MagSafe handle for better photos and videos

Modern flagship camera phones like the Pixel 7 Pro, Galaxy S23 Ultra and iPhone 14 Pro are getting closer and closer to a true standalone camera photography experience. Ignoring the physics of small lenses and sensors, there’s no denying that a great camera in your pocket is great, but what if you also miss the “feel” of a real camera? Let’s take MagSafe accessories, photography, and the Pixel 7 Pro—three of my favorite topics to talk about—and mix them together. We get the ShiftCam SnapGrip, a MagSafe grip that magnetically attaches to your phone and gives it DSLR-like ergonomics.

The Pixel 7 Pro is often in a Moment (M) Force case, which opens up a whole world of MagSafe accessories for me, like the SnapGrip. Even