Mobile

Review: Neewer TL60 RGB Tube Light Stick

Julie Powell

This multifunctional flowing light stick by Neewer is so much fun in the studio. It’s app-controlled freeing you to get super creative without the need to pick up the stick. It’s both powerful and versatile, offering an infinite color selection to fuel your endless creativity. With access to seven pre-programmed pixel effects and 18 special scene effects as well as customizable frequencies, compromising your perfect shot is no longer necessary. Additionally, this light boasts an impressive CRI rating of 97+ and 1730 lux of light output (20W power), making it an essential tool for every photographer, or content creator. The body of the Tube Light Stick offers durability, enabling you to pursue your passion anywhere and everywhere. As it can be run on battery or power, you really can take it almost anywhere. Note: Neewer sent the TL60 RGB Tube Light Stick to review. However, this is a completely independent review. All thoughts about this item are my own. Pros Cons At 100% power, it only lasts about 2 hours on battery, although you can also use it on power. Honestly, that’s it, there really are no major cons with this product. Neewer TL60 RGB Tube Light Stick— Technical specifications All specifications were obtained from the Neewer website. Neewer TL60 RGB Tube Light Stick — Ergonomics and build quality It has a solid build and great ergonomics. This light was fantastic in the studio, but also out in the field on client product shoots. Shock and drop resistant. Super bright light and loads of color options, plus cool creative effects and built-in gels. What’s in the box Check out the unboxing video on YouTube: Neewer TL60 RGB Tube Light Stick — In the field Small and compact, so easy to use on product photography sessions. The adjustable brightness and color temperature make dialling in exactly as required, especially with the Neewer App. The pre-programmed special effects proved to be very handy for creating some very clever lighting effects in the studio. Being able to set various colors or even a specific color with the Selection tool in the app is so good. I used it as a secondary light source in a creative portrait shoot, lighting up ground elements in my foreground that my studio light couldn’t quite reach. I also used it as a light wand for light painting in creative studio shots as well as gels for adding atmosphere. Granted the overall image is a little blurry, but the tool worked great! Check out the behind-the-scenes video on Roses, he loves me not… We used the TL60 to light the foreground. Quality of light Light Specs — 2500K – 10,000K color temperature adjustability | 1730lux/0.5m (5600K) | 97+ CRI rating | TLCI: 98+. It creates beautiful light. Using the Neewer App is a breeze to adjust the brightness and color temperature. The domed diffuser creates a beautiful quality of light too. Controls, menus and display Bluetooth Neewer Control App: Match your light to any color with the photo eyedropper, sync multiple tube lights, and adjust special effects from a distance. These are screenshots from the Neewer Light App. There is also a DMX Mixer function as well for using multiple lights at once (I did not try this option). Battery life Rechargeable Lithium Battery: 120 minutes at 100% power | Battery Capacity: 3000mAh (14.8V 44.4Wh) Neewer TL60 RGB Tube Light Stick — A solid RGB light for studio work I adored this light, both in the studio with the creative pre-programmed light types and as a solid RGB light for product photography and some creative portraits. Using the app to control the lights means you can set the lights up and then control them from your phone. This is for you if you’re looking for a good solid lighting option for studio work. Whether it’s product photography, macro or small still life, or even creative lighting for portraits, this Neewer TL60 RGB light stick sure packs a punch.

Mobile Mondays: Get better audio from your phone with the Rode smartLav+ mic

Julie Powell

The Rode smartLav+ is an omnidirectional lapel mic designed specifically for smartphones. It might not be the very latest and greatest, but it certainly offers great quality for the price. I wanted a lapel microphone for my smartphone, as I record a lot of video with it these days. But I also didn’t want to spend a huge amount of money on a high-end mic. I was more interested in something fast, easy for setup and usability, while still getting substantially better sound quality than with the built-in mic. With the smartLav+, you plug it in and go — there’s no apps or anything else to fuss with. It’s best used for single person usage and that is pretty much all I wanted. Uses Being an omnidirectional mic means it should less susceptible to ambient noise and being moved or knocked, as long as you have it fairly close to your mouth. It is a lapel mic, so attaching to a collar with the supplied clip is a good place to start. Rode is a big name in the microphone market and this mic really is quite good, considering it is at the budget end of the price range. It is simple to use and offer crisp audio with minimal noise. Limitations I really don’t think you could use this as a two-person or interview mic, but it was never designed for that. The other issue is that it has a rather short cord. It’s great if you have your smartphone on you, but not great if you have your smartphone on a tripod at a distance — which is why I wanted it in the first place. There is an optional 20-foot extension cord, which I purchased after reading reviews. It plugs directly into the 3.5mm headphone jack on virtually any smartphone. Just after I purchased this product I switched from the Samsung S9 to the new S20, which does NOT have a 3.5mm jack. However, Samsung offers an adapter that allows you to plug the mic into the USB charge port. All in all, the Rode smartLav+ is a great mic for the price. It’s small, lightweight and offers good sound … what more could you ask for? For the latest pricing on the Rode smartLav+, visit B&H Photo.

