Forget apps for the iPhone, the new trend, especially with iPhone photography (iPhoneography) is iPhone ‘Add ons’. Camera-related add-ons seem to be the most popular and there’s definitely no shortage of photography gadgets and gizmos being created especially for the iPhone. Sadly most of them either aren’t out or aren’t readily available yet, but here are a few of our favourite concepts that we’ve stumbled across.
Instaprint: Instagram & Stickgram Combined
For Instagram lovers, this add on will connect with your iPhone, match it with the Instagram app and enable you to print out your instagrams in Polaroid-sized snapshots in a nearby Instaprint photo booth. According to the Instaprint website:
Instagram has brought the nostalgia of old Polaroid prints back to modern day, but deep down we all still miss the uniqueness of those square little photos you’d hold comfortably in your hand. So, we made Instaprint.
To print your pictures you will either need to have a booth in your area or to hire one for a party or event. Instaprint has only just launched in The States so it could be a while before you’ll be having any Instaprint-fueled parties in the UK. Still, it’s a pretty nifty new toy and worth mentioning.
The Leica i9 Concept iPhone Camera Add On
This is really cool. In fact it’s cooler than cool. Slip your iPhone into this case and it goes from being a several hundred dollar mobile phone, to being a several thousand dollar camera. According to a press release from makers BlackDA:
The i9 is the ultimate point-and-shoot camera combining the high performance of a Leica (CMOS image sensor with effective 12.1 MP, professional lens with 8x optical zoom and 35 equivalent focal lengths and ready-to-shoot operation) with iPhone4 (retina display, multi-touch interface, extended storage capacity and mobile/wireless connectivity). Beyond camera features, the i9 and iPhone4 can share their independent batteries for extended operation.
Sadly it’s not available yet. If it does ever come available don’t expect this to come cheap – it’s going to be very popular with iPhone (and photography) lovers.
Kogeto’s 360 Degree Dot
This one is available and Tech Crunch have even written a review about it. It’s a simple add-on to the iPhone which allows you to take Panoramic photographs. The add-on is available in the Apple Store in the US for $79 of from the Kogeto website. And if you’re really interested in getting into iPhone videography, there’s a complete ‘Lucy Production Kit’ which comes complete with a video camera system, laptop and rolling case. It does cost $4,999 however so maybe it’s best to start off with the ‘Dot’.
