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Apple launched the MagSafe accent ecosystem as a brand new charging answer for iPhone, however the ShiftCam SnapGrip evolves the idea with an attention-grabbing click-on pictures instrument.
Your iPhone may be the perfect digicam you personal, or in any case, probably the most moveable. Nevertheless, taking pictures photos might be considerably cumbersome with its slick cleaning soap bar design and fiddly touchscreen shutter.
The ShiftCam SnapGrip addresses these points and extra with a novel answer — a MagSafe grip. This is not the primary photo-friendly MagSafe grip we have seen, however it’s truly transport to clients and is considerably distinctive in its total method.
This overview focuses totally on the SnapGrip itself, however we examined the complete Creator Package, which features a ring mild and tripod mount. These merchandise are a part of an rising MagSafe class that we hope to see extra of.
ShiftCam SnapGrip design and options
The SnapGrip itself is an easy battery pack that attaches to the iPhone through MagSafe. It has a rounded grip just like a DSLR and a shutter button for simple seize.
Like different battery packs, it should be powered on with a button press to start charging. It has a 3,200 mAh capability rated at 11.84Wh, which interprets to some hours of further iPhone use. It expenses through USB-C.
Nevertheless, the battery pack is not the first function of this product. We like that the battery is there, however its most important use is as a pictures grip.
The battery provides a pleasant heft to the grip, which additionally considerably counterbalances the iPhone’s weighty digicam system. There are two buttons positioned on the thumb relaxation — a shutter button and an influence button.
The round magnet is the first mounting floor on the iPhone, so it may be mounted in any orientation about 270 levels round. Clearly, it will probably’t be mounted in the other way due to the digicam bump.
MagSafe does not present any knowledge or data to the iPhone, so all of the iPhone is aware of is you have connected a battery pack. The shutter controls are paired utilizing Bluetooth.
The final building is stable. It’s produced from onerous plastic with a texture utilized to the grip. The magnetic mounting factors are rubber for elevated grip.
SnapPod
The SnapPod is a tripod mount with a regular 1/4-inch attachment. The lollipop-shaped piece is a MagSafe connector that may be connected to any customary tripod mount, however ShiftCam features a tiny tripod with the equipment.
The tripod itself may very well be higher, however it’s helpful in a pinch if you have to regular your hand. Closing the tripod provides you a usable monopod too. Sadly, the ball joint cannot be tightened sufficient to safe the mount, making the iPhone stand skew simply.
For the reason that MagSafe piece can connect to any of the SnapGrip equipment, it additionally works nice for mounting the SnapLight or iPhone individually. The SnapGrip can be utilized whereas connected to the iPhone primarily, nevertheless it additionally works as a distant shutter due to the Bluetooth connection.
SnapLight
The SnapLight is a magnetically attachable mild with 4 brightness settings. It’s fully analog, so powering it on, controlling brightness, and powering it off requires bodily button presses.
Prone to hold from overcomplicating the merchandise, the SnapLight solely expenses through USB-C. Sadly, meaning it has its personal inside battery and should be charged between makes use of.
The SnapLight doesn’t cost when related to the SnapGrip.
Utilizing the SnapGrip
After some preliminary setup, the SnapGrip is a superb pictures accent. You will must pair it to your iPhone through Bluetooth, nevertheless it ought to routinely join after that.
The shutter button is not truly speaking a shutter press to the iPhone. As a substitute, it sends a volume-up command, which ought to activate the shutter within the Apple digicam app and third-party apps.
Anybody who takes loads of photos on an iPhone could have encountered the annoyance of attempting to hit the shutter whereas holding the telephone one-handed. Urgent the amount button causes you to shake the complete gadget, and reaching for the show shutter button can generally result in switching digicam modes as an alternative.
With the SnapGrip, customers can merely click on the shutter button, just like a DSLR. The button press is gentle sufficient that the gadget will not shake, and the button is of course situated under the thumb.
The MagSafe attachment is a double-edged sword, nevertheless. We like the liberty of taking photographs or movies in portrait or panorama utilizing the grip, however it’s too straightforward to maneuver the telephone round whereas holding it.
The added equipment within the Creator Package are additionally hit-and-miss. The SnapLight may be useful in particular conditions, nevertheless it feels too brilliant even on the lowest setting and washes out our face or topic.
The SnapPod is good because it makes attaching our iPhone to any tripod easy. Nevertheless, it is not helpful when coupled with the SnapGrip besides in particular conditions. For instance, you possibly can’t take a photograph and maintain the monopod concurrently, however two-handed operations are simpler with it.
The battery pack could have a small capability, however it’s higher than nothing. Capturing loads of photographs or lengthy movies can rapidly drain an iPhone battery, and the SnapGrip has sufficient capability so as to add hours of taking pictures time.
Whereas this is not a very compact product, it is rather helpful. We cannot be taking it out on each journey, however we’ll have it on a photo-heavy hike or household outing as an alternative of a regular battery pack.
A brand new MagSafe class
ShiftCam has a fantastic idea in its palms that begs to be iterated on. There are different bespoke shutter controllers and equipment which can be attempting to be far more complicated whereas utilizing MagSafe, nevertheless, we like ShiftCam’s simplistic method.
We’re excited by the concept that a number of varieties of latest MagSafe equipment may come from this transfer into photographic gear. Hopefully, that is solely the start for ShiftCam.
The SnapGrip is a wonderful choice for any shutterbug searching for a great grip. The battery pack is simply an added bonus, and the Creator Package is not a foul worth, both.
SnapGrip Execs
- A novel tackle a MagSafe battery
- Fast setup, ease of use
- Portrait and panorama modes
- Constructed-in battery pack plus shutter button
- Increasing ecosystem of further equipment
SnapGrip Cons
- Battery must be powered on manually to start charging
- Awkward shutter press implementation through Bluetooth, emulates quantity management
- Holding the gadget in sure methods can simply shift the iPhone throughout use
- SnapPod and SnapLight are helpful however half-hearted makes an attempt at expanded accent help
Score: 3.5 out of 5
The ShiftCam SnapGrip is an efficient first accent ecosystem for this new MagSafe class. It has some room to enhance, so our rating is 3.5 out of 5 to recommend it’s a better-than-average product.
Anybody that struggles to take photos with the built-in iPhone instruments ought to look into the ShiftCam SnapGrip. This accent would additionally make a fantastic accessibility instrument because it improves management and grip for anybody that will in any other case battle to carry the skinny iPhone regular.
The place to purchase the ShiftCam SnapGrip
The SnapGrip is accessible on the ShiftCam web site for $69.99 alone or $129.99 with the Creator Package bundle. We examined the Abyss Blue choice, however there are 4 different choices: Midnight, Blue Jay, Chalk Pink, and Pink Pomelo.
Evaluation