The Glif+ is an ingenious little contraption by Studio Neat that was on display at the Macworld Expo this year in San Francisco. It allows you to use your iPhone 4/4S on almost every single tripod or monopod on the planet. It does this by attaching to any corner of your iPhone (excluding the one where your iPhone camera lens is located). This is a versatile feature that will accommodate the varying ways people take photos with their iPhones. The design is so small that it will fit into just about every pocket your wardrobe possesses. It also works great as a viewing stand for watching movies or making video calls on FaceTime or Skype.
It quickly connects and disconnects from your iPhone for fast access. The material seems quite durable and should last for quite sometime. Unfortunately, the Glif is not compatible with any iPhone cases, which isn’t a problem if you use an iPhone case that is easily removable. It is a problem however for those iPhone photographers who want to shoot photos with their iPhone in inclement weather or rugged terrain since the Glif offers no protection from either. The Glif does offer some level of protection when used with the included “Serif” and “Ligature” attachments, which hold the Glif very securely to your iPhone as well as provide a lanyard attachment via a metal tripod thread adapter. So when your iPhone is not attached to your tripod via the Glif, you can have it secured via a lanyard to prevent accidental damage.
The problem comes in that dangerous period of time between when your iPhone is no longer attached via lanyard and when it’s secured to your tripod. Here, an accidental drop could prove fatal to your expensive glass-encased iPhone. An alternative option would be to use a product such as the iKeep retractable lanyard with built-in carabineer that attaches to the dock port of the iPhone. This combination of products would create quite a safe environment for your iPhone when using the Glif.
Another feature I found useful was that the Glif doesn’t block the iPhone power port in any way. This allows for external power sources to be attached for those extended video shoots or daylong time-lapse photography shoots. I highly recommend the SPARQ battery pack.
All in all, the Glif is a handy little accessory for your not too adventurous iPhone photographer. It does exactly what it claims to do, and it does it quite well. It’s compact, durable, and inexpensive. It will take those jittery, blurry low-light handheld shots and make them tack sharp. It’s a wonderful addition to any iPhone user’s bag of useful accessories, and it compliments all the photo, video and time-lapse apps you have or wished you had.
Pros:
- Very compact.
- Doubles as viewing stand.
- Durable.
- Quick connect & disconnect.
- Can be used on 3 out of 4 sides of the iPhone.
- Works with any tripod or monopod.
- Lanyard capable.
- Compatible with all charging cables.
Cons:
- No protection against accidental impacts.
- No protection against rain.
- Can't be used with any iPhone cases.
Who should use the Glif+?
- Anyone who likes to shoot photos, video, stop motion, or time-lapse with their iPhone 4/4S
Who should not use the Glif+?
- Anyone who wants to use their iPhone to shoot in rain, snow, sea spray, or anywhere else there is a risk of dropping or bumping your iPhone 4/4S
Designed & Manufactured in America.
Price: $30
For more info on the Glif+ visit the following link:
