While unthinkable advancements have been made in smartphone cameras, there’s no getting away from the occasional awkwardness of using them. A new grip accessory has just hit Kickstarter with a plan to change all that.
The Pictar Grip from Miggo allows users to slide in their handset and experience the feel and functionality of a more traditional DSLR camera.
Aside from offering a far more ergonomic and steady grip, the device offers a shutter release button and an exposure compensation wheel, meaning less screen prodding and swiping while lining up a shot.
There’s also a zoom ring/selfie button and a customisable smart wheel that can be tuned to the features of a camera app. Polishing off the ensemble is a cold shoe mount, where photographers can add accessories of their choosing.
The Pictar’s semi-open body also allows iPhone users to continue with an array of custom lens attachments.
Now, if you’re wondering how the case communicates with the iPhone, it uses high-frequency dual tone sound to speak to a dedicated app.
On its Kickstarter page, the company explains: “
“Each physical control is assigned a specific tone, and with each turn of a dial, press of a button or turn of a wheel, Pictar emits a sound that – when detected by the app – generates a corresponding action. The high-frequency dual tone (18,500 – 20,000 khz) is inaudible to the human ear and significantly increases battery life when compared to Bluetooth connectivity.”
See also: iPhone 7: Everything you need to know
Miggo estimates 4-6 months of battery life for the grip, which is compatible with most existing iPhone models. It seems the decision has been made to develop for iPhone only, so there’s no Android version in the pipeline.
The company is around a fifth of the way to its $100,000 funding goal with 36 days to go.
Those wishing to receive a Pictar as a reward for backing the project will need to hand over at least at least $70.
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Would you buy the Pictar Grip? Let us know in the comments below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
