Best SSD for shooting iPhone 15/16 Pro video? | Lexar Go!

[@kilianonline]

What a time to be alive. That's all I have to say.

[@Leesboringlife]

I got it with the hub… it works great and the hub is very useful for connecting the ssd and dji mic. The cold shoe adapter cable makes the setup easy.

[@philipp_kunte]

I was about to order one, but since I also use a Moment case, that makes it a deal breaker! Thanks for the heads up 🙌

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Glad yours worked. I ordered one and the SSD was DOA. Poor QC.

[@iphoneographers]

That sucks, did you get it from B&H? I ordered mine from Kickstarter but then they had B&H do the fulfillment.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

@@iphoneographers Amazon

[@cayman2010]

Enjoyed this video. Gave me a few good ideas.

[@hummersd]

Use the included U-adapter with the drive and it works fine. It also puts the drive on the back of the phone which makes for a nice grip, rather than the drive being attached at the end of the phone that can get accidentally knocked. I don't know about what thickness of case is the maximum, but with Apple's silicone case, it works just fine.

[@iphoneographers]

Yeah I note that in the video, both things you’re talking about. But the adapter doesn’t work with the Moment case or any case I have. So it will vary depending on the design or brand.

[@xderiwx]

Looks like a great unit overall, but I can't believe they overlooked the fitment with a case on! You mentioned the Samsung T7 working when it had a different cable. Can you let us know what cable that is, or suggest some of similar specs that you know would work? Thanks!

[@iphoneographers]

Yeah I think it’s case dependent, some cases that are very thin or have an open bottom will work, but the ones like Moment etc. that I have don’t. You need 10Gbps or more, so a cable like this 20Gbps amzn.to/49eKhVY Samsung says, “cables must support USB 3.2 Gen 2 and the UASP mode must be enabled.” So the included cable should work, but I had trouble not sure why.

[@dpaolaphoto]

I think the best option so far is to use with a cage or a grip on the cold shoe cable. that case is plug and play one cable and done. ssd, mic, energy.

[@bilbobaggins4913]

The critical question for me was wether the right angle usbc connector goes in ok with the case allowing the drive to sit on the back without the hub……will find out later when mine turns up I guess

[@iphoneographers]

Didn’t work with the Moment case, thus the reason I used the cable. Have heard reports it does work with some other brands though (that I assume are thinner cases or have a cleaner opening).

[@jsav3562]

That is a bit of a glaring error not accommodating for the case. To get around the case issue could you not use a USB-C adapter with a very small cable, plus a magnetic stickers on the Lexar and phone to keep it in place?

[@iphoneographers]

Yeah I’m sure some adapter setups will work, but USB-C ones that came with the SSD didn’t. I’m going to test some more cases.

[@gabricks1224]

If i'm being honest here, using apple log to reduce oversharpening, you kinda don't need a mist filter

[@razfilmstv]

wonder if other cases would allow the drive to fit? Like a Smallrig?

[@iphoneographers]

Have heard reports that some other cases it will work, but the ones I have it doesn’t.

[@videoprof11]

I have a Small rig cage and it works fine.

[@LouisLuzuka]

Do you know how to have ssd and have usb c mic and usb c power delivery 😮

[@LouisLuzuka]

Oh there’s a hub

[@iphoneographers]

Yep, with the hub. :)

[@bennielaars]

Helpful video. I have seen the Lexar but it's a bit too expensive for me. I’m considering the Kingston XS1000 2Tb

[@iphoneographers]

Haven’t used that one, but the Samsung T7 or T9 drives also work well just make sure you have the proper cable.

[@tokiomitohsaka7770]

Personally I’m hesitant buying Kingston SSDs because of their history of spec swap. In 2014, they released an SSD, and reviews found that it performed well for the price, then they changed the NAND chips to ones that are half the speed without any indication of the change and customers who bought the SSD expecting a certain level of performance were left disappointed. ADATA did something similar in 2020, and I’m pretty sure there was another manufacturer who did something like that.

[@mdturnerinoz]

I got one of these from the Kickstarter campaign. I like it a lot, with the exceptions that you note. I have to add, though, that I have to use this with the Final Cut Pro app versus the Black Magic app, even though I have a one-terabyte iPhone 15 Pro Max. Using Final Cut Pro with internal memory is a pain in the behind. You have to save it to the camera storage from Final Cut Pro and then transfer that with something like PhotoSync, whereas the Black Magic Camera app uses the innate file system. Apple needs to address that. I try to use the file system access to the Final Cut Pro app, but every time I tried to transfer it to my Mac, it failed. I'm not sure what's going on, but I had to use that roundabout method to get my files off. I will be using the LEXR drive next time because that's an external file system.

[@iphoneographers]

I bought this from the Kickstarter campaign as well. Haven’t tried the Final Cut Camera app with it though.

[@TaoCovillault]

I just received mine and it works just fine with the PolarPro LiteChaser case ;) Also the grip already have a cold shoe on top :p The only thing after that is where to put the Rode Wireless Go 2 (note that it wouldn’t be a problem with DJI Mic 2 or Mini…)

[@iphoneographers]

Yeah good deal. Every case will be different, but none of the ones I have worked. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@TaoCovillault]

@@iphoneographers Off course, I just meant to point it out because the Moment and the PolarPro both are oriented toward photography and video. On top of that, I was hesitating for a long time on which ecosystem I would adopt when switching to iphone, just about 2 months ago. I choose PolarPro in the end, but until recently I was not so sure I made the good decision... Moment's VND has a form factor that allows to still use MagSafe accessories, including powerbanks 🙄 But now a lot of user feedbacks are coming up and it seems like Moment's VND is not working properly and crete insanely strong vignettes, rendering some of the lenses totally unusable... So, I am also pointing out that here is another pro for the PolarPro equivalent 😜 Those accessories are expensive and none of them are perfect. I think it's important to be share these kind of informations in between users, because no companies can test their products with every single possible combination of accessories.

[@necron3428]

Can I connect the hub with older iphones using lightning cable?

[@iphoneographers]

No. You can connect different hubs that way though, but not to record video to an SSD - that only works with a USB-C iPhone 15/16 Pro.

[@necron3428]

@ ok thank you for answering

[@antoniodrago.visual]

Ottimo grazie. Funziona solo con l’app Blackmagic?

[@iphoneographers]

It will work with any app that supports going out to an external SSD, even the native camera app.

[@iblackfeathers]

i’ve gone through several moment cases due to quality control issues, first with the side buttons not working and with the case falling apart of time. they are not what they used to be so moved to a nomad peak design case. it’s probably also time to move on because aside from poorer durability and button issues, they changed to a new entire product line system for newer iphones. best time to leave that ecosystem.

[@iphoneographers]

Interesting, that sucks. I’ve had no issues and been using Moment for years. I did get frustrated with them at one point when they didn’t update their lenses, but other than that they’ve been solid. And I particularly like their new QuickLock filters, they’re great.

[@TheGreyPilgrim28]

I guess there’s no way to connect the SSD and an external battery, then?

[@iphoneographers]

You can when using a USB hub. Or a MagSafe battery.

[@KaioshinAemi]

Best SSD is built-in the case

[@iphoneographers]

Cool. Which case?

[@cindysmith6842]

Is there a portable SSD that does work with, in my situation, a Moment case. Not sure why an accessory this expensive doesn’t consider that. Don’t most people protect their phones with some kind of case?

[@iphoneographers]

Evidently some cases do work OK, it just depends the brand and design - but Moment not one of them. The cable works fine though.

[@raymondcardona2635]

I just bought the Lexar Go. I have an IPhone 15 pro. When I go into the Files app, I see a PDF- with instructions, and what looks like an installer package to use the SSD. IT WILL NOT OPEN!...I`m stuck at the 1st step.I have never used the phone for videos. What am I missing?? Out of frustration- I loaded the ssd in my MacBook Air M3 model, and set up the ssd there. I created a password, etc. When I put it on the iPhone, I don`t see anything telling me that the drive is installed. HELP?????

[@iphoneographers]

There’s nothing to actually do you don’t have to worry about that stuff on the drive it just will automatically connect. The app will just see the drive and create a folder there and your files will go inside that or you can pick the folder yourself. Assuming you’re using it to record video? So the native camera app will do it automatically or Blackmagic etc. you manually choose it.

[@raymondcardona2635]

@@iphoneographers I`m trying to shoot video- I used it last night in the iPhone Pro 15 camera app. I don`t see the drive there, but I`m not used to navigating in the settings, I just shoot , and. put the phone down normally--I was hoping to use the drive to store the video files, so I don`t use up my phones memory. I`m not a photographer, I play music

[@robertanthonygroup]

I have this same setup, but you can only record Apple ProRes with this correct? Like you can’t record just plain 4k or 1080 and save it to this SSD? Haven’t figured that out yet.

[@iphoneographers]

You can record other codecs with the Blackmagic Camera app, not the native camera app though.

[@robertanthonygroup]

@ very helpful, thank you!

[@MichaelKrisa]

Talk to me like I'm 6 ... so what you're doing is shooting video but saving to the SSD vs to the iphone? Then when you wish to edit, be it on your phone or ipad, you would connect the SSD to the preferred device to access the files?

[@iphoneographers]

Yep, that’s it. And importantly when you’re shooting ProRes Apple Log the files are huge and in some apps at high frame rate (like 60 or 120) you HAVE to use an SSD - you can’t record to the phone itself.

[@MichaelKrisa]

@ thank you

[@ParveenKumar-dx9sk]

Is samsung ssd t7 shield compatible with i phone 15

[@iphoneographers]

Yes indeed

[@You068]

WOW...

[@JarradShaw]

Blake, did the 180 degree USB-c connector fully fit into the iPhone 16 pro max with Moment’s case to then attach the Lexar SSD? And can you keep the silicone sleeve on the Lexar SSD in this configuration I am asking, or due to the added thickness of Moment’s case do you need to take the protective sleeve off?

[@sergio_spanu]

I'm interested too

[@iphoneographers]

No it didn’t work. I’ve heard reports that it will work with other cases but the Moment or the ReeFlex didn’t work. I don’t have a new Sandmarc case yet but once I get one I’ll test it too. It needs to be a thinner case or some cases are more open at the bottom of the phone. I had a similar problem years ago using the Shure mics or the RODE mics that just plug in directly to the bottom of the phone (with no cable), most wouldn’t work with the cases I had.

[@JarradShaw]

@@iphoneographers well shoot. The Lexar SSD with moments fancy lens was my idea. Maybe Freewell with fancy magnetic lenses and the Lexar SSD will work, or yeah Blake, maybe Sandmarcs. Thanks for trying it out and letting us know.

[@afaccon]

Does the the hub and SSD help the iPhone overcome some of the overheating issues when shooting at 4K? Has anyone run a continuous shooting tests to figure out longest recording times at various frame rates with this setup? How long can you film in a warm environment at 4K 60, 4K 30 at Pro Res LT using the lexar SSD setup? Or do you get longer continuous shooting when using the internally?

[@station-7]

It’s funny buying all these accessories to make the compact phone big and bulky. At this point you might as well just use a camera.

[@LouisLuzuka]

Is this sponsored 😮

[@iphoneographers]

No, why? I bought it on Kickstarter. I rarely do sponsored videos, but when I do you’ll see the “paid promotion” notice at the beginning.

[@LouisLuzuka]

@ thank you 😭 just getting tired of ads lately but I watch u because you’re the only genuine person making videos these days and I was wondering and my apologies thank you for being honest always appreciate you

[@StaticCamperVan]

Why yes I do still vlog. I’m a dinosaur

[@tonyks7748]

iPhone 15/16 only surport USB 2.0 as Lighting and only Pro support USB 3.2 (10Gbps), so the USB 3.2x2 (20G bps) never support Apple products. Mac support only 10Gbps (USB 3.2) and 40Gbps TB3/4 or USB 4.0. So fo not confuse your iPhone can not support high speed SSD. YTR never tell you the truth.