dual USB 3.2, 3.5mm jacks, SD card slot, etc. appleinsider.com appleinsider.com – yet none of these solutions offer genlock or timecode sync. The ProDock stands out by enabling multi-camera synchronization and other high-end features previously impossible on a smartphone cined.com cined.com.
  • Made for mobile filmmakers and pros: By eliminating the iPhone’s connectivity bottlenecks, the ProDock lets creators use iPhones in professional workflows without workarounds cined.com. It allows external monitors and viewfinders for directors, clean audio input from XLR mics (via 3.5mm or adapter), continuous power for long shoots, and frame-accurate sync across multiple cameras or LED wall backdrops. This opens up new use cases – from indie filmmakers shooting with a phone, to multi-cam “bullet time” arrays, to virtual production with flicker-free LED volumes cined.com appleinsider.com. Industry experts note that iPhones were already being used on high-end sets in niche roles, and every improvement that makes them integrate more seamlessly is a big deal petapixel.com.

Turning the iPhone Into a Pro Production Camera

Apple’s latest Pro iPhones have blurred the line between phone and professional camera, and Blackmagic Design’s Camera ProDock pushes that trend into new territory. Announced at IBC 2025, the ProDock is a dock-style accessory that attaches via USB-C and gives the iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max a host of pro-grade ports and connections, essentially “rigging out” the phone for serious filmmaking provideocoalition.com. Blackmagic’s goal is to make it much easier to use an iPhone as a fully featured production camera: the dock works in tandem with the Blackmagic Camera app for iOS to support external timecode sync, genlock, professional audio, external SSD recording, and more nofilmschool.com nofilmschool.com. The result is an iPhone that can interface with standard film gear and multi-camera setups just like a traditional cinema camera.

Notably, Apple itself gave the ProDock a spotlight during the iPhone 17 launch. Apple’s SVP Greg Joswiak explained that the 17 Pro models introduce genlock support for ultra-precise multi-cam sync, “enabling advanced filmmaking techniques like time‑splicing or bullet time” – and he specifically noted that “genlock is supported via the new Blackmagic Camera ProDock” appleinsider.com appleinsider.com. In other words, Apple built new pro video features into the iPhone, and Blackmagic was ready with hardware to unlock them on day one. The ProDock was officially released the same week as the iPhone 17, at a price of $295 USD (Apple’s store lists it at $299.95) cined.com appleinsider.com. It’s compatible with iPhone 15 Pro and 16 Pro models as well (minus the genlock function, which only the 17 Pro/Max support in hardware) provideocoalition.com provideocoalition.com.

“iPhone has become an incredibly powerful tool for filmmaking and with new features like genlock, the possibilities continue to expand. The new Blackmagic Camera ProDock brings even more flexibility by adding the professional connections filmmakers expect from a cinema camera to iPhone. When used with Blackmagic Camera, customers also get digital film camera controls, making it the perfect device for multicam and virtual productions. We can’t wait to see how customers are now able to use iPhone in their productions!”Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO nofilmschool.com

Blackmagic’s CEO Grant Petty underscores why the ProDock matters: it lets filmmakers treat an iPhone more like a true cinema camera, complete with all the requisite I/O and control. In essence, the dock removes the need for a tangle of adapters or improvised solutions. “Blackmagic’s pitch is straightforward: remove the connectivity bottlenecks that typically keep phones off professional sets,” as one industry write-up noted cined.com. By doing so, an iPhone can slot into high-end productions as a “powerful production tool that fits seamlessly into high-end studio and on-set environments,” to quote Blackmagic’s own messaging petapixel.com petapixel.com. Whether it’s used as a compact B-cam in a feature film, an action camera alternative, or even an A-camera for mobile journalism and indie projects, the souped-up iPhone can now interface with the same monitors, audio gear, and sync systems as the rest of the crew.

Design and Full Specs: All the Pro Connections on a Phone

Physically, the Camera ProDock is a slim black unit (about 16.3 cm × 6.6 cm, ~270 g) that you can mount to a rig or tripod via 1/4″-20 screws on its top and bottom apple.com cined.com. A short integrated USB-C cable (about 30 cm long) plugs into the iPhone’s port to feed all the signals in and out apple.com. Rather than trying to cradle the phone itself, the dock is meant to be rigged as part of a camera setup – for example, bolted under a cage or onto a handle, connected by the USB-C tether. Blackmagic includes a 1/4″-20 adapter in the box, along with a 12V/5A power supply and international plug adapters for global use apple.com apple.com.

