The short version: ProRes video and ProRAW photos are large, and several "easy" paths can change them: AirDrop may compress, iCloud may leave them off the phone, and the Automatic transfer setting may convert them. Use Keep Originals and a cable, or copy with a tool that verifies each file. If you record ProRes to an external SSD, there's nothing to transfer at all.
How big are iPhone ProRes and ProRAW files?
Apple quotes about 1.7 GB per minute of ProRes at HD and about 6 GB per minute at 4K. ProRAW stills are DNG files in the tens of megabytes each, several times larger than a HEIC or JPEG of the same shot. A single shoot day on a Pro iPhone can easily reach a few hundred gigabytes, which is why the usual shortcuts start to hurt.
| Format | Rough size | What it's for |
|---|---|---|
| HEVC / H.264 video | Small; minutes in the hundreds of MB | Everyday video, quick delivery |
| ProRes video | About 1.7 GB/min (HD), 6 GB/min (4K) | Editing and grading with less compression |
| Apple Log (ProRes) | Same as ProRes | Footage meant to be graded and matched to other cameras |
| HEIC / JPEG | A few MB | Normal photos |
| ProRAW (DNG) | Tens of MB | Editing in Lightroom, Capture One or Photoshop |
What can go wrong when you transfer them
- AirDrop can send a compressed copy, depending on the share sheet option, and it struggles with long, large clips.
- iCloud Photos with Optimize Storage keeps only previews on the phone, so a transfer first has to download every original.
- Transfer to Mac or PC: Automatic may convert formats for compatibility. Set it to Keep Originals.
- The Photos app stores originals inside its library package, which is awkward when an editor wants plain files in a project folder.
- A slow cable turns 200 GB into a long wait. A non-Pro iPhone also runs at USB 2 speed.
The cleanest option: record straight to an SSD
Recent Pro iPhones can record ProRes video directly to an external SSD over USB-C, which is the only way to shoot the highest-quality modes for long. In that case the drive already holds your footage and you only need to copy it onward for backup. Do that second copy with verification: the drive in your camera bag is one copy, not a backup.
Moving ProRes and ProRAW with Image Capture
Set Keep Originals, connect with a data cable, open Image Capture, choose a project folder as the destination and import. You get the original DNG and MOV files with their original names and no library. It's free and reliable, and it doesn't check the result.
Moving them with ShotGrab, verified
ShotGrab for iPhone can filter the camera roll by format, so "ProRes only" or "RAW only" is one tap, copy the originals to an SSD or your Mac, and verify each file by SHA-256 against the source. With files this size a silent failure is expensive to discover late, so the check is the point. On the Mac, ShotGrab for Mac then keeps the same folder logic for your camera cards. The first 3 GB on iPhone are free to try (then €1.99/month, or €14.99 once for good), which is enough to test the flow on a real clip.
Check the edit chain too. ProRes is great in Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve. If you shot Apple Log, set the right color space in your project, or the clips will look flat. A faithful copy is the first step; matching the footage to your other cameras is the second.
A checklist before you format or delete anything
- Originals downloaded to the phone, not parked in iCloud.
- Copied as files, with Keep Originals set.
- Copy verified with a checksum, not just a finished progress bar.
- A second copy on another drive for anything you can't reshoot.
- Only then free the space on the phone.
Frequently asked questions
How do I transfer iPhone ProRes video to a Mac without losing quality?
Set Settings, Photos, Transfer to Mac or PC to Keep Originals, connect with a data-capable USB-C cable, and copy the files with Image Capture or ShotGrab. Avoid AirDrop for long clips, since it can send a compressed copy.
How big is a minute of iPhone ProRes video?
Apple quotes roughly 1.7 GB per minute at HD and 6 GB per minute at 4K.
Can I record iPhone ProRes straight to an external SSD?
Yes, recent Pro iPhones can record ProRes video directly to an external drive over USB-C, which avoids filling the phone and removes the first transfer.
Will the Photos app keep my ProRAW files as DNG?
Yes, but it stores them inside the Photos library. For project work, copy the files into a folder with Image Capture or ShotGrab so you have plain DNG files.
How can I check that a large video file copied correctly?
Compare a SHA-256 checksum of the copy with the original. ShotGrab does this on every file and reports any mismatch.