A MagSafe grip for better photos and videos

Trendy flagship digital camera telephones just like the Pixel 7 Professional, Galaxy S23 Extremely, and iPhone 14 Professional are edging nearer and nearer to the pictures expertise of a correct standalone digital camera. Placing apart the physics of small lenses and sensors, there’s no denying that having a wonderful digital camera in your pocket is superior, however what should you wished the “really feel” of an actual digital camera too? Properly, let’s take MagSafe equipment, pictures, and a Pixel 7 Professional — three of my favourite subjects to speak about — and blend them collectively. What we get is the ShiftCam SnapGrip, a MagSafe grip that attaches magnetically to your cellphone and offers it DSLR-like ergonomics.

My Pixel 7 Professional usually sits in a Second (M) Drive case, which opens up a whole world of MagSafe equipment to me, just like the SnapGrip. Even when I didn’t have this case, ShiftCam offers a metallic adapter for any cellphone. You simply stick it in your cellphone or case and also you’re good to go. My iPhone doesn’t want an adapter to make use of the grip, however a MagSafe iPhone case helps strengthen the magnetic bond whereas defending the cellphone.

Any time I need to use the grip, I simply get it near the again of my Pixel or iPhone and the MagSafe magnets will snap it in place. Easy and simple. Higher but, it doesn’t block any port or button on the telephones, in contrast to different grips that clasp to the perimeters and find yourself turning off the display screen or messing with the quantity.

The grip itself appears to be like prefer it acquired lower off of a DSLR or mirrorless digital camera. It has a big protrusion that your hand matches snugly round with a pure place on your index finger to relaxation on, letting not less than two or three different fingers wrap across the again. It’s very ergonomic to carry for lengthy durations of time — far more than clutching a skinny smartphone slab will ever be.

I’ve tremendous regular pictures arms (years of taking clear 2MP pics of drugs leaflets to review at house helped me develop that), however nonetheless, I like the liberty of not having to fret about balancing my cellphone whereas tapping the on-screen shutter button. As an alternative, I can simply bodily press the shutter button under my index on the SnapGrip and snap, photograph! You possibly can’t argue with that type of tactile suggestions.

My principal gripe? Every time I used the digital camera grip, I wanted it had zoom buttons. Given how glorious the Pixel 7 Professional‘s telescopic lens is, I depend on its zoom to higher body most of my pictures. Switching to the touchscreen to regulate that after which going again to the grip feels unintuitive and disruptive. Tactile zoom in/out buttons would make this so much higher for the Android zoom champions of the world — much less so for the iPhone.

In my checks, I cherished how strong all the setup felt, though the grip and cellphone are two separate entities held collectively by MagSafe magnets. I wouldn’t belief the grip with my Pixel 7 Professional over a bridge, a physique of transferring water, or any harmful void, however I did use it in on a regular basis pictures. Streets, tourism, parks, expos, enjoyable occasions; it may be nice for all of them. In case you have pets or youngsters and also you’re working after them, this could be very best; you simply have to pair it as soon as over Bluetooth and it’ll routinely join every time you flip it on.

However the grip does extra than simply provide you with a greater grasp of your cellphone. It may be vertical or horizontal stand. It additionally homes a 3,200mAh energy financial institution that may cost the cellphone wirelessly whereas it’s connected. LED lights point out the remaining battery.

Charging is proscribed to 5W, however that was sufficient to maintain my Pixel working whereas I walked round and snapped pics. Once more, 10W or extra can be higher right here, however the thought is to keep away from draining the battery too quick as an alternative of utterly charging your cellphone.

If you happen to go for the Creator Equipment, you’ll get three extra equipment with the ShiftCam SnapGrip. All of them can be utilized alone or collectively in any type of combo for max versatility. Once more, the wonder and ease of magnets.

My favourite is a spherical MagSafe LED mild and mirror that opens up, permitting you to level it again at whoever you’re taking a photograph of, flip it up in direction of you for a selfie, or snap it onto any metallic floor or tripod to offer a further supply of sunshine. It simply has a USB-C port for charging and a button to change the LED’s brightness between 5 completely different ranges.

The mirror is a minor however genius addition to assist individuals body and verify themselves earlier than you are taking a pic of them. One other bonus: You get a case to hold each the grip and light-weight with you.

There’s additionally a small plastic desk tripod, which does the job on comparatively flat surfaces however that I wouldn’t use in unstable environments, plus a MagSafe tripod holder that permits you to snap your cellphone, mild, or each. I discovered this excellent for evening and astrophotography as a result of regardless of how regular my arms are, they’re not as steady as a cellphone tripod for lengthy publicity photographs.

The pliability of all these components is what makes this setup fascinating, particularly as a result of all you need to do is snap them collectively. No plugs, clasps, screws, or something time-consuming. This places them among the many finest smartphone pictures equipment for me.

I’ve used the SnapGrip alone with my cellphone at instances and with the sunshine at different instances; I’ve used the tripod holder to prop up my cellphone with and with out the sunshine; and I’ve used the sunshine on the tripod to brighten a scene I used to be taking pictures with my cellphone on the grip. Add the flip-ability of the sunshine for selfies and common pictures, then the stand and wi-fi charging, and you’ve got a flexible setup that helps with a variety of on-the-go artistic pictures and videography from streets to individuals, nature, and astro.

My two greatest considerations with the ShiftCam SnapGrip are value and spontaneity. You both should plan forward and carry this MagSafe grip with you when you recognize you’ll be doing a variety of pictures, or you need to preserve it with you always. Once we begin including this many equipment to our telephones, we might as nicely carry a mirrorless digital camera as an alternative, proper?

Pricing additionally feels prohibitively costly for what that is at its core: a wi-fi energy financial institution in a grip form with a round magnetic aspect and a Bluetooth shutter button. $70 for that and $120 for the Creator Equipment with the sunshine, tripod, and pouch looks like a stretch. The Apple tax could be very actual, however hey, you’re getting a number of merchandise in a single, which can assist justify the funding.