Review: Lume Cube RGB Tube Light Mini

Julie Powell

The app-controlled 1ft RGB Lume Cube Tube Light Mini is both powerful and versatile, offering an infinite color selection to fuel your endless creativity. With access to seven pre-programmed special effects and customizable frequencies, compromising on your perfect shot is no longer necessary. Additionally, this light boasts an impressive CRI rating of 96+ and 950 lumens of light output, making it an essential tool for every photographer, or content creator. The premium aluminum body of the Tube Light Mini offers unparalleled durability, enabling you to pursue your passion anywhere and everywhere. Note: Lumecube sent the Light Minis to review. However, this is a completely independent review. All thoughts about this item are our own. Pros Cons Lume Cube RGB Tube Light Mini — Technical specifications Lume Cube RGB Tube Light Mini — Ergonomics and build quality It has a solid build and great ergonomics. These lights were fantastic in the studio, but also out in the field on client product shoots. Shock and drop resistant. Even has magnetic ends, as well as a small tripod. What’s in the box (Double-up for the 2-pack) Lume Cube RGB Tube Light Mini — In the field Small and compact, so easy to use on product photography sessions. The adjustable brightness and color temperature makes dialing in exactly as required, especially with the Lume Cube App. The pre-programmed special effects proved to be very handy for creating some very clever lighting effects in the studio. I especially loved Candlelight and Siren settings. Being able to set various colors or even a specific color with the Selection tool in the app is so good. Quality of light Light Specs — 2700K — 7500K color temperature adjustability | 124 powerful LEDs | 950 Lumens | 96+ CRI rating | 920 lux at .5 meters. It creates beautiful light. Using the Lume App is a breeze to adjust the brightness and color temperature. Controls, menus and display Bluetooth Lume Control App. Match your light to any color with the photo eyedropper, sync multiple tube lights, and adjust special effects from a distance. Battery life Rechargeable Lithium Battery: Over 192 min at 50% power and 102 minutes at 100% power Lume Cube RGB Tube Light Mini — A solid RGB light for studio work I adored this light, both in the studio with the creative pre-programmed light types and as a solid RGB light for product photography. Using the app to control the lights means you can set the lights up and then control them from your phone. If you’re looking for a good solid lighting option for studio work, this is for you. Whether it’s product photography, macro or small still life, or even creative lighting for portraits, these little RGB lights pack a punch.

Mobile Mondays: The perfect iPhone case for photography? A look at the REEFLEX Pro Series Metal

Scott Bourne

As many of you know, I own many iPhone cases (and cages) for my iPhone 13 Pro. The truth is there isn’t any ONE perfect case or cage. Picking the right case or cage depends on what your goals are. Sometimes it depends on what your goals are for one specific job on one specific day. So it pays to have choices. Some cases/cages are better for video than stills and vice versa. Some support add-on lenses better than others. But you want a case that actually fits the phone, protects it, supports your photo/video goals and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. For a lot of situations, I think the perfect case is the REEFLEX iPhone case — Pro Series Metal. It’s only $27, and you can save 10% if you sign up for their email list. This is easily the least expensive iPhone case that is dedicated for photography that I have ever seen. Looks great and is easy to grip While looks are subjective (and not really relevant to me personally), I do think it’s rather handsome. It features a gunmetal aluminum and matte black finish. It features a 17mm threaded adapter that works with the REEFLEX add-on lenses (or any other 17mm threaded add-on lens). It is easy to grip, fits the phone like a glove, gives great access to all the buttons, etc. Each case made by REEFLEX is designed for a specific phone. It has a Polyurethane and ABS membrane for increased protection. It also comes with a cool wrist strap, but I have to confess, I am either not smart enough to figure out how to attach it or more likely, my fingers are just too fat to pull it off. But there are three things (beyond the very low price and the other things I’ve mentioned) that stand out for me. This sucker is LIGHTWEIGHT! It is the king of MINIMALIST cases in that regard. It weighs a mere 1.41 ounces! REEFLEX products are guaranteed to be free of defects in materials and workmanship to the original buyer for the lifetime of the product. That’s a crazy good warranty for an under $30 case. It provides the most protection I’ve seen from any case for the three lenses on the iPhone 13 Pro. Look at the illustration below. It’s got a shelf like design that keeps the lenses from coming into contact with the surface. It’s a brilliant design and will help reduce the amount of damage your lenses could get from coming into contact with hard surfaces. It also cuts down on how often you need to clean the lenses. Even if you don’t do serious photo or video with your iPhone, this would be a great case. But for those of us who do, it’s an even greater case. Works great with lenses I am currently testing the REEFLEX camera lenses and will have a separate report on those. But the 17mm thread is preferable to me compared to the M-Mount. That is the mount used on cases from Nomad and Moment. The price advantage is somewhat mitigated by the fact that you have to pay roughly $13 shipping for this case UNLESS you order $130 worth of product from REEFLEX — in which case shipping is free. The product ships to the USA from Italy. I got mine in about a week. A hidden gem in the iPhone accessory market REEFLEX doesn’t seem to be very well known. I think they face some marketing challenges because their name could be confused with REFLEX lenses (as in single-lens reflex camera) but that aside, I expect great things from this company. I am always impressed with the fact that these days, we have tons of fantastic choices to make it easier to use our iPhones for content creation. And I am giving this case from REEFLEX my highest endorsement. If I could only have one iPhone camera case, this would be the one I pick. I rate this system as HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Mobile Mondays: A first look at the Beastcage for iPhone 13 Pro

