If you’ve ever wished your iPhone could swiftly shoot video for a wide YouTube frame and transition it to a narrow IG frame without losing quality all on iPhone, you’ll love Open Gate. In simple terms, Open Gate records using the entire image sensor rather than a cropped aspect ratio, giving you more resolution, flexibility, and creative freedom in post-production. This feature has long been exclusive to high-end cinema cameras, allowing filmmakers to reframe shots, crop for different formats, or maximize detail for visual effects.

Now, it’s making its way into mobile filmmaking, bringing pro-level versatility straight to your pocket. In this guide, we’ll break down what Open Gate does, why it matters for iPhone creators, and how to get the most out of it using SANDMARC lenses and filters.

The iPhone typically records 16:9 video by cropping its 4:3 image sensor, which limits vertical information. With Open Gate, you can now use the full sensor area, capturing more detail both vertically and horizontally. This format is ideal for creators who share content across multiple platforms, since it provides extra flexibility to crop and reframe between horizontal, vertical, and square formats.

Shooting in Open Gate allows you to capture higher resolution footage with greater dynamic range, preserving detail in both highlights and shadows. By using the full sensor, you gain a more natural field of view and the flexibility to crop and reframe for platforms like YouTube, Instagram Reels, and TikTok, all from one master clip.

This approach not only enhances cinematic composition but also streamlines your workflow. Pro tip: Shoot in Open Gate and export custom aspect ratios later to optimize your footage across multiple platforms.

Anamorphic Lens: Anamorphic Lens lets you achieve cinema-grade visuals straight from your iPhone.

Wide Lens: Pairing Open Gate with SANDMARC’s Wide Lens delivers expansive, true-to-life depth perfect for landscapes and architecture.

Telephoto 2x, 6x, or 10x Lens: Create cinematic compression and tighter framing that feels straight out of a film.

*We recommend pairing the lenses with the Creator Grip and Hybrid Mount, which allow you to mount an SSD card while capturing.

Use DaVinci Resolve to export your video for extensive editing.

Recommended aspect ratios to try:

1. Larger file sizes with Open Gate so be sure to use high-speed storage or SSDs.
2. Slightly reduced stabilization (due to less crop room).
3. App compatibility (some apps don’t support full Open Gate metadata yet).
4. Battery life and temperature can impact long shoots, but with the new cooling chamber on the iPhone 17 Pro, your device should handle extended sessions much better.

Open Gate marks a major step forward for iPhone filmmakers, giving creators access to the same full-sensor flexibility once reserved for cinema cameras. It’s more than just a new recording mode, it’s a way to future-proof your footage for any platform or project.

Whether you’re reframing a cinematic landscape for YouTube or cropping a vertical cut for Instagram Reels, Open Gate ensures you capture it for every frame. When paired with SANDMARC’s lenses and filters, your iPhone becomes a compact yet powerful filmmaking tool capable of delivering professional-grade results.