Once connected, the ProDock greatly expands the iPhone’s connectivity:

  • Full-Size HDMI Output: Provides a clean video feed to an external monitor, recorder, or EVF, at up to 4K resolution. This allows proper on-set monitoring and video village setups. Instead of relying on the iPhone’s screen or wireless AirPlay, crews can run a cable to any standard HDMI display for focus pulling, framing, and playback blackmagicdesign.com blackmagicdesign.com. It’s a standard Type-A HDMI port, solving the nuisance of Lightning/USB-C dongles that mobile shooters used in the past.
  • Genlock & Timecode (BNC x2): Two BNC jacks on the dock accept Genlock In and Timecode In signals, respectively cined.com cined.com. Genlock enables the iPhone’s camera sensor to sync its frame rate precisely with other cameras or a switcher, which is crucial in multi-cam live productions or when filming LED projector walls (to avoid flicker/tearing) blackmagicdesign.com blackmagicdesign.com. Timecode input lets the iPhone stamp its recordings with matching SMPTE timecode for easy syncing in post with footage from other cameras cined.com cined.com. (On the iPhone 17 Pro, Apple opened up new APIs to allow this level of sync; on older models the BNC ports still support timecode, but genlock sync is only active on the 17 Pro/Max provideocoalition.com provideocoalition.com.)
  • Three USB-C Ports: The dock essentially acts as a USB-C expansion hub. It has two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports dedicated to high-speed storage – ideal for plugging in external SSDs and capturing video straight to disk blackmagicdesign.com blackmagicdesign.com. (Apple enabled direct recording to external media with the iPhone 15 Pro, because ProRes at 4K/60fps produces huge files that the internal storage can barely handle 9to5mac.com.) A third USB-C port (USB 2.0 bandwidth) is there for tethered accessories like control interfaces, lens motors, or even an external audio interface blackmagicdesign.com blackmagicdesign.com. You could, for example, connect a focus puller’s remote or a DJI follow-focus via USB. The dock’s intelligent power distribution ensures all attached USB devices and the phone stay powered when you feed the 12V input blackmagicdesign.com blackmagicdesign.com.
  • Dual 3.5mm Audio Jacks: The ProDock includes separate microphone input and headphone output minijacks (both 3.5mm stereo) blackmagicdesign.com blackmagicdesign.com. This means you can plug in any standard shotgun mic, wireless lav receiver, or XLR adapter (via a 3.5mm TRS cable) to record high-quality audio, while simultaneously monitoring sound through professional headphones. It’s a big upgrade from the single Lightning/USB-C port that forced iPhone users to choose between audio or charging. With the dock, one port handles power/storage and the dedicated jacks handle audio in/out, enabling proper on-set audio monitoring without latency blackmagicdesign.com.
  • Locking DC Power Input: A 12V DC input on the side accepts the included AC adapter or any 12–15V source (like a cinema battery or D-Tap from a V-mount) apple.com apple.com. Uniquely, this is a locking barrel connector, so it won’t get accidentally unplugged on set. Through this jack, the dock can power itself, charge the iPhone, and also pass power to all connected USB accessories simultaneously apple.com cined.com. In practice, this allows unlimited run time and the use of power-hungry add-ons (such as an external monitor or LED light connected via USB) without draining the phone. Blackmagic explicitly designed the power system for “long takes and more complex rigs without juggling power banks or hubs” cined.com cined.com. Of course, you can still run the setup off the iPhone’s internal battery for a while – but for extended shoots or heavy load, plugging in 12V makes it behave like any other powered camera rig.

All of these connections are laid out clearly on the dock’s chassis, with status LEDs (for example, a Genlock sync indicator) and engraved labels blackmagicdesign.com blackmagicdesign.com. Build-quality wise, Blackmagic is known for solid metal enclosures, and the ProDock appears to follow suit – it’s built to be rig-ready, meaning it can be bolted onto professional grip gear and not dangle or wobble. The device itself doesn’t have any controls or battery; it’s purely an expansion interface for the phone. Blackmagic ensured tight integration with their Camera App, so all the advanced recording options and settings are accessible on-screen while the dock handles the physical I/O nofilmschool.com nofilmschool.com. In short, the ProDock turns the iPhone from a standalone “naked” device into a modular cinema camera brain, able to accept lenses (via separate cage/adapters) and output to the same field monitors, audio mixers, and timecode systems used by high-end cameras.