Scott Bourne

If you’re looking for the beefiest, strongest, most adaptable iPhone 13 series cage, look no further. While my first impressions are from a pre-production model, I have since found out there are no changes and the product is shipping exactly as I received it. Depending on your style of photography or video, this could be the case for you. But as with everything related to mobile content creation, the phrase “it depends” will heavily influence whether or not this is THE ONE. Read on to see what I mean. Beastcage for iPhone 13 Pro — Technical specifications The Beastcage comes with an M37x0.75 lens/filter mount, M17x0.75 lens mount and a Moment bayonet lens mount. Below are technical specifications, provided by the Beastcage website: Size: 171mm x 98mm x 17mm (6.73in x 3.86in x 0.67in) Weight: 312g (11oz) (Without accessories) Material: Machined 6061-T6 aluminum with black anodized finish Lens mount: M37 x 0.75, Moment bayonet, M17 x 0.75 One cold shoe mount Ten 1/4″-20 mounts Two neck strap mounts Three action handle mount Beastcage for iPhone 13 Pro — A cage specific to your smartphone While Beastcage does make a generic phone cage (more on that later), for those with the budget and/or the need, Beastgrip makes a phone specific cage for almost every major cellphone, including my new iPhone 13 Pro. I got one a few weeks early to test and my opinions are based on actual use plus my comparisons against other cages, both generic and dedicated. I already mentioned the Beastgrip Pro which is a generic case. The advantage that the dedicated cage has over the generic one is that it is form fitting, beefier and offers easier options for connecting third-party lenses and filters. Comparing the Beastgrip iPhone 13 Pro cage to the Small Rig dedicated cage for the iPhone 13 Pro, I note several similarities. But the main difference is the Beastgrip cage works with more third-party lenses and filters and is quite a bit more stout. But is also quite a bit heavier. Working with the iPhone 13 Pro There is a very precise fit without any messing around or extra setup. I just inserted my iPhone inside the cage, snapped it shut and was ready to shoot. The quick-locking cover secures and releases the iPhone within seconds. A tool-less, quick-release mount allows you to swap between any lens mount plates quickly and easily. And this is a strong suit of the Beastgrip product. Right out of the box you can use it with lenses or filters from: Beastgrip, Moment, Sandmarc, Moondog labs, Sirui lenses and the Beastgrip DOF adapter. I know of no other cage or case with this much flexibility. If you do, please let me know in the comments. This feature really extends the value of the cage because if you have multiple third-party external lenses (and at this point, many of us do) then you don’t have to throw them away because they aren’t branded for your specific cage. There are plenty of attachment points on the cage. You can attach a microphone or LED light, the Beatsgrip CH-50 handle or their action handle (which is great for low-angle shots). All of these offer a better grip while you are filming handheld. Note: If you buy one of the handles, you’ll want to pick up a NATO rail or adapter rail. This isn’t abundantly clear from the info on most retailer’s websites. The only way to attach the top handle is via a NATO rail. The only way to attach the handle on the side of the cage is with a special side rail. You can also mount these handles on either side of the cage and again, you need to specify which side because each takes a different kind of rail. There is an oversized cutout that exposes the iPhone’s speakers and gives full access to the lighting port. Some cages aren’t as well designed in this regard, but I found the Beastgrip cage made it easy to charge the phone and connect accessories. Beastcage for iPhone 13 Pro — Build quality I must say the thing is built like a tank. It’s made of machined anodized aluminum, and I have absolutely no doubt it will outlast any iPhone you mount inside it. If there is a negative here, it’s that the cage is SO well made and SO beefy that some people may find it too heavy. That is just a personal choice. Nobody can say it isn’t sturdy. There are mechanical buttons that provide comfortable access to power and volume controls. Unlike some cages, the design permits continued easy access to the screen to allow you to accept phone calls and texts, no need to take the phone out of the cage. I will note that if you’re moving from the Beastgrip Pro (generic cage) to the specific iPhone cage that matches your phone model, and you want to use the Beastgrip 58mm filters, you will need the 37-58mm adapter ring which is simply a step-up ring. I like the fact that this cage comes pre-assembled. Often, when using grip for video I spend as much time putting things together as actually using them. That’s not an issue here. It just works out of the box. Beastcage for iPhone 13 Pro — Add-ons I also added a Platypod Disc to the bottom so I have an Arca-Swiss compatible plate that I can use to mount all this to a tripod if needed. You can attach virtually any accessory you want to this cage using one of 1/4″-20 accessory mounts, cold shoe mount and/or two neck strap mounts. Want a cage that’s universal? If you don’t want to be tied down to a specific smartphone, check out the Beastgrip Pro Generic Cage. There are three primary reasons I like that product: It’s generic in that it will work with almost any cell phone. If you upgrade your phone every year, and you buy a phone specific cage, then

