Kino: Pro Video Camera

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Overall reception

  • Many commenters praise Kino’s design, UX, and one-time purchase pricing; several report “insta-buy” even if they don’t shoot much video.
  • Others are unconvinced they personally need it, especially casual shooters satisfied with Apple’s Camera app.

Platform & hardware constraints

  • iOS-only; several Android users express frustration and request an Android version.
  • Developers (in-thread) cite iPhone camera API quirks and fragmentation even within iOS as a reason to avoid Android’s much larger fragmentation.
  • Multiple people note you really want an iPhone 15/15 Pro for Apple Log and ProRes; without Log, results won’t match the marketing examples.

Feature set & workflow

  • Strengths: on-device grading of Apple Log, nice “grades,” AutoMotion for shutter/exposure, manual focus, focus peaking (currently always on), LUT import, good UI.
  • Missing or requested: timecode, manual white balance, anamorphic de‑squeeze, zebras, more frame rates/aspect ratios, better gimbal integration, interval/auto‑record, real-time de‑squeeze, zoom vs only lens switching, stabilization controls, “record pause.”

Color, Log, and LUTs

  • Broad agreement Log is essential for serious grading; non‑Log footage loses highlight/shadow latitude.
  • Debate over whether Kino is “just LUTs” vs meaningful grading; extended side-discussion on what professional color grading involves and the limits of LUT‑only workflows.
  • Some find marketing before/after examples misleading because the “before” is flat Log that no one watches ungraded.

Comparisons to other apps

  • Frequent comparison to Blackmagic Camera (free). Blackmagic is seen as more feature‑rich for pros but focused on capture for Resolve workflows; Kino’s differentiator is simple, on‑device grading.
  • MotionCam Pro and other Android apps mentioned as rough functional analogues, albeit with uglier UIs.
  • Some see Kino as “Halide for video” or “Hipstamatic for video.”

Pricing, business model, privacy

  • Kino is upfront paid, currently discounted; this is widely appreciated in contrast to “subscriptionware.”
  • Long thread about Halide’s move to subscriptions + expensive lifetime IAP; some feel burned, others defend the model as necessary for sustainability.
  • Kino’s App Store privacy label shows “data not collected”; crash reporting is via Apple’s opt‑in system only.

Stability & bugs

  • Numerous crash reports on iPhone 12/13 mini and some other models, often when using certain grades (e.g., B&W).
  • Developers acknowledge camera-API landmines, say a fix is in progress, and are using TestFlight to verify.

Legal, naming, and marketing

  • Some concern about use of iconic movie stills (The Matrix, Blade Runner, Con Air) on the marketing page; others argue fair use and obvious non‑association.
  • “Kino” name sparks discussion (means “cinema” in many languages; also associated with Kinoflo lights and internet slang).
  • Separate concern that “Kodiak” branding for a card UI looks uncomfortably close to “Kodak.”
  • A few call out typos, heavy copy, and “show, don’t tell” inconsistency; others love the main site and lack of heavy scroll-jacking.