Get ready to have your minds blown, all you iPhonography enthusiasts! I have some awesome camera accessories to tell you about that strap to your iPhone and give you all kinds of cool effects and photo/video functionality.
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Easy Macro rubber band iPhone lens:
The Easy Macro is a very simple, highly effective, and widely compatible add-on macro lens for any iPhone and nearly all smartphones. It consists of a sturdy blue rubber band and a tiny macro lens embedded into that band. All you need to do is stretch the band over your iPhone/smartphone and then line up the macro lens with the lens of your iPhone. It’s as simple as that. Now, you will be able to get up close and personal with your iPhoneography!
I found that the Easy Macro will easily work with iPhones in all slim cases and will even work with many thicker cases, though you will likely get more distortion around the edges of your photos. Many shutterbugs might really like that feature.
The magnification of the Easy Macro is really spectacular considering it’s simply a camera lens mounted in a rubber band. You will have to get about an inch away from your subject for it to be in focus. So, keep in mind that you won’t be able to take regular snapshots of things any further away than that while the Easy Macro is in position in front of your iPhone lens. Also, keep in mind that, as with most iPhone lens accessories, the flash will be blocked; so make sure it’s turned off.
Considering the very reasonable price, I think this is a no-brainer purchase for anyone looking to jazz up their iPhone photography with some macro shots. Just remember Robert Capa once said, “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you're not close enough.”
Price: $15
For more information, please visit the following web-links:
http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/macro-lens-band/
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Holga iPhone Lens Filter and Case Kit:
The Holga iPhone case lets you relive the golden age of photography back in the day when people actually used filters in front of their camera lenses instead of digitally manipulating them. This case and its 9 special effects filters will help you create cool looking photos without the need to post process them in some photo editing app as the majority of iPhoneographers seem to do these days.
The case portion comes in black, white, silver, red, and blue while the rotary filter remains a light grey. It doesn’t offer much protection for your iPhone, especially the screen side of the iPhone. The filters are situated on a rotating dial that at first glance resembles an old rotary dial telephone. The user simply grasps the dial and rotates it to the filter of their choosing.
As with most iPhone lens accessories, this one also blocks the camera flash. So if you need to take a photo that requires the use of the flash, you will have to completely remove your iPhone from this case to do so. The other drawback I found with this case is that it partially blocks your cameras view, which leaves a considerable vignette on the bottom of images shot vertically.
If you love taking photos with your iPhone, and get a kick out of retro stuff then the Holga iPhone lens filter and case kit might be right up your aperture.
Here is a list of the various special effects filters that the Holga iPhone case provides:
▪ Dual Image Lens: Produces 2 identical images similar to a Holga 2 way split image filter.
▪ Triple Image Lens: Produces 3 identical images similar to a Holga 3 way split image filter.
▪ Quadruple Image Lens: Produces 4 identical images similar to a Holga 4 way split image filter.
▪ 60mm Macro Lens: For taking photos at approximately 60mm from the lens.
▪ Empty Lens: For taking images with no effect.
▪ Red Filter with Clear Heart Shape Centre: Reduces absorption of blue & green lights with clear heart shape centre to stand out.
▪ Red Filter: Reduces absorption of blue and green light.
▪ Green Filter: Enhances green colors.
▪ Yellow Filter with Clear Center: Clear circular spot in center to stand out with surroundings in pale yellow to mimic sunset.
▪ Blue Filter with Clear Center: Clear circular spot in center to stand out with surroundings in blue to mimic gentle moon atmosphere.
Made in China
Price: $23.99
For more information, please visit the following web-link:
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GoPano micro 360° iPhone video lens:
If you love shooting wide-angle video, you won’t be able to get much wider than the GoPano micro. It allows your iPhone to shoot 360° video. Once the video is shot, you can scroll around during playback and look at different sections of the 360° video. This capability is pretty amazing and is great for capturing large events. I also found it works well for small group outings when it can be difficult to capture everyone simultaneously in a shot while they are all spread out around you.