ShiftCam ProGrip review: A must-have for smartphone photographers

Brett Day

Many companies have been tried to elevate the smartphone camera user experience with various grip add-ons. To be honest, nobody has nailed it yet. I was recently offered a chance to try the new ShiftCam ProGrip. Could the ShiftCam ProGrip be the accessory that finally takes smartphone photography up a level? Let’s find out. The biggest problem mobile photographers have faced for a long time is that the powerful, and very capable cameras in their phones are not always the easiest to hold and use. ShiftCam wanted to create a grip that would make that problem cease to exist. I have to say, the ShiftCam ProGrip does a mighty fine job of making your phone handle like a DSLR. For reference, I used the ProGrip with my iPhone 11 Pro Max with no problems whatsoever. Pros The grip is very comfortable You can rotate between landscape and portrait modes Connects via Bluetooth Wireless charging Places to attach accessories You can use it as a phone stand Cons It will not work with a phone case It’s a little spendy at $149 ShiftCam ProGrip — Technical specifications All of the technical specifications for the ShiftCam ProGrip are from the product listing page at B&H Photo: Smartphone compatibility: 2.3 to 3.5″ / 58 to 90 mm Power capacity: 6400 mAh PWR input: 1 x USB Type-C Power delivery: Up to 18 W Wireless charging: Up to 15 W Wired charging: Up to 20 W Dimensions 6.0 x 2.6 x 3.5″ / 15.2 x 6.7 x 8.8 cm ShiftCam ProGrip — Ergonomics and build quality The first thing you’ll say to yourself is wow, that’s bulky. The ProGrip is the size of a grip from a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a huge bracket attached to it. Yes, it makes your phone look kind of goofy, but the benefits outweigh this con. The main plastic bracket rotates between portrait and landscape mode. This bracket houses the embedded wireless Qi charger. You’ll also find the Bluetooth connect button and the on-off switch for the wireless charger To the right is the deep, nicely textured grip. On top of the grip is the shutter button and behind that is a threaded mount for an accessory. The bottom of the grip houses a tripod mount and a USB-C port. On the back of the grip, you’ll find a series of seven battery and Bluetooth indicator lights Attached to the grip is a very nice adjustable padded strap that you can slip over your hand. The ProGrip has a simple design but it works well. The ShiftCam ProGrip fits in the plan of your hand just right and it allows you to get lots of purchase on it. It feels incredibly secure in the hand. Nice job, ShiftCam. Build quality I’ll come right off the bat and will say I am not entirely sold on the build quality of the ShiftCam ProGrip. The device is a plastic fantastic, which isn’t bad in itself, but I do have concerns. The main body of the ProGrip is solid. There’s no flex or play anywhere and it feels as tough as plastic can get. The grip is also beefy and well made. All of the buttons feel great as well. The part that concerns me is the spring-loaded phone grip. There’s a lot of play and flex in this bracket. When you have your phone in the clamp it is tight and feels secure. However, when there’s no phone in the clamp it’s as flexible as a 20-year old yoga instructor. I have inserted and removed my camera dozens of times now and everything is still in one piece. However, I do wonder how long this bracket will last, or if it would survive after a few drops to the floor or general bumps and bangs. The ShiftCam ProGrip is not weather-sealed either. So, no creating in the rain. Time will tell if it will hold up or not. ShiftCam ProGrip — Ease of use The great thing about the ShiftCam ProGrip is that’s it’s easy to use. You simply slide your phone (without a case) into the spring-loaded bracket, turn on the ProGrip by hitting the shutter button, and then you go into your phone’s settings and you connect it to Bluetooth. Just like that, you’re ready to shoot. On iOS, you hit the shutter button to take a picture, and you long-press to start recording a video. On Android, you hit the shutter once to take a picture and you long press to take a burst of images. If you want to shoot portrait-style images you simply rotate the bracket to portrait mode. It’s quick, slick, and easy to use. You’ll find that the ProGrip allows you to capture photos just like you would with a dedicated camera. It’s a great feeling. It even helps when it comes to image composition as well. You’ll also be able to create videos that are super smooth and shake-free because you can hold your phone steady. If you want to use the grip with a tripod you can do that as well thanks to the tripod mount in the bottom of the grip. This will come in handy when you’re creating long exposures or videos. When you’re not using the ShiftCam ProGrip out in the field, you can use it as a stand for your phone. This makes it easy to consume YouTube content, and it provides a nice stable platform that will hold your phone for FaceTime calls or Zoom meetings. You can also charge the ProGrip while it’s holding your phone, or you can wirelessly charge your phone. Wireless charging One of the big selling features of the ShiftCam ProGrip is the fact that it has a 6400mAh battery inside. You can use this battery to charge your phone from zero to full and then even a little bit more. You can even use the ProGrip to charge other devices by connecting the gadget to the USB-C port.

Mobile Mondays: EZQuest 5-in-1 USB-C hub is an almost perfect card reader for mobile creators

