If you are to replace your traditional camera with a phone, adding some smartphone photography accessories to your repertoire is recommended. Editor’s note: We will update this list of the best smartphone photography accessories regularly as new products launch. It is a simple tool that doesn’t need to cost much but will offer plenty of benefits while shooting.
A tripod can be used for long exposure photography, which is when the shutter speed is slowed down.
This technique can create light trails, smooth out fluids, and better expose images without increasing the ISO (which affects photo quality). It really helps to have the camera static when learning composition, giving you more time and freedom to frame a scene properly.
I am a fan of large, sturdy tripods because I also use them for my heavy DSLR cameras. Tabletop tripods are the smallest of the bunch, and as their name suggests, are best suited for use on a flat surface. You can get yourself a remote shutter control to avoid the hassles and get the best selfie your phone can produce.
Not to mention, these lenses can usually be attached to a wide variety of devices, giving you more freedom of choice when it comes to smartphones.
Photography is all about light, and having some extra help in dark environments will allow you to get better results. The one shown above is the Neewer LED Video Conference Light Kit and features a 2,000mAh rechargeable battery, a dimming mechanism, and a clip that can attach it to a phone.
Your phone will quickly run out of battery if you are shooting photos and videos throughout the day. We really like the Anker Powercore III Elite because it has a huge 25,600mAh battery and 60W PD that can even charge some laptops. Audio is one area where smartphones usually lack quality, and it is crucial for recording video. Different types of microphones are available, including small shotgun mics like the Rode Videomic Me and even wireless ones like the Comica CVM-WS60.
A popular one is the Shoulderpod G2 Professional Video Grip, equipped with two tripod threads and six cold shoe mounts for other accessories. Image stabilization has come a long way, but using an advanced gimbal can further improve your videos.
Users will love the level of control available from the built-in buttons and knobs. Remember, buying a camera is only the first step in this money pit that photography is.
5 Essential Accessories for Mobile Photography To Help You Take Better Photos on Your Smartphone
Incredible AI, use of multiple lenses, camera sensors and software are turning the phone in your pocket into a little pro-shooter. Some of the top smartphones with incredible camera features and performance include Huawei P20 Pro with its triple camera setup, HTC U12+, Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, Xiaomi Mi 8, Google Pixel 2 and Apple iPhone X, Huawei Mate 10 Pro, Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S and OnePlus 6. What smartphone cameras lack compared to its DSLR counterparts can be made up with these essential accessories to remove some of the limitations allowing it to taken even better photos.
With add-on lenses, ones that go over your existing lens, you can take advantage of fisheye, super-wide angle or macro shots beyond your standard point and shoot.
Some add-ons even offer interchangeable lens system that lets you swap lenses quickly. The trick is to choose the snap-on or clip-on lenses that work with your phone and for the kind of photography you wish to do.
Some of the popular and low cost smartphone lens kits from AMIR, MPOW, NELOMO and Xenvo are shown above. While you can buy just about any clip-on lenses for any smartphone at reasonably low prices, the ones that are designed specifically to work with a certain model are those that will offer the best quality.
The table top tripod comes with a universal clamp for any smartphone and is designed to work not only as a stand but to secure to any bar or pole with its wrap-able rubber legs. Group the legs together and it works as a grip mount just like the standard table top tripod but flexible. Compact full size tripods are a great addition to your phone photography armoury. Some that lets you change the orientation of your phone from landscape to portrait with a simple turn action.
When you go away for a long trip or intent to take lots of photos and videos on your smartphone, it pays to have backup on the move and a way to add more storage to your phone. Having a mobile storage option means you are not held back by the lack of space on your phone.
Some cards are faster at reading and writing than others and are more suited for saving high quality images and Full HD or 4K video footage. Such a device lets you plug straight into the smartphone’s charging and data port, instantly adding more storage to your phone.
Save SanDisk iXpand V2 USB Flash Drive for iPhone and iPads 16/32/64/128/256GB on Amazon Save Kingston Bolt Duo Flash Drive for iPhone and iPads 32/64/128GB on Amazon
Save SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive M3.0 for Android Devices 16/32/64/128/256GB with OTG on Amazon These wireless hard drives are self-powered with its own built-in rechargeable battery and together with the companion app, allows you to backup all your phones over WiFi without incurring a any mobile data charges one would do when backing up to the cloud.
Complete with its own rechargeable battery, the router behaves as a file server letting you access your SD card via the SD card slot or portable storage (USB hard drive or flash drive) wirelessly and with the companion app, helps you backup all your photos. Finally, if you have one of those mobile plan with unlimited data is to backup your photos and videos to the cloud. There is only one thing left to do now that you have the lens, lights, tripod, stand and mount to make your phone a close substitute to a DSLR camera that is to get an accessory bar that holds them together. These advanced smart camera lenses are small enough to carry around and adds a whole new dimension to mobile photography.