The GoPano has its own special iPhone case that allows you to mount the GoPano to the iPhone camera lens. This mount system could definitely use a redesign. The GoPano is held in place with a friction tight fit and nothing else. This can be quite problematic if the GoPano accidentally gets bumped against anything, which it definitely will. On more than one occasion, mine fell off and hit the ground. Luckily, the GoPano seems to be fairly sturdy since it survived each traumatic fall, leaving it completely unharmed. Preferably there would be some kind of latch to keep the GoPano from coming loose.
Considering many people will be tempted to use the GoPano during fun activities that will increase the risk of damaging the iPhone and the GoPano, it’s disappointing to see a case that offers so little protection for the iPhone. It should have some thick rubber outer layer that is removable from the main case and should at least be rain resistant if not submersible. I also would have liked the case to offer much better protection capabilities for the iPhone touch screen. The case also desperately needs a place to attach a lanyard to help prevent accidental drops.
The GoPano lens is accompanied by a free iPhone app from the Apple App Store that processes the distorted image that is created. The app lets you shoot, playback and share your videos. These are the sharing options the GoPano allows: Twitter, Facebook, Dropbox, camera roll, iTunes file sharing, and email. To share with Facebook, Twitter, or Email you will need to first upload your video to your free GoPano online account, which you will need to create first.
A few improvements I would like to see in the GoPano iPhone app would be to add the ability to take 360° still photos instead of only video. Another improvement would be to allow uploading to YouTube, Vimeo, and Flickr. I also recommend you at least have an iPhone 4S when using the GoPano. Even though it is fully compatible with the iPhone 4, you really need as many mega pixels as possible for the video to look even half way decent. If you have an iPhone 5, the video quality will be acceptable.
Another great feature of the GoPano is that it is forward compatible as you upgrade to new iPhones. So, if you currently only have an iPhone 4/4S GoPano you won’t have to buy a whole new GoPano lens if you get an iPhone 5, just the new iPhone 5 case. This saves you money.
This is probably one of the coolest iPhone lens accessories I have ever tested. If you are looking to give the video you shoot on your iPhone a whole new look, the GoPano will not disappoint. It’s worth every penny, and I highly recommend it.
To see some examples of video made with the GoPano, visit their home page: http://www.gopano.com
Designed in Pittsburgh, PA
Made in USA
Price: 59.99
For more information, please visit the following web-link:
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ClickStick Bluetooth Remote Shutter & mini tripod for iPhone:
Of all the different types of photos you can take with an iPhone, some of the most difficult to shoot are large group photos without someone holding the iPhone to take the picture.
This is where the ClickStick from Dexim and its included mini tripod really come in handy. The ClickStick utilizes Bluetooth and a specialized free app, which when paired to your iPhone, will allow you to remotely trigger the shutter of the ClickStick app on your iPhone.
The ClickStick app is able to share photos via Facebook, Twitter, SMS, and email. The app is fully compatible with iPhones, iPod Touches, and iPads. The app works fairly well but crashes on occasion and could use an update. The ClickStick Bluetooth remote shutter is powered by a lithium ion battery and is recharged via a micro USB port. If left on and unused for 5 minutes, it will automatically shut itself off to save power. The ClickStick also sports an integrated wrist lanyard to keep it from going missing. The Bluetooth range is about what you would expect (about 30 feet).
The included tripod is a great addition to this ClickStick, thus allowing you to safely position your iPhone either on top of a flat surface or strapped to a small rail or pole using the integrated Velcro strap. Unfortunately, the ClickStick Bluetooth remote shutter is only compatible with the Dexim ClickStick iPhone app. This means that you can’t use the ClickStick with your built-in camera app or any other app for that matter. This is a pretty big letdown if you planned on using the ClickStick with some of your favorite creative photography apps. As someone who enjoys being creative with photography by way of snazzy apps, I found the ClickStick to be a bit of a letdown. On the other hand, if you just want a simple Bluetooth device to remotely take simple photos and you don’t mind using a proprietary app then the ClickStick might be right for you.
