Blackmagic Design has released version 3.3 of its free Blackmagic Camera app for iOS, adding Apple Watch remote control, ATEM camera control via the Camera ProDock, support for the new Blackmagic Focus and Zoom Demands, and several bug fixes, including incorrect open gate bit rates and a ProRes RAW recording issue.
Since launching for iPhone at IBC 2023, the app has evolved into something that increasingly resembles a professional camera system when paired with the right hardware. Version 3.3 continues that trajectory, particularly for users who have adopted the Blackmagic Camera ProDock that launched alongside the iPhone 17 Pro last September.
Image credit: Blackmagic DesignApple Watch companion app
The headline addition is a companion app for Apple Watch that lets operators remotely control and monitor the iPhone camera from their wrist. This is a practical solution for situations where the iPhone is mounted out of reach, whether on a gimbal, a car rig, or overhead, and physically touching it would introduce camera shake.
Image credit: Blackmagic DesignATEM camera control and Focus/Zoom Demands
Version 3.3 brings ATEM camera control when connected via the Camera ProDock. With the ProDock linked to an ATEM Mini over a single HDMI cable, operators can remotely adjust white balance, ISO, and shutter, trigger recording, and apply DaVinci primary color correction for camera matching during live production. The update also adds support for Blackmagic’s Focus and Zoom Demands, which connect via USB-C to the ProDock and can be daisy-chained with a single cable. These provide broadcast-style physical lens control with customizable buttons, letting operators adjust focus and zoom without taking their hands off the tripod handles.
Image credit: Blackmagic DesignAdditional features and bug fixes
The update includes support for full-screen portrait mode, HDMI output, and ProRes RAW stabilization in iOS 26.1 and above. The front camera on iPhone 17 now supports both portrait and landscape orientation without requiring physical rotation.
On the fix side, Blackmagic has addressed a possible issue recording ProRes RAW from the front lens, resolved preview lag when using the Camera ProDock as an audio source, and corrected open gate H.264 and H.265 recordings using incorrect bit rates.
Blackmagic Camera 3.3 for iOS is available now as a free download from the Apple App Store. For more information, visit Blackmagic Design’s website.
Are you using the Blackmagic Camera app in your productions? Does Apple Watch control or ATEM integration change how you deploy iPhones on set? Let us know in the comments below!