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House of Mars has released version 2.2.1 of Pearla, their professional camera app for iPhone, adding more advanced color options and giving mobile filmmakers greater control over tone mapping. Here’s a quick look at what the app does and what the latest update adds.
There are a handful of solid phone camera apps out there, including options like the Mavis Camera App for iPhone, which offers a plethora of features, direct streaming, and frame.io C2C, or the Blackmagic Camera app, which allows for remote collaboration through the Blackmagic cloud. What sets Pearla apart is its direct sensor access and color-managed workflow – features that offer more control than some other iPhone camera apps.
Pearla Pro Filmic includes features like real-time cinematic grain, true film emulation, Log photography, and open-gate video recording. Yet, it’s a camera app that takes a different approach – it delivers a cleaner, less processed image for those who want to color grade or fine-tune in post.
The app was originally built for photographers looking for a neutral, user-controlled color workflow, and it has since evolved into a serious tool for filmmakers. It remains the only iPhone app to integrate a full color-managed pipeline, open-gate video, and manual dynamic tone mapping – even in Rec. 709. (Until now, disabling dynamic tone mapping on iPhones required using Apple Log.)
In a nutshell, the Pearla Pro Filmic camera app offers some unique features, and with the update, these now include additional Log profiles and manual control over dynamic tone mapping. However, nothing is perfect, and not all features are available for all iPhone models. Plus, Pearla uses a subscription model, which may be a drawback for those who are already feeling overwhelmed by too many app subscriptions.
It’s also important to note that performance is device-specific, with Base, Standard, and Pro features as follows:
Base Performance (iPhone XS through iPhone 12 Pro)
Standard Performance (iPhone 13 through iPhone 14 Pro)
High-End Performance (iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro, and newer)
Performance Notes
Pearla Pro Filmic 2.2.1 is available now on the App Store and requires iOS 17.2 or later. A free trial is available, and subscription prices are 1-month for $3.99, 3-months for $9.99, and 1-year for $24.99 (prices vary by region).
This is a more advanced app to use, so you might want to see how it works before downloading – the User Manual is very informative. More information on the features can be found on the Pearla website.
What do you think of the Pearla app for the iPhone? If you’ve tried it or are considering it, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!
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A camera was put in my hands at 16, and I’ve been taking photographs ever since. Before moving to Vienna, I worked as a photographer on film sets, telling stories as they unfolded behind the scenes. Since then, I’ve focused on immersive theater, both as a photographer and an actor. I am the photographer for the award-winning Nesterval ensemble, documenting the energy and atmosphere of their performances. I’m a teller of stories. Stories hold my interest. I’ll take on any project with a story to tell.