Bottom-line here. The ClickStick does everything that it promises and does a pretty decent job at that. It is a nice little device with an easy-to-use app for simple family and friend group snapshots. I just wish it worked with any iPhone photo app.
Made in China
Price: $25-$55
For more information, please visit the following web-links:
http://www.dexim.net/us/products/Entertainment/DVA006.html
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Daylight Viewfinder for iPhone photography:
iPhones are great fun for daylight photography. Unfortunately, direct sunlight causes your iPhone screen to become rather difficult to see, even when it’s at its brightest setting. This can be quite frustrating, especially for those with vision problems.
The Daylight Viewfinder eyepiece seeks to solve these troubles. It is essentially an extendable magnifying glass that attaches to your iPhone screen via a vacuum seal suction cup. The Daylight Viewfinder is paired with a free iPhone camera app of the same name. The app takes your camera’s live view image and makes it small enough for the eyepiece to cover. The Daylight Viewfinder eyepiece is then easily attached to the iPhone screen where it can then be extended in order to easily view the live view feature in the Camera app even in the brightest sunlight.
The app and Daylight Viewfinder allows you to simultaneously see your live camera view and change your camera settings without the need to take your eye away from the eyepiece. This is done with a duplicate mini live camera view on the screen that is not covered by the Daylight Viewfinder, thereby allowing the user to utilize the touch screen to adjust various camera settings. One would think this would be a difficult task since you cannot see where your fingers are touching the screen whilst your eye is upon the viewfinder. If it were not for an ingenious live representation in the eyepiece viewfinder screen of where the users finger is currently touching, that would most definitely be the case. At first, this interface feels quite alien, but the feeling is fleeting and the interface is easily mastered in a matter of minutes.
In my tests, I found the Daylight Viewfinder to be exceptionally good at blocking the sun from your view of the camera screen. One area of improvement would be reducing or eliminating the circular residue mark, which it leaves behind on the iPhone screen after it has been removed. Luckily, this ring of residue is easily wiped/rubbed off so it is not that big of a deal. On the plus side, I found the Daylight Viewfinder to be compatible with nearly all iPhone cases and iPhone photo accessories. It’s the perfect compliment to your other iPhone photo gear.
Another improvement would be to the capabilities of the Daylight Viewfinder iPhone app., such as adding HDR mode, panorama mode, grid lines, software based anti-shake/image stabilization, slow shutter mode GPS photo geo-tagging, 10 image burst mode, and shutter control from the volume button. If these features were added, it would move this device and app combination up from the level of “fun iPhone photo gadget” to the extreme level of “seriously bad ass, wicked awesome iPhone photo tool.”
I found the Daylight Viewfinder to be a very cool and effective iPhone photography accessory. If you find yourself frequently having trouble seeing your iPhone screen while trying to take photos in sunlight, the Daylight Viewfinder is definitely worth trying out. I highly recommend it for any iPhone shutterbugs out there looking for fun iPhone photo gadgets.
Made in USA
Price: $29.95
For more info, please visit the following web-link:
http://www.daylightviewfinder.com
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Camalapse, the 360° panning time-lapse tripod mount
The Camalapse is a device that will allow you to shoot panning time-lapse videos with a smartphone or small camera. It does this with an internal spring-loaded windup timer, not unlike a kitchen egg timer.
The Camalapse, however, offers a nice photography feature that egg timers lack, a tripod mount. There is a male tripod thread on top of each Camalapse as well as a female tripod mount on bottom. This allows photographers to attach the Camalapse to any tripod they like, as well as the ability to attach a small smartphone or point and shoot camera on top of the Camalapse. It also allows you to use multiple Camalapse devices at once.
If you plan on using a smartphone, you will need some form of tripod mounted smartphone holder to make this possible. If you plan on using a point and shoot camera, you will need to make sure that the tripod mount on the bottom of the camera is at, or very close to, the center of the bottom of the camera. Otherwise, the device will have trouble functioning properly if improperly balanced. There is also a weight restriction on the Camalapse of one pound. So, be sure to inspect the camera you are considering beforehand.
