Smartphone photography tools you’ll go ga ga over
Let’s face it, we all take pictures with our smartphones and tablets now, be they shots of our kids or coworkers, of personal or professional use, and there are some pain points that just aren’t cured with the devices themselves. That’s when we look for new tools out on the market to solve those problems, and the three problems we most commonly hear people complain about are poor battery lives of devices, their ability to get ruined by rain or their inability to shoot from underwater, and poor lighting and flash options.
These problems are usually true of Androids and iPhones alike, so we’ve found three tools to answer to these issues, without costing you an arm and a leg and another arm.
1. The Crankerator
For only $60, you can get a backup battery with a backup generator that is cranked by hand. No more running out of battery while in the field! It includes a micro USB cable so you can charge it up, via your computer or wall socket, and is compatible with iPod 4/5, iPhone 3GS/4/4S/5, iPad 1/2/Retina/Retina+Lightning/Mini, as well as Android phones and tablets.
2. The Pocket Spotlight
Admit it, lighting sucks on almost all smartphone and tablet devices. They exist, they’re okay, but the picture above speaks for itself. The Pocket Spotlight is a continuous light source you can mount to any iOS or Android device. It can be charged via USB for up to an hour of “brightly shining, gently diffused light.”
3. The Optrix Adventure Suit
It’s not just about water, it’s about industrial strength suction – put your iPhone on your car hood, your surf board, your skateboard, your helmet, wherever. The tough protective case is only compatible with the iPhone 5, sorry Android friends. The Optrix can take a 15 foot fall and offers a wide-angle lens
“Its buttons and touchscreen are fully functional underwater — which means you can take a photo and upload it to Instagram all while hanging out with the fishes,” the company says. “Brunching underwater while on a trip to the Great Barrier Reef? Now there’s a shameless moment to take a photo of your plate.”
