Taking great photos on the go is easier than ever thanks to the iPhone’s great camera and array of apps. But while some are satisfied merely uploading selfies and pictures of lunch, other iPhoneographers are trying to eek out as much performance and quality from the iPhone as possible by using an array of lenses and other accessories.
Unlike full-frame cameras, iPhone accessories won’t set you back more than your rent (and they’re much easier to carry around) but pinning down the most useful ones in a sea full of gimmicky products is still difficult, so we’ve compiled this list of five tools every iPhoneographer should start with.
Lenses
The iPhone’s camera sensor is pretty damn good for a smartphone, but if you’d like to improve it a bit for landscapes, macro shots, and telephotos, there are lots of lens options that will add more diversity to your photos.
Our favorite lens attachment is the Olloclip. The company’s 4-in-1 lens for the iPhone 5/5s only costs $70 and gives you the options of Fisheye, Wide-Angle, 10x Macro and 15x Macro. You can also pickup a 2x Telephoto lens with Circular polarizing for $99.99.
Kogeto Dot will help you take 360 panoramas if you suck at using the iPhone’s native feature. Or if you’d like your lenses to be built into your case, Factron Quatro has a nice metallic option, but it ain’t cheap.
If you’re willing to spend as much money as you’d spend on a good point-and-shoot, Sony’s attachable smartphone lenses bypass your iPhone’s image sensor with its own 18.9M pixels or 20.9M pixels sensor depending if you’re willing to drop $199 or $499.
Apps
There’s something to be said about natural talent–and lot of practice–to take your photography to the next level, but a little nudge from software magic never hurt.
Apple’s native Camera app is great for taking snaps on the fly, but if you want to really hone in and adjust the exposure with more precision, try using Camera+ or VSCO Cam. Both apps allow you to set an exposure point separately from the focus point (something Apple still hasn’t added to its own app).
VSCO Cam and Camera+ also come with great filter options but if you’re looking for something a bit new and lesser known, an app called Faded is also worth considering for its exposure controls, minimalist UI, and unique filters. And don’t forget Snapseed; one of the most complete apps for photo editing on iOS.
To add more flair to your photos try experimenting with slow shutter and time lapse apps. Our favorite, AvgCamPro just got a big iOS 7 update last week.
Tripod
Selfies were all the rage on Instagram in 2013, and while yes, your hand can do a fine job maneuvering, aiming, and snapping the camera all in one motion, those self portraits could be so much better with a tripod.
Joby’s GorillaPod is the consensus favorite thanks to its versatility and cheap $20 price tag, but you could just risk 5 bucks and can get this ATC tripod phone holder.
When it comes to tripod mounts, the GripTight from Joby will let you mount your iPhone even if it’s in a bulky case. The new Glif is also adjustable, but you have to break out a wrench to resize it your phone. It also doubles as a stand, so might be worth it to you if you don’t already have one.
Power
Snapping pictures for hours on end is quick ticket to Zero-Percent-Battery-Land, so if you’re going out on a photo excursion make sure to take extra power with you.
The Mophie Juice Pack Plus adds a battery case to your iPhone and can add up to 10 hours of talk time for $120, but Lenmar Meridian case is also worth consideration after our friends at the Wirecutter found it to be both lighter and more powerful than the popular Mophie option. Plus, it only costs $90.
Waterproof/Shockproof Case
Sometimes getting a great shot can require a little extra effort, putting you and your iPhone in dangerous spots. To ensure you don’t ruin your favorite camera, try getting a waterproof/shockproof case.
Lifeproof’s Nuud cases bring waterproofing and drop protection without covering your iPhone screen. Incipio’s Atlas case has earned top marks from reviewers for its waterproofing and the company just came out with a new case that gives you access to Touch ID.
Now you’ve got your gear list, head on out there and get some amazing shots!
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