ShiftCam SnapGrip
MSRP $70.00
“The ShiftCam SnapGrip provides an ergonomic, comfortable grip for your iPhone or other smartphone – essentially turning it into a DSLR. And it’s just wonderful.”
Avg
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Comfortable and ergonomic handle for iPhone or smartphone
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The wireless trigger is practical
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3200mAh wireless battery pack
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It can be used as a stand
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It uses MagSafe but is also universally compatible with a magnetic sticker
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It has an entire ecosystem of compatible plugins
Against
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There is no way to manually turn off the Bluetooth connection
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Designed for right-handed users only
If you have an iPhone or any smartphone, chances are you take a lot of photos with it — I know I certainly want to with my iPhone 14 Pro with 1 TB of storage. But one thing I’ve noticed, especially as phones have gotten bigger, is that the ergonomics have gotten worse, especially if you’re trying to take one-handed photos or even just a selfie. I personally need to use a PopSocket even to comfortably hold my device during the day. And while you could press the volume up button on the iPhone to take a picture instead of the virtual shutter, that can be difficult to do with a mask.
Then I came across ShiftCam’s SnapGrip. This product is a magnetic ergonomic phone grip that makes holding your MagSafe-compatible iPhone much more comfortable for taking photos, and also features a wireless physical shutter release that connects via Bluetooth. Not only that, but it also serves as a wireless power bank with 3200 mAh, so you can extend your recording time.
While there are many MagSafe accessories out there, the ShiftCam SnapGrip is becoming a new favorite.
ShiftCam SnapGrip system and design
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital trends
Although the ShiftCam SnapGrip is designed for iPhones with MagSafe (iPhone 12, iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 lines), it can actually work with any iPhone — and even Android phones. When you buy the SnapGrip, it comes with a magnetic sticker that you can attach to any device that doesn’t already have MagSafe, making it universally compatible. The big downside is that you only get one magnetic sticker with the SnapGrip and there doesn’t seem to be a way to buy more. If you often switch between upper and lower case letters, you will have to be very picky. Of course, if you have a MagSafe iPhone or a MagSafe-compatible phone case, then you can easily replace the SnapGrip as you wish.
The ShiftCam SnapGrip comes in five colors to suit your taste: Midnight (black), Abyss Blue (navy blue), Blue Jay (a slightly lighter blue), Chalk Pink (pale pink) or Pink Pomelo (a rich coral pink). I chose Pink Pomelo because it’s a beautiful shade of pink and it stands out.
The SnapGrip magnets are quite strong (although my PopSockets MagSafe PopGrip is still the strongest magnet I’ve ever used) and easily attached to my iPhone 14 Pro with Mous iridescent Clarity 2.0 cover. It doesn’t require as much force as the MagSafe PopGrip to remove, but it should hold well enough when taking photos. ShiftCam’s SnapGrip works in both portrait and landscape orientations, allowing you to take photos as desired. And if you really want to, the ShiftCam SnapGrip also doubles as a stand.
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital trends
The ShiftCam SnapGrip is very comfortable to hold — it’s much more ergonomic than just holding a glass and metal panel. The grip is mostly a smooth and matte rubberized material, with a pebble texture on the part where the fingers go for extra grip. It reminds you of holding a real DSLR camera, and the shutter release is in a place that feels natural. Holding the phone with one hand with the SnapGrip is much more stable than holding the phone by itself, but two-handed use is still best.
A smaller button next to the large trigger will turn on (and turn off) the wireless battery after a double press. At the bottom of the grip is a USB-C port for charging, as well as a small pinhole, which allows you to reset the Bluetooth connection if necessary. However, there is no way to manually disconnect the SnapGrip from your device, instead it will automatically turn off after a period of inactivity to conserve battery power.
Unfortunately, the ShiftCam SnapGrip is only designed for right-handed users. If you are left-handed, then this is definitely something that you need to take into account before buying.
ShiftCam SnapGrip ecosystem
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital trends
SnapGrip is just one major part of ShiftCam’s SnapGrip ecosystem. ShiftCam also has a SnapPod and a SnapLight, which is a magnetic tripod and handle mount and LED ring. These products can be used individually or together to create a magnetic mini studio on the go.
The SnapPod is a great addition to my setup as it allows me to easily take hands-free time-lapse shots. However, when you get the SnapPod, it basically comes in two separate parts: the tripod handle and the mount. You have to attach the carrier to the handle, which means you can’t fold it up for portable carry — instead, you’ll have to carry both parts separately if the bag is too small. This is a little annoying, but it still has a relatively small footprint, so it’s not too bad. The mount can be adjusted by tilting up or down to suit your needs.
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital trends
The SnapLight can be extended to provide light for your selfies, which is great when you’re trying to take them at night. It provides much better lighting than the iPhone’s Retina flash, and if you don’t extend it, SnapLight can add more light to your subject when shooting with the rear cameras.
I have noticed, however, that the more objects you use with the SnapGrip at the same time, the weaker the magnetic hold seems to become. It’s not also worrying but just be careful if things get a little too top heavy and not perfectly balanced. My iPhone 14 Pro with SnapGrip fell off the SnapPod when I pressed the button too hard.
ShiftCam SnapGrip makes taking photos much easier
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital trends
As someone who doesn’t own a stand-alone digital camera, I rely solely on my iPhone 14 Pro and other smartphones for photography, even for work. Camera technology on mobile devices has advanced quite a bit and for most people that is enough. But as phones keep getting bigger, it’s hard to even comfortably take selfies with my figure.
ShiftCam’s SnapGrip is a great accessory that changes that. I’m pretty self-conscious about my appearance, but I try to change it up and take selfies, especially when I’m at Disneyland. Without the SnapGrip, I often struggle to get the right angle while still being able to reach the on-screen shutter button (short arms and small hands are not a good combination). The SnapGrip allows me to comfortably hold my iPhone 14 Pro for selfies in portrait orientation, and the shutter button is much easier to press than trying to reach the on-screen button with my thumb. I know you can use the volume up button to record, but that causes a bit of movement due to the force required to press the button, which is also affected by the case I’m using.
The SnapGrip is also great for taking photos with the rear cameras. Even though the iPhone 14 Pro has optical image stabilization with sensor shift, I know my hands aren’t the steadiest and sometimes it’s just hard for me to get a good shot without parts looking blurry from slight movement. Because the SnapGrip gives me an ergonomic and comfortable grip, it’s easier for me to hold the device steady, especially with two hands.
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital trends
I also find that the physical shutter button not only makes things easier, but feels better than just tapping the screen to take a photo or start recording a video. This makes the iPhone feel like a real point-and-shoot camera, which isn’t a bad thing at all. But I prefer the convenience of my iPhone 14 Pro, and you know what they say: the best camera is the one with you.
Basically, my iPhone 14 Pro lasts all day with my normal usage. However, if I’m out and about taking a lot of photos and videos, which I would with the SnapGrip, then it will drain faster. Luckily, the SnapGrip doubles as an external battery, which is a nice touch. It may not have a huge capacity of only 3200 mAh, but it is enough to allow me to record if my device is running low. However, if you use a magnetic sticker to make it compatible with a non-MagSafe device, then wireless charging with the SnapGrip may not work.
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital trends
I mostly used the SnapGrip itself. But I did get the SnapGrip Creator Kit, which includes the SnapPod and SnapLight, along with a carrying case for the SnapGrip. The SnapPod has come in handy when I need to take some hands-free shots myself or when I need a little more distance between me and the selfie camera.
I don’t usually take a lot of selfies in low-light environments, but the SnapLight definitely makes those selfies look less terrible. There is a small mirror in the middle of the LED ring though, which is helpful for those selfies. I think SnapLight might actually be more useful when I’m taking photos of my food in dimly lit restaurants (ambience and all that jazz). But overall, the SnapLight easily attaches to a SnapGrip or SnapPod as an extension to give you that extra bit of light — and every little bit helps.
ShiftCam SnapGrip price and availability
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital trends
You can get ShiftCam’s SnapGrip directly from the ShiftCam website or even on Amazon. However, note that Amazon only has the SnapGrip, along with the SnapPod and SnapLight, which are sold separately. Amazon also only has midnight black. On Amazon, the SnapGrip alone is $70, and the SnapLight and SnapPod are $40 each.
If you opt for ShiftCam’s website, the SnapGrip is also $70, and the SnapLight and SnapPod are also $40 each, all coming in five different colors. However, you can purchase bundles on the ShiftCam website to help you save a little money if you were planning to buy the whole setup. There is also Creator Kit Plus and Creator Kit Max, both of which have additional equipment at an additional cost.
ShiftCam SnapGrip is a fun accessory for any mobile photographer
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital trends
While the ShiftCam SnapGrip doesn’t add any extra features to your phone’s camera itself, it certainly makes it easier to use when taking photos and selfies. I love taking pictures with my phone, but I hate how it feels unergonomic — especially when I’m trying to take a selfie.
The ShiftCam SnapGrip provides a much-needed ergonomic grip that makes your smartphone feel like a real camera in your hand, and the wireless shutter also adds a nice layer of convenience. I also enjoy that the SnapGrip works in both portrait and landscape orientation, and even doubles as a kickstand. Plus, with 3200mAh power, you don’t even have to worry about running out of battery if you’re in a long shooting session.
While I mostly just used the SnapGrip alone, the additional additions to the SnapGrip ecosystem only give it more versatility for everyone’s needs. The SnapPod gives me a little extra reach in certain situations, like group selfies (perfect for the upcoming holidays) or when I need hands-free shots. And SnapLight definitely lights up any shot better than the Retina flash selfie setting, to say the least.
It might look a little bulky, but if you’re planning to go out shooting with your iPhone 14 Pro or other smartphone, then the ShiftCam SnapGrip is a fantastic accessory.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn