Xperia recently teamed up with professional filmmaker Dennis Schmelz to create a cinematic video using only the Xperia 1 IV. Dennis was blown away by the results – a stunning masterpiece showcasing f alpine beauty shot for the very first time with Xperia 1 IV soaring into the sky on a drone using a 3D printed mount.

Taken in Crans Montana in Switzerland, Xperia 1 IV had many advantages, due to the size and weight of the smartphone (just 185g) Dennis was able to utilise a race drone for enhanced creative footage at speed and height. Using 4K recording to chase after paragliders, the internal stabiliser meant no loss of quality producing beautifully smooth footage. Whilst the option of three lenses; 16mm ultrawide, 24mm wide and telephoto optical zoom lens from 85 to 125mm, meant he was able to capture a huge variety of scenes without the need to carry additional heavy equipment up and down the slopes.

The UI menu of Xperia 1 IV played to the professional strengths of Dennis with the ability to choose manual settings including ISO, shutter speed, white balance and record in 4K 120fps for cinematic slow motion which showcased the stunning ice, scenery and movement of thrill seekers in the Alps. Shooting in the bright glare of the snow filled mountains can pose problematic but Dennis found the brightness and quality of the Xperia 4K HDR OLED display to be an advantage in these conditions with the ability to see everything clearly.

A true filmmaker’s companion, Xperia 1 IV stepped up to the challenge with a visual creation that makes you question what you’re seeing with your own eyes – was this truly created by a smartphone? You can check out Dennis’ Switzerland adventure for Xperia here:

A full interview with Dennis along with the full cinematic video can be viewed on Alpha Universe here: https://www.sony.co.uk/alphauniverse/stories/cinematic-filmmaking-with-the-xperia-1-iv