How do I zoom in Cinematic Mode on iPhone 13?

Cinematic mode behaves a bit differently than standard video because it focuses on subjects and depth of field, so zoom controls are slightly limited but you do have options.

Use the On-Screen Zoom Buttons

Open Camera → Cinematic mode.

Look at the top of the screen—you’ll see zoom options like 0.5x, 1x, 2x, etc.

Tap 1x → 2x to zoom in on your subject.

On iPhone 13, the wide and telephoto lenses are fixed:

0.5x = Ultra Wide

1x = Wide (default)

2x = Telephoto

Cinematic mode does not allow smooth pinch-to-zoom during recording like standard video mode. You have to select the lens before or during recording.

Move Physically Closer

Cinematic mode works best when you move the iPhone closer to the subject rather than digitally zooming, because digital zoom reduces quality.

Edit the Zoom After Recording

You can adjust the crop and framing in iMovie or the Photos app after recording.

iPhone also allows adjusting focus points in Cinematic mode after filming:

Open video → tap Edit → tap the focus circle → change which subject is sharp.

I hope this can be of assistance, feel free to reply if these steps don’t work.