The Camalapse I tested is the original version, which has plastic tripod threads that I was not fond of. This model has fortunately since been replaced with the new Camalapse 3, which has metal tripod threads. This should greatly reduce the chance of having the tripod threads break off in your camera.
Just remember that the Camalapse can only pan left to right and has a maximum rotation time of up to 60 min./360° and only rotates at a set speed. However, I did find a couple ways around these limitations. To get your Camalapse to rotate faster just stack two of them together, wind them both up, and let them run simultaneously. To extend your rotation time, again use two Camalapses, wind them both up and then put a piece of electrical tape between the two rotating halves of one of them. This allows one gadget to rotate while the other remains wound up, but not rotating. The moment the first rotating Camalapse finishes its full 60 min./360° rotation you remove the electrical tape from the second and it picks up where the first one left off. This gives you a total rotation of 120 min./720°, doubling your capabilities!
I found this photo gadget to be extremely fun and easy to use. I mainly used it with my iPhone and got great results with a variety of time-lapse apps. This device is certainly not limited to being used for strictly time-lapse shooting. It also works well for shooting panoramas with the built-in pano mode in the default iPhone camera app. Even shooting regular video with the Camalapse turns out looking great with the right subject matter. This highlights one of the things I like most about this gadget, it’s not tied to any specific app, you can try it with any photo app you want.
If you have always wanted to try your hand and some time-lapse fun and don’t want to break the bank in the process, this is definitely the device to get. I highly recommend it.
Made in China
Price: $30.00
For more info, please visit the following web-link:
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Olloclip 3-In-One iPhone photo lens
Are you tired of having to spend extra time using special panorama apps to see more in a single picture? Or maybe you wish your video footage were wider angle? Or perhaps you want to get really super close up macro photos/video of something really tiny? These are problems every iPhone user will encounter.
The Olloclip 3-in-one iPhone photo lens accessory easily remedies these frustrating limitations of the iPhone camera. It is designed to attach to an iPhone without a case and is not compatible with any 3rd party iPhone cases (Olloclip has since released a special iPhone case that accommodates the Olloclip lens. As I have not yet tested it I can’t vouch for its build quality or effectiveness).
The three lenses that the Olloclip sports are a wide-angle lens that will double your iPhones wide angle view, a fisheye lens with a super wide 180° field of view, and if you unscrew the wide-angle lens you will reveal the hidden macro lens which applies roughly a 10X multiplier and allows you to focus the iPhone within 12-15mm of the subject. To top it off, both the wide-angle lens and fisheye also allow you to focus considerably closer than the standard iPhone lens will permit.
During my testing, I found the Olloclip to be of quite high build quality. The precision of the fit on the iPhone is incredible. It can slip on and off an iPhone so quickly, yet once it’s all the way on there is little to no chance of it falling off. It’s also compatible with nearly all iPhone tripod adapters, which will really come in handy for all you hardcore iPhoneographers out there.
If I had any complaints at all, it would be that the current Olloclip design could never be compatible with any of the rugged iPhone cases out there. This is a bummer since many people would really like to be able to take advantage of the cool features that the Olloclip offers while doing activities that normally would call for rugged protection for your iPhone. My other little gripe would be that there currently isn’t any telephoto option on the Olloclip. Adding this capability would be the icing on the cake for this product (Olloclip now has a telephoto lens available for pre-order, so get ready for some icing)!
One of my favorite features of the Olloclip is how quickly you can switch between the wide angle and the fisheye lenses. I also really like how small it is. You can fit it in the smallest of pockets and it comes with lens caps for both lenses and even a nice little pull string protective pouch. The lens barrels are made of aircraft grade anodized aluminum. The lenses consist of multi element precision ground glass that produces very nice images.
The lens sharpness is quite impressive for a lens that is so reasonably priced. You will find that the edges of the image will be a bit soft when shooting with the fisheye. This is common with all fisheye lenses, even my expensive high quality DSLR fisheye lens. So, don’t sweat it.
If you are looking for a wide-angle lens option for your iPhone, consider the Olloclip. Its build quality is phenomenal, it fits in any pocket, and you will love how great your images turn out every time you use it. This is a great accessory for anyone who wants to widen the photographic gaze of his or her iPhone.
Made in USA
Price: $69.99
For more info, visit the following web-link: http://www.olloclip.com
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iPole mini, iStealth Pole, & Trekking iPole camera & smartphone mount
For those who like shooting video and photos while taking part in adventurous activities, it can be quite difficult to get yourself, your friends, and your surroundings all in the same shot. The iPole series by FastCap gives you 3 effective product options that solve the aforementioned problem, the iPole mini, iStealth Pole, and the iPole Trekking Pole.
All three-iPole models come with a built-in camera tripod mount whose angle of view is adjustable. Each iPole can also optionally come with a universal smartphone mount that is appropriately named the “SuperMount”.
The iPole mini is made of stainless steel, has a telescopic adjustable length of 9”-43”, and can easily hold the weight of any smartphone or small/lightweight point-and-shoot camera. There is even a tripod mount on the bottom of the handle, allowing you to connect the iPole mini to any tripod. It also has a wrist lanyard to prevent you from losing your camera. Since the iPole mini is telescopic without any locking mechanisms, you will need to make sure you keep it properly balanced to avoid the grib end with your iPhone/camera from rotating and ending up dangling upside-down. Keeping it steady and balanced isn’t that difficult and most users will catch on pretty quick. The iPole mini is a great option for iPhone users who plan on packing light.
The iStealth Pole, on the other hand, has a much sturdier design and is much better suited for more extreme adventures and can easily accommodate weight action cameras such as the Go Pro, Contour, and Drift HD Ghost. It even works well if you have your iPhone in one of the various rugged, waterproof, protective cases on the market that can more than double the weight of your iPhone. The iStealth Pole comes in three different sizes: Mini 13”-26”, Standard 22”-54”, and XL 41”-109”. The iStealth Pole has a really comfortable foam handgrip as well as locking mechanisms to keep it at your chosen length. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a tripod mount on the bottom of the handle like the iPole mini does.
The iPole Trekking Pole is great for people that love multipurpose gear made for the great outdoors. Not only is it great as a camera iPole, but it is also a full-fledged Trekking stick for hiking/backpacking in any environment as well. The handle is made of cork near the top and a hard foam lower down, both of which are formed to give you a better grip. There is also a handy adjustable length wrist strap and a bendable tripod thread adapter for mounting your small camera or smartphone SuperMount. Like the iStealth, the adjustable sections of Trekking iPole also has locking mechanisms. If there was one thing I would have liked to see added, it would be some form of rubber hand grip material at the bottom of the trekking pole to make it more comfortable to use as an iPole.
In my tests, I found all three iPole models to perform quite effectively. Just don’t try to use heavy cameras on them. I would also like to see some improvement on the pivoting tripod head mechanism on the iPole mini and the iStealth Pole. I noticed that if you happen to accidentally pivot the tripod mount while it’s tightened down, the pivoting mechanism doesn’t seem to ever tighten up quite as much as it used to. Just make sure you loosen the tightening dial before making adjustments and you shouldn’t have a problem.
So far, I have taken my one of the three iPole on various bicycling outings, backpacking trips, as well as international travel, and even swimming at the pool. I like it so much that I plan on bringing it along on as many future outings as possible. Just make sure you get the iPole that best suits the camera and activities you plan to use it for. The iPole will take the pain out of trying to take group photos as well as give you a great perspective while video documenting your next adventure. I highly recommend all three of FastCaps iPole models.
iPoles: Made in China
Smartphone SuperMount: Made in USA
Prices:
- iPole mini: $24.95
- Trekking iPole: $24.95
- iStealth: $19.95-$39.95
- SuperMount: $15.00
For more information, visit the following web-links:
iPole Mini: http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=43228&idcategory=0
Trekking iPole: http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=13429&idcategory=0
iStealth: http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=43796&idcategory=0
SuperMount: http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/viewprd.asp?idproduct=43473