Taking Advantage of iPhone 15/17 Pro Video Capabilities

The emergence of a product like the Camera ProDock is a direct result of Apple’s recent push into professional video with the iPhone. The iPhone 15 Pro series (2023) was a turning point: Apple added a USB-C port with USB 3.0 speeds, enabled ProRes video recording up to 4K at 60fps, and even introduced an Apple Log color profile for greater dynamic range 9to5mac.com 9to5mac.com. Creators discovered that by plugging in external SSDs, they could bypass storage limits and record high-bitrate ProRes 4:2:2 footage (which can exceed 6 GB per minute) straight to an external drive 9to5mac.com. The iPhone 15 Pro’s USB-C also allowed basic HDMI output (with an adapter) and microphone input (via dongles), hinting at the iPhone’s potential as a video workhorse.

Building on that foundation, the iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max (2025) took things to another level for filmmakers. Apple upgraded the camera system and, importantly, became the first smartphone to support ProRes RAW recording (a even more grading-friendly codec) and to offer Genlock capability for multi-camera sync apple.com apple.com. They also rolled out a second-generation Log profile (“Log 2”) and support for the ACES color management standard, aligning the iPhone’s color pipeline with Hollywood workflows apple.com. These additions mean the iPhone 17 Pro can capture footage that slots more easily into professional post-production alongside cinema camera footage. However, using those features in practice (especially genlock) requires the kind of hardware interface the phone alone doesn’t have – which is exactly what the ProDock delivers. Blackmagic’s dock essentially unlocks the iPhone 17 Pro’s flagship video features: ProRes RAW recording up to 4K (enabled via the Blackmagic or Apple’s Final Cut camera apps) and genlock sync via the BNC port petapixel.com nofilmschool.com.

For instance, without a dock you could still record Log ProRes on an iPhone and color-grade it – but you’d be stuck monitoring on the phone screen and relying on its internal mics. With the ProDock, you can output a Log video feed to a calibrated reference monitor on set (allowing the DP and DIT to see an accurate image or apply a LUT), while also capturing sound from pro audio gear. Likewise, genlock was just a concept until now – an iPhone on its own has no BNC port, but iPhone 17’s OS will listen to an external sync signal if provided. The ProDock provides that pathway, making the iPhone 17 Pro one of the smallest devices ever to support genlock. “Whether using multiple cameras or on‑screen graphics, genlock allows you to quickly and easily get the most out of your video… without hours of manual alignment,” Apple’s Joswiak explained of the feature appleinsider.com. Thanks to Blackmagic, implementing that on a phone is no longer theoretical.

It’s worth noting that the ProDock also benefits owners of the iPhone 15 Pro and 16 Pro: While those older models can’t sync frame-rate via genlock, they can use everything else the dock offers (HDMI, timecode sync, USB expansion, audio, etc.) provideocoalition.com provideocoalition.com. For example, an indie creator with an iPhone 15 Pro can still rig it with the ProDock to record long takes to an SSD in ProRes, feed a client monitor, and get timecode stamped on footage for post – dramatically improving the phone’s usability on set. Essentially, if you have an iPhone 15/16 Pro shooting in Log, the ProDock and Blackmagic Camera app let you treat it like a mini Blackmagic cinema camera, even uploading files straight to Blackmagic Cloud for editing in DaVinci Resolve blackmagicdesign.com blackmagicdesign.com. The synergy between Apple’s pro video advancements and Blackmagic’s ecosystem (Camera app, DaVinci Resolve, etc.) is very deliberate. In fact, Blackmagic’s Camera app for iOS was launched in 2023 precisely to bring their URSA/Pocket Cinema Camera interface and Blackmagic RAW codec to smartphones. With the ProDock added, that app-hardware combo turns an iPhone into a true part of the Blackmagic camera family.

How the ProDock Stacks Up Against Other iPhone Rigs

It’s important to put the Camera ProDock in context with other popular mobile filmmaking accessories. In recent years, a cottage industry has grown around turning phones into better cameras – from simple tripod mounts to elaborate cages with grips, lenses, and microphones. However, Blackmagic’s ProDock is in a class of its own because of the level of connectivity and synchronization it brings. Most other iPhone rigs focus on optics and stabilization rather than full I/O integration.

SmallRig and Beastgrip, for example, are two well-known brands that make cages and rigs for smartphones. A typical SmallRig iPhone cage is a metal frame that wraps around the phone, giving you 1/4″ threads, cold shoe mounts, and sometimes detachable handles or an anamorphic lens mount. These are great for improving ergonomics and attaching LED lights or shotgun mics, but they do not add any data ports – they rely on the phone’s existing port and typically still require Apple dongles for HDMI or audio. Similarly, the Beastgrip Pro is a universal smartphone cage with a heavy-duty build that allows mounting of conversion lenses (wide, tele, DOF adapters) and accessories. Beastgrip even offers a DOF adapter to use SLR lenses on a phone. Yet, again, it provides no additional I/O beyond maybe splitting off a headphone jack (on older iPhones) – it doesn’t have electronics to support timecode, multiple USB devices, etc. In short, traditional cages solve mounting, but not connectivity.

Another category is gimbals like the DJI Osmo Mobile series or Zhiyun’s Smooth stabilizers. These actively stabilize the phone for cinematic movement, and often include a built-in handle/tripod with some controls. They might have a USB port to charge the phone or a bracket to hold a mic, but gimbals trade off expansion for light weight – you won’t find an HDMI or sync port on a smartphone gimbal. In fact, using a full ProDock rig and a gimbal at once would be challenging due to weight. So, gimbals address the stability aspect of mobile shooting, whereas the ProDock addresses the integration into pro workflows. Some filmmakers will combine both (e.g. use an Osmo Mobile for a moving shot, and a ProDock on sticks for static multi-cam shots).

Perhaps the closest concept to Blackmagic’s ProDock is Moment’s new SuperCage – a Kickstarter-funded pro cage for iPhone and Android that actually includes a USB-C hub. The Moment SuperCage essentially merges a metal camera cage with a powered hub, giving your phone multiple ports when you plug it in. According to Moment/AppleInsider’s review, on the back of the SuperCage you get dual 10 Gbps USB-C data ports, a 3.5mm mic input and headphone output, an SD card reader, and an additional USB-C charging input (up to 100W) appleinsider.com appleinsider.com. It even sneaks a full-size HDMI port on the side, plus another high-speed USB-C on the other side, totaling seven expansion ports in all appleinsider.com appleinsider.com. The SuperCage basically lets you do what many YouTubers have done with dongles (attach an SSD, mic, monitor, etc.), but in a much cleaner, one-piece solution – quite similar to the ProDock’s philosophy. Priced around $225 as of 2025, the SuperCage undercuts Blackmagic’s dock and offers some features the ProDock doesn’t (like the SD card slot for offloading footage and an integrated cage frame). However, the SuperCage lacks Genlock or Timecode sync – it has no BNC or any way to feed a sync signal to the phone. It’s aimed at solo creators who want lots of accessory hookups, whereas Blackmagic’s ProDock skews toward multi-camera productions and studio use, where synchronization and continuous power are vital.

In summary, no competing accessory yet offers the full “broadcast camera” I/O suite that the ProDock does. Blackmagic essentially identified a niche – high-end productions using iPhones – and delivered a dock that brings the iPhone up to spec for those scenarios. It complements (rather than replaces) the other gear: you might still use a SmallRig cage to mount the ProDock and phone together securely, and you might snap on a Moment anamorphic lens for creative flair, or put the whole rig on a DJI gimbal if needed. In fact, Blackmagic deliberately kept the ProDock fairly slim and mountable, so it can be one component of a larger rig. As one No Film School editor put it, the dock “helps unlock all the connections users need to build a custom rig for their video setup” and support the highest-end app features like ProRes RAW nofilmschool.com nofilmschool.com. It’s likely we’ll see cinematographers mix-and-match these tools – e.g. an iPhone 17 Pro in a Moment SuperCage for handheld work, and the same phone on a tripod with ProDock for a multi-cam shoot where genlock is required. The good news is filmmakers now have options at different price points. Blackmagic entering this space also validates it: it signals that professional mobile filmmaking is not just a gimmick, but a growing market.

Why It Matters: New Possibilities for Filmmakers and Creators

The Blackmagic Camera ProDock may seem like a niche gadget – after all, casual iPhone users aren’t clamoring for BNC connectors on their phone. But for the film and video community, this device represents a significant convergence of mobile and professional tools. It addresses longstanding pain points that kept iPhones as “last resort” cameras on set. As CineD noted, the ProDock extends the iPhone’s IO to industry-standard ports so crews can “sync multiple cameras, feed proper monitors, attach mics and [headphones], and record straight to fast external storage while powering the whole rig” cined.com cined.com. Those are exactly the capabilities that, up until now, only dedicated cinema cameras could do reliably.

