If you shoot videos on your iPhone and value color grading, you’ll be happy to know that the award-winning camera app Kino just got a meaningful upgrade. Lux Camera has released Kino 1.4, adding support for Apple Log 2, the improved video format introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro. It’s an update that’s quietly making a difference for serious creators.
What’s new in Cinema 1.4?
The main innovation is support for Apple Log 2. According to the Kino developers, getting there was not as easy as flipping a switch. The Lux team had to expand Kino’s internal components to handle the wider color range, add recognition for different versions of Apple Log, and rework parts of the rendering pipeline. The result is that Kino now captures and processes a wider and more accurate color spectrum directly from Apple’s sensors.
Apple Log 2 improves on its predecessor, especially in its handling of colors. While Apple Log offered more control over exposure and contrast, color handling was significantly limited. Instead of listing ranges tailored to the iPhone, Apple Log provided values ​​consistent with those of HDR TVs.
Apple Log 2 addresses this issue by using a color space designed specifically for Apple hardware. The practical difference becomes clear when shooting in difficult lighting conditions, such as fluorescent or blue stage lighting, where the original protocol would waste data on colors that the sensor could not capture.
Lux also points out that both Kino and its photography app Halide now use the same Apple Gamut color space for image processing, a step toward unifying the rendering system between the two apps.
Why should you care about this update?
If you’re a casual iPhone shooter, you might not notice the difference. However, if you color correct your footage and shoot in difficult lighting conditions, Apple Log 2 provides more accurate data to work with and delivers better results in post-production.
Kino 1.4 is now available in the App Store as a free update for existing Kino users. If you want to get the most out of your iPhone’s video camera, it’s worth downloading a free upgrade.