20 Best Mobile Photography Accessories of 2018
And if you’re setting up for a video, you don’t have to touch anything after you click record, you can trust it won’t keel over. After shooting for a whole day, whether it be via self-timer or with a group of friends, one of the flaws of mobile photography is its battery power. Portable phone chargers also allow users to move around instead of staying in one place, in case you wanted to change settings or shoot locations. Some even require you to do other things like attaching a whole phone frame to a device with lenses to allow for optimal clarity and durability.
Of course, they range in price and accessibility, but the clip-on lenses are a go-to for visually stunning mobile photography at a low cost. Given their affordable value for the quality of these mini lenses, Olloclip carries everything from boxed sets to individual pieces.
Connecting your phone to your computer to your home printer sounds like antiquated technology given we have the freedom to Airdrop complete strangers an album from our Photos Library. Fujifilm helps with their instant photo printer delivering vibrant, enriched prints each process. This rig case allows users to stabilize their videos and it already comes attached with a light fixture and a mic. Insignia not only offers you a tripod stand to hold your phone, but also the option to take your photos from afar featuring a shutter remote.
It can curl around a tree branch and as long as you adjust the phone to look straight at you, you’ll see great results. For something one-handed and easy, this simple rig allows its users to take beautiful, stable videos with just one hand.
Again, with the technology of printers given some shine, the HP Sprocket jumps on the train of great printing delivered. The HP printer processes amazing, vibrant images straight from the smartphone for seamless integration.
For active stability, the Smooth 4 is great for capturing action shots or outdoor movement.
Featured earlier in our own magazine as the best product of 2018, the DJI Osmo Mobile 2 allows users to have complete control over their video direction and authority without losing stability or quality.
You don’t want to miss great audio when shooting and the VideoMic won’t let any issue like that arise.
The Best Camera Gear for Your Smartphone
Our favorite Android phones and iPhones have outstanding cameras, but tripods, mics, and video lights can elevate the quality of your work. Be sure to check out our other buying guides, like Gear and Tips to Make Studio-Grade Videos at Home, Best Compact Cameras, Best iPhone 13 Cases and Accessories, Best Pixel Phones and Cases, and Best Instant Cameras.
Top 10 Phone Camera Accessories To Improve Your Photos
But did you know there are also plenty of physical phone camera attachments available to help you improve your mobile photography? The range offered by Olloclip are most well-known among iPhone users, but are now compatible with most devices thanks to the new multi-device clip.
The GripTight ONE GP Magnetic Impulse is a must-have phone camera attachment.
The tight grip mount is a universal fit for all phones and holds any device securely in or out of its case.
You can use the strong magnetic feet to attach to a metal surface, or stand it up to use in a traditional tripod style. The Godox Ami Smartphone Flash is a great choice as it can be used with both the front or back camera lenses on your phone.
Plus you won’t need to worry about it draining your phone battery, as it’s charged separately via a USB cable. These cases are phone model specific and slim, so will fit each brand like a glove, without adding excess bulk. It’s also a good choice if you are shooting by (or in) the sea or a pool, or if you are taking shots of pets or people near bodies of water. It can be used as a stand to steady your phone, and can be particularly useful in low light conditions to help prevent blur resulting from camera shake. PopSockets are one of the cheapest phone camera accessories at around $10 and there’s one to suit everyone, with lots of designs and styles to choose from. Do you miss the sturdy grip of a traditional camera when taking shots with your phone?
This ergonomically designed grip enhances the usability of a phone for taking photos, while the sensitive Bluetooth-connected shutter button ensures you don’t miss the moment. The grip also allows you to connect to a traditional tripod and, conveniently, the removable shutter button can be used as a remote trigger.
At $50 it’s a nifty extra to give you a more traditional camera feel when taking photos on your phone. It works seamlessly with native camera apps, which means no shutter lag.
Removing the need to touch your phone eliminates the risk of camera shake, which is also important when taking photos in low light. Remote triggers are also great for nature photography–you can set up your phone and move away from the animal, so you don’t disturb them.
The Mophie Juice Pack phone case extends the battery life of smartphones. Admittedly, if you’re an avid shooter, this will vanish fairly quickly, but it should still be plenty of extra time.
This Mini Folding Photography Studio from Zenic enables your small subjects to take centre stage. The collapsible and portable design makes it perfect to use on the go, and the kit even comes with a mini phone holder to keep your smartphone steady. Recharge your phone time and again with the Anker PowerCore 10000 Redux Power Bank portable charger. Smartphone batteries are not renowned for long life, and the more you take photos with your camera phone, the quicker the charge will vanish.
We send our subscribers all sorts of great stuff–including the tips, tricks, and secrets, straight from the experts.
Be First to Comment