For independent filmmakers, the ProDock lowers the barrier to achieving multi-cam shoots and high-quality results with iPhones. Imagine a small documentary team that can only afford iPhones – with a couple of iPhone 17 Pros and ProDocks, they could sync all cameras with timecode, run them all day plugged into AC, and feed a director’s monitor, just like a pro TV crew. Or consider an indie film using an iPhone for a tight space shot – now that iPhone can accept the same timecode as the ARRI Alexa A-cam, making the editor’s job in post much easier. “Every hardware and software advancement that makes the iPhone fit even more easily into a professional workflow matters,” a PetaPixel report observed, noting that high-end productions have already been using iPhones for specialized shots petapixel.com. The ProDock is exactly that kind of advancement.

For mobile content creators (YouTubers, solo videographers, etc.), the ProDock + iPhone combo offers a lightweight alternative to lugging a mirrorless camera with an external recorder and audio interface. They can film in ProRes or even ProRes RAW on a phone, get better audio by using an XLR mic through an adapter, and quickly transfer footage via an SSD or SD card. Plus, using the Blackmagic Camera app, they can upload footage to cloud or even control multiple iPhones from one interface. It essentially brings the “professional camcorder” experience to a device that fits in your pocket when not rigged. No Film School mused that you could easily use an iPhone+ProDock as a B-cam for feature film or a run-and-gun camera for news, capturing a cinematic image without drawing attention blackmagicdesign.com blackmagicdesign.com. The fact that the entire Apple iPhone 17 launch video was reportedly shot on iPhone 17 Pro cameras speaks volumes to the capability — now imagine those iPhones on set, each tethered to a ProDock for reliable monitoring and sync. It’s a new paradigm.

One area the ProDock specifically targets is virtual production and LED wall filmmaking. In LED volume shoots (think The Mandalorian-style sets), cameras must genlock to the screen’s refresh to avoid visual artifacts. Traditionally you’d need a high-end camera with genlock – now an iPhone 17 Pro with a ProDock can step into that role blackmagicdesign.com cined.com. This could be a game-changer for virtual production workflows on a budget, or for previz. Similarly, multi-camera live events or concerts could theoretically incorporate some iPhones as additional angles, knowing they can be genlocked and fed into a switcher with no fuss.

The response to the ProDock at IBC 2025 was reportedly very enthusiastic. Glenn Lightbody, Blackmagic’s EMEA director, noted that “more and more people [are] adopting iPhone technology to tell their stories… the ProDock gives filmmakers more options than ever before, without being hindered by connectivity” ibc.org. He said there was a “real buzz on the stand” from attendees excited by the product ibc.org. It even snagged a few Best of Show mentions in media round-ups. This positive reception suggests that professionals were waiting for a solution like this. By coming from a respected cinema gear manufacturer (Blackmagic Design) rather than a DIY hack, the ProDock carries credibility into film studios.

From a broader perspective, Blackmagic’s Camera ProDock is significant because it further legitimizes mobile filmmaking in professional circles. Just a decade ago, the idea of using an iPhone on a high-end production might have drawn scoffs; today, with 4K sensors, advanced apps, and now pro-level accessories, it’s increasingly common. We’ve seen feature films (like the Sundance hit Tangerine and others) shot on iPhone, as well as Netflix-approved documentaries using iPhones for tight spots. The ProDock will likely accelerate this trend by removing technical barriers. As Grant Petty said, it brings “the connections filmmakers expect from a cinema camera to iPhone” nofilmschool.com – meaning filmmakers don’t have to compromise on infrastructure just because they’re using a phone. Apple’s strategy has been to market the iPhone Pro as a serious creative tool, and with third-party gear like the ProDock, that marketing becomes reality for filmmakers.

In conclusion, the Blackmagic Camera ProDock is a compelling new tool that bridges the gap between mobile and cinema production. It empowers the iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max to serve not just as a convenient camera, but as part of a synchronized, externally monitored, and properly powered camera system on set. For content creators, it offers an all-in-one solution to build a professional rig around the best smartphone camera. For film and TV crews, it means an iPhone can be deployed as a lightweight POV or crash cam without losing the syncing, monitoring, and power features they rely on. This dock shows how far mobile imaging has come – that a phone can be the centerpiece of a high-end rig – and points to an exciting future where the lines between “phone camera” and “pro camera” are increasingly blurred. Filmmakers and mobile creators should definitely keep an eye on this development, as it opens up new creative flexibility and could spark a wave of innovation in the mobile filmmaking accessories market.

Sources:

Master Blackmagic iPhone Camera App - FULL Guide tutorial
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