Brett Day

I recently decided to purchase the 2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro. It has completely changed the way I approach editing images and video. One elephant in the room, though is that the iPad, along with many other devices, is limited when it comes to ports. Fortunately, we have many options when it comes to USB-C hubs now. The EZQuest 5-1 USB-C hub is one of them. When I purchased my iPad Pro, I also purchased a USB-C card reader with a single slot for UHS-II cards. Given that I want to use the iPad for all of my image and video editing, I needed something that could read more than just SD cards. The EZQuest 5-in-1 card reader promises high read speeds from CFast 2.0, Compact Flash, standard UHS-II SD cards, UHS-II microSD cards and Sony’s Memory Stick Pro cards. Now, let’s see how it performs. Pros Can read from five cards simultaneously Slim form factor and good build quality Rapid transfer speeds Plug and play Price Cons No support for XQD or CFexpress cards EZQuest 5-in-1 USB-C hub — Technical specifications All technical specifications for the EZQuest 5-in-1 USB-C hub are from the official EZQuest website: Connector: USB-C, Thunderbolt 3 compatible Finish: Space Gray Cable Length: 22cm, 8.66 inches Dimensions: Length 5 inches, Width 1.5 inches, Height 0.5 inches Readers: CFast 2.0, UHS II SD, UHS II microSD, CF 6.0, Memory Stick Pro Construction: Anodized aluminum The EZQuest 5-in-1 USB-C hub solves a problem; well partly The EZQuest 5-in-1 USB-C hub does pretty well at solving a few problems that mobile content creators face. The 5-in-1 reader cuts down on the number of individual dongles you need to carry. This USB-C hub fits five individual card readers into one device. The card reader will also not have much of an impact when it comes to traveling either. The EZQuest 5-in-1 USB-C hub’s slim form factor allows it to slip into any camera or accessory bag that you might own. Not only is it a nice size, but it’s also incredibly light (0.35lbs) and well constructed. The anodized aluminum finish gives the card reader a premium feel and makes it tough. This card reader has been tossed about in my bags, dropped onto desks, bumped into things and it still looks brand-new. A major caveat The card reader is compatible with UHS-II SD cards and their microSD variants. This will cover most creatives out there. It can also read from CompactFlash, CFas, and Sony Memory Stick Pros. Now, CompactFlash and Sony Memory sticks aren’t used as much these days as CFast and UHS-II cards. CFast cards, for those who don’t know, are used more in video cameras like those from BlackMagic, Arri, Canon and others. One major caveat that stops the EZQuest 5-in-1 USB-C hub from being a perfect tool is that it’s not compatible with CFexpress/XQD cards. This is a bit of a head scratcher. This is not a brand-new format. It has been around for a while now, so its absence is puzzling. It means that If I’m reviewing or using a camera that uses CFexpress Type B or Type A, I will either need a hub that has a USB port so I can connect my camera directly to the iPad or the computer I’m using, or I’ll need a dedicated dongle for those formats. Ugh. This is a major downer. Using the EZQuest 5-in-1 USB-C hub Using the EZQuest 5-in-1 USB-C hub is easy. You just find an empty USB-C port on your device and you plug it in. There are no drivers to download. It’s plug-and-play, which is nice. I connected it to my iPad Pro and it was instantly recognized in the file app. It’s the same story when I connected it to my PC. The cable is pretty long (8.6 inches). When connected to my iPad Pro the reader sits flush on my desk. This removes any tension on USB-C ports which is great. When you’re ready to transfer your data you just pop your media into the correct slot, all of which are clearly marked. Then you simply highlight, copy and paste the files to your device. You can copy data from the five ports simultaneously as well. This will help save you some time. In terms of read speeds, because this is a USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 compatible device, images and video files transfer rapidly. It’s a piece of cake to use. Is the EZQuest 5-in-1 USB-C hub right for you? The EZQuest 5-in-1 USB-C hub is a simple device that does a good job of overcoming obstacles that many tablets and even some laptops and desktops give us (i.e, a lock of ports). If you’re a creator who uses devices such as the iPad, iPad Pro, a Surface, a MacBook, MacBook Air or even a 24-inch iMac, you can benefit from this device. The anodized aluminum finished in space gray matches Apple products nicely. It’s easy to use, it’s well made, and it only costs just a little bit more than one dongle that supports just one card. The major disappointment is no support for CFexpress cards. However, if you use CFast, UHS-I, UHS-II cards, CompactFlash, or Sony Memory Stick Pro cards, the EZQuest 5-in-1 USB-C hub is a good product to have. EZQuest 5-in-1 USB-C Hub The EZQuest 5-in-1 USB-C hub is a slim, well-built card reader that helps creators overcome the problem of a lack of ports in some of today’s mobile, and even some desktop devices. It makes reading from UHS-I, UHS-II, snd CFast cards a piece of card. It also supports CompactFlash and Sony Memory Stick Pro cards. It’s plug and play, it transfers data quickly and it costs less than $60. Grab one of you like to edit while on the go.

iPhone 13 Pro Max the perfect solution for photo and video on-the-go

Bryan Esler

The iPhone 13 is the most advanced smartphone by the company yet, and much of its upgrades take place around the camera system. If you’re looking for a camera to take on-the-go, it’s hard to look past the iPhone 13. The great thing about a phone is you always have one in your pocket. It’s easy to take with you, no matter where you’re going. No need to fuddle with lenses, straps or other accessories (though, those might enhance the experience). The iPhone 13 is the best iPhone yet. And it brings some groundbreaking features that both casual and pro shooters will love. Pros Cinematic mode works excellent, and is a great way to get creative with filmmaking Low-light photography is vastly improved across the board Macro mode works really well, with great, sharp details present Easy to take with you Same camera systems between the Pro and Pro Max versions mean you don’t need a bigger phone for the best experience Cons Macro mode only supported on Pro models Photographic Styles leave a lot to be desired Some effects (like Long Exposure) still need some work for optimal resolution iPhone 13 Pro Max — Technical specifications For this review, I took a look at the iPhone 13 Pro Max, the upper tier of Apple’s iPhone lineup. Here are the specs, provided by Apple: Display: 6.7 inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion Capacity: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB Camera: Triple 12MP cameras (Ultra Wide, Wide and Telephoto) Front-facing camera: 12 megapixel TrueDepth camera Chip: A15 Bionic chip with 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine Water and dust resistance: Rated IP68 Battery life: Up to 28 hours video playback (streamed); up to 28 hours audio playback. Fast-charge capable. Dimensions: 6.33 x 3.07 x 0.3 inches Weight: 8.46 oz (240 g) Colors: Graphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue iPhone 13 Pro Max — Ergonomics and build quality If you’ve used an iPhone before, Apple’s attention to beauty and detail shouldn’t surprise you. Featuring a Ceramic Shield front and a textured matte glass back, along with stainless steel around the outside, this is certainly a pro-level smartphone. And of course, the first thing I did was put a case on it. In the past, I’ve struggled with the smaller iPhones in terms of using them as a camera. They just seem a bit too small in my hands. But the iPhone 13 Pro Max is a larger size, and lends itself to feeling more like a rangefinder style, when it comes to the size. In essence, it feels much better holding it and using it as a camera. iPhone 13 Pro Max — Image quality and characteristics All in all, I was impressed with the image quality I was able to get. Details were sharp, colors were accurate and the three camera system worked well together. Autofocus Focusing has always been a great quality of the iPhone, and with the iPhone 13 Pro Max, it’s no different. This is especially evident when using Cinematic Mode, which uses AI to determine which subjects should be in focus, and which shouldn’t. But even when taking a regular video, or photo, autofocus is quick to recognize and lock on to objects. The same goes for when you use Night mode. It just simply works. Sharpness Every iPhone photo I took — whether it be RAW or HEIC format — came through very clear. Everything I wanted to be sharp was; I didn’t see much lacking. Will it capture the same amount of detail as a 50-megapixel camera? No way. But is it good enough for casual shooting? For sure. The only time I was let down by the sharpness of the iPhone was when I converted a Live Photo to a long exposure. The way this works is Apple applies image stabilization to the image, and crops in on it slightly. Doing so means that you lose resolution, and therefore, you might see your sharp trees become a little soft. I’d love to see image stabilization as an option to turn off here. While this is great when shooting handheld, if you’re on a tripod, it’s simply unnecessary. One note about ProRAW When using the ProRAW format, you might get some colors or over-exposed images when transferring them other photo editing software. This happened with the iPhone 12 series as well, only to be fixed after release. I’d expect something similar with the iPhone 13 Pro Max. For now, I’d take photos in HEIC format if you aren’t planning on editing them through your phone’s native Photos app. iPhone 13 Pro Max — Highlighted features The iPhone 13 Pro series boasts some impressive features that take advantage of some groundbreaking technology by Apple. The company has used AI in ways I didn’t dream was possible, and does so very effectively. Macro mode For still photographers, this was by far the most exciting part of Apple’s iPhone 13 launch. It only works with the Pro lineup of phones, but it works very, very well. iOS 15.1 will add a toggle to turn off the auto Macro function, but I didn’t find this to be much of a problem when shooting. Macro mode captures details incredibly well, at lengths as close as 2cm. For nature photographers, this is an absolute gold mine. You can read my complete review on Macro mode here. Cinematic mode Not being a videographer myself, I often long at some of the cinematic effects that videographers are able to render. With Cinematic mode, the iPhone automatically selects what subject should be in focus, and moves seamlessly between subjects. It works very, very well. In the above video, you can see that I start with a focus on a log, and then slowly shift over to my friend, Dan. It knows that Dan is a person, and so it prioritizes it over the log or any of the rocks, even though they are closer to me. Cinematic mode is available across all iPhone

Mobile Mondays: Macro Mode on the new iPhone 13 Pro is the real deal

Bryan Esler

When I was first starting out as a photographer, I remember that I focused mostly on capturing still life. There was a lot of flower and plant photos, a lot of food and a lot of random, generic items around my house. While I don’t consider myself to be a macro photographer per se, I do still use macro techniques in some of my photography. I recently had the chance to check out the new iPhone 13 Pro Max, and after spending some time with it, I have to say that the new Macro Mode feature has a ton of potential. Editor’s note: All this week, we’re taking a close look at the new iPhone 13 series of phones, focusing specifically on their photography and video capabilities. Stay tuned! Easy to use and perfect for those just getting started Macro Mode is as simple as physically moving your iPhone toward your subject, up to a whopping 2cm away. It happens automatically; you’ll see a slight shift on your screen, where you’ll find that elements get sharper. And as you continue to move your phone closer to the subject, you’ll see how perfectly sharp and in-focus it is. While in macro mode, you can also select from the three different zoom levels — .5x, 1x and 3x — for different views. For those who don’t want to use Macro Mode, a toggle will be coming in a future iOS 15 update. But for now, you will automatically switch over to Macro Mode when you get close enough to a subject. And even better, Macro Mode works with all of the default formats — JPEG, HEIC and Apple’s ProRes RAW. Note that it only works with the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max phones. How the iPhone compares to a regular macro lens In working with details, the iPhone absolutely shines, even when you aren’t on a tripod. With a standard macro lens, in order to achieve perfect sharpness you often have to rely on a tripod. Therefore the iPhone’s implementation of Macro Mode works really well. It’s approachable, without any extra equipment. In terms of image quality, I was impressed too. Images and the details captured were really crisp. Let’s talk backgrounds Macro Mode is computational, meaning you’re not dealing with a true macro lens on the back of your iPhone. It sharpens what it sees, and keeps things in-focus as you bring them closer to the camera. Compared to a traditional macro lens, which blurs the background very nicely and narrows in on a focus point, the iPhone seems to focus more on blurring and distorting the edges instead of a true depth of field effect (like it does with Portrait Mode). This works pretty well with most subjects — especially if you really go in on them. But it’s easy to see the difference between a pro-level macro lens and the iPhone’s macro capabilities: Additionally, I did experience some weird background blurring on buildings and trees, almost like I was seeing double. What if I don’t have a new iPhone? You’re in luck. Halide recently announced that it’s bringing its own version of Macro Mode to all its app for iPhones, version 8 and newer. This works with the app checking which of your lenses can focus closest to your subject, switching to it, and then providing fine focus control to ensure sharpness. AI then enhances the details in your shot. And if you do upgrade your iPhone, it’s supposed to work on top of the stock Macro Mode capabilities from Apple. We haven’t tested this out yet, but stay tuned. What about video and Macro Mode? In addition to capturing still photos, Macro Mode also works with video. In our tests, Macro Mode for video worked equally well; check out the playlist of videos below, which shows Macro Mode capturing a screen, text, bubbles and an onion, courtesy of Rich Harrington. Should I upgrade my iPhone to get Macro Mode? When Apple debuted Portrait Mode a few years back, it was something that people applauded. I wasn’t impressed when it was first launched, but since then, I’ve become an adopter of it, as Apple has improved its technology immensely. I expect Macro Mode will continue to see improvements over time. The iPhone’s Macro Mode isn’t that far away from being a regular, everyday camera for people. If you’re just looking for a casual macro lens, or if you can’t justify the cost of a pro-level macro lens for your camera, the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max are really great options that will unleash your creativity. And in terms of that, Macro Mode is a total home run.

Mobile Mondays: Stabilize your phone and make easy adjustments with the Oben ASPTA-20 tripod adapter

Bryan Esler

As someone who’s had a smartphone for quite a while … and a tripod … you think by now I would have a smartphone tripod adapter, right? Well, wrong. I recently got a chance to test out the Oben ASPTA-20 Smartphone Tripod Adapter, which let me connect my phone to my Arca Swiss-based Fotopro tripods. And just like how easy our smartphones are to use, the Oben ASPTA-20 is equally easy. Flexible sizing to hold any size phone For me, any accessory that holds my phone has to work with a case. And sure enough, the Oben ASPTA-20 does that very well. The adapter features a clamp-style holder that is fully adjustable to hold phones that range from 2.4 to 3.7 inches wide. One of the things I was worried about as well, was that the adapter is made of a metal material. Would it scratch phones? Thanks to a foam-lined interior, and some rounded edges, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about here. Adjustable to photograph at any position The great thing about the Oben ASPTA-20 is it comes with an integrated ball joint, meaning you can angle your phone at virtually any position. Need to shoot up? You can. Down? You can do that too. Need to photograph from a super awkward angle? Yep, you can angle it any which way you want. A cold shoe mount, too This was something I hadn’t even thought of. While photographing with a phone can be great, oftentimes phone photographs suffer from poor lighting. The Oben ASPTA-20 has a built-in cold shoe mount, meaning you can connect things like a small LED light, microphone or other accessory. How it worked in the field I took the Oben ASPTA-20 to several locations, including Lake Michigan and Frederik Meijer Gardens. It let me easily capture things like long exposures, without having to worry about handheld stabilizing my phone. The integrated ball joint was flexible but secure, and I never felt worried about my phone getting loose or slipping out of the adapter. With smartphones getting smarter by the day, it’s a great idea to have an adapter where you can use your tripod to stabilize your phone. Take advantage of your phone’s camera features and use it with long exposures, astrophotographers, low-light, video and more. The Oben ASPTA-20 makes it easy. Oben ASPTA-20 Smartphone Tripod Adapter The ASPTA-20 Smartphone Tripod Adapter from Oben lets you securely mount your smartphone onto a wide variety of platforms like a tripod, monopod, and tripod head. And to ensure compatibility, the ASPTA-20 can mount to these platforms via the Arca-type base or either of the standard 1/4-20 or 3/8-16 threaded holes in the mounting plate.

Mobile Mondays: Moment Tele 58mm lens lets you zoom in on your world

Bryan Esler

I recently received a pack of Moment lenses to test out for review. What I was most excited for was the Moment Tele lens — a 58mm lens that I could attach to my iPhone 12. As someone who didn’t know how bad iPhone’s digital zoom was until a few years ago, I had hoped that the Moment Tele would help me zoom in on my world … without having to pinch in on my screen. After using the lens for several weeks, I can confidently say that it works as advertised, and it’s a great solution to anyone looking for a closer view of what they see in front of them. Editor’s note: Moment sent us a copy of the Tele 58mm to review and keep. This, however, is a completely independent review. All thoughts expressed are our own. We’re telling you this as we always want to be honest with you. First impressions of the Moment Tele First off, this lens is tiny! It makes it perfect to travel or walk around with, as you can simply take it out and plop it on your phone. I used Moment’s iPhone case, which made it easy to connect the lenses in seconds. The Moment Tele offered me an approximate 2x optical zoom, something that’s not offered on my iPhone 12. If you’ve got an iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max, you can double this, and get a 4x optical zoom when used with the iPhone’s native telephoto lens. Why use a dedicated lens for a phone? Simply put, you’ll get significantly better picture quality if you use a dedicated lens as opposed to using your phone’s digital zoom. That is the number one reason to invest in dedicated lenses for your phone. Take a look at the comparison below, and you’ll see what I mean. You can see above that the photo on the left has a soft feel to it, and very little dynamic range. I used the iPhone’s digital zoom here, and you can absolutely see how poor the picture quality can be with it. Contrast this to the photo on the right with the Moment Tele, and you’ll see it’s much more clear, with expanded dynamic range and richer colors. It’s overall a much better photograph. The Moment Tele would be perfect for those wanting to do close-up street photography, portraits … you name it. But it’s also great for the parent looking to photograph (or take video of) their kid’s school performance. It’s perfect when you’re on the golf course looking to grab some shots of your friends as they make a huge divot in the grass (guilty). If you need a closer view than your phone provides, the Moment Tele is really the perfect answer. Outside of the Tele lens, Moment also offers several other lenses at various focal lengths. There are also some more creative lenses, like the Macro 10x lens, the Wide 18mm lens and various fisheye lenses. These all offer a view that you can’t get with your phone’s native camera, which really help to expand your limits of creativity. Things to keep in mind with the Moment Tele One thing to keep in mind here — which should come as no surprise — is the fact that Moment lenses aren’t weather-sealed. They don’t have a typical mount you would find with your DSLR or mirrorless camera. The Moment Tele is basically a piece of glass encapsulated inside an aluminum case. There’s no electronics or anything like that. Because of this, you do have to be somewhat aware of the weather conditions. I took my Tele out to Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, MI, and I got caught in a heavy downpour. What’s more, it was extremely humid. The combination left the lens not only wet, but it also fogged up considerably. It took a few minutes once it stopped raining — and several wipes with a dry lens cloth — to get it back to working order. Additionally, because this lens is pretty small, it’s easy to get fingerprints on the glass. Or even drop it. Whenever I added this lens to my iPhone, I made sure I was over a soft surface like my backpack. Get a closer view with ease All in all, the Moment Tele really works well. It’s easy to attach to your phone and it does what it promises to do. As long as you aren’t exploring the rainforest or some crazy weather patterns, the Moment Tele is a great option to have in your bag (or pocket) when you need that closer view with your phone. Moment Tele 58mm Lens Built using aerospace-grade metal and hand polished glass, the Moment Tele 58mm Lens provides a 4x optical zoom when mounted on a dual-lens phone for a natural 120mm look, as well as a 2x optical zoom when mounted over single-lens cameras or the wide side of a dual-lens camera for a more traditional 58mm focal length. Built using a six element design, this lens excels in portrait, landscape, travel, and sports photography.

Mobile Mondays: Is Photoshop Express ready for prime-time photo editing?

Brett Day

Adobe has been hard at work trying to create mobile editing experiences for photographers on the go; maybe Photoshop Express and its new updates will make the mobile software a viable option. Being able to edit our images on devices like iPads, iPhones and other mobile devices isn’t anything new. Still, many companies have tried and failed at making photo editing software that offers everything we need while still be able to run smoothly on devices that are far less powerful than our laptops and desktops. Adobe’s Photoshop Express has been around for a while now, and while it’s not a full Photoshop suite, it does have some interesting features. A new iOS update to the software has made it even more compelling. We’ve had our hands on the software for a little while now and we’re ready to share our findings. Should you download it? Well, read on to find out. Editor’s note: Adobe provided me with a free one-year subscription to their Creative Cloud so that we could test out all of the new features in Photoshop Express. This has not affected the thoughts and views expressed here. This is a totally independent review. What new in the latest update? Adobe has introduced a ton of new features in Photoshop Express that bring some of the more advanced editing tools across into this mobile software. The update includes: Smooth Skin: Remove blemishes and smooth skin for a natural yet flawless finish in one tap. Heal: New and improved healing that is easier to use than ever to remove unwanted spots/objects in photos with spot healing and patch replacements, with adjustments for brushes, opacity and feathering. Face: Retouch a face with sliders that recognize face shape and adjust the angle of a head, add a smile, play with contouring and more. Caricature: Exaggerate facial features including a forehead, mouth, nose and more with sliders to create fun caricatures. Liquify: Reshape, swell or twirl an image. Per Adobe, there are also tools for replacing closed eyes and selective edits. There’s also a new Discover Feed, which allows you to see how someone created a look, and then you can apply the same edits to your own photos. You can also send Photoshop Express PSD files directly from your mobile device to Photoshop on the desktop. As you can see, there are some powerful new tools in Photoshop Express, and maybe a couple of gimmicky ones too. I used the software on my non-pro 9.7-inch iPad with the Apple Pencil and my iPhone 11 Pro Max. I mainly edited portrait images as this update seems to be all about portraits. The user interface You’re going to have two pretty different experiences using Adobe Photoshop Express. If you use an iPad or Android tablet, you’ll find that the software is well laid out and easy to navigate. If you use a Phone, you’ll find the menu systems a little cluttered and a little more difficult to navigate. It’s by no means bad, nor is it unusable. I would like to have seen a better layout on the iPhone, though. You’ll find yourself swiping up, down, left and right an awful lot and it can just become bothersome. Still, we have to remember here that this is a mobile editing platform. Screen real estate, especially on phones always makes things a little more challenging. So, I guess we cannot be too picky here. It works and it gets the job done. The new Photoshop Express tools, when used right, do a pretty great job We’re not going to go into all of the functions of Adobe Photoshop Express. Instead, we will focus on the tools that have been added via the latest update. The Smooth Skin tool As the name implies, this tool will help you edit the skin of your model(s). We all might different opinions about how much is too much when it comes to editing. I think we can all agree that modern cameras with higher megapixel sensors and lenses that are sharper than ever make skin smoothing almost mandatory. Now you can do this on the go once you have transferred your images to your mobile device. The tool is actually very easy to use. Select Retouch and then select your image. You’ll be greeted with a nicely laid-out screen with just a few options. The options are none, smooth and smoother. It’s pretty straightforward. Smoother is much more aggressive than smooth, though smoother has a slider that lets you choose just how aggressive the treatment is. Smooth just applies a predetermined amount. Both honestly do a nice job. The AI in play in Photoshop Express does a great job at determining which areas of the images get the treatment. If you want to do a quick edit on the go so you can send proofs off to a client, the Smooth Skin tool does a more than decent job. The Face tool The Face tool in Photoshop Express allows you to alter the angle of your model’s head. It can create smiles that aren’t there, You can adjust the width and height of the nose, you can tilt, resize and change the distance of eyes. You can even contour the chin, cheeks and forehead. Personally, I’m not a big fan of these types of edits. I think it takes things too far, but, if you need these tools, then they’re there for you. Again, the tools are easy to use. You simply select which part of the face you would like to alter and then you are presented with a simple sliding bar that allows you to increase or decrease the effect. My favorite by far would be the smile tool. It does a nice job, but like many other things, a little goes a long way. If you’re too heavy on the slider things can look pretty hideous very quickly. If your work requires you to sculpt perfection then you can now do it pretty easily on your iPhone, iPad, Android or Windows device. Liquify and Charicature The

Get more in
your inbox

Get a regular dose of inspiration, education and all the latest news and reviews, delivered to your inbox each week.

Mobile

Get more in your inbox

Get more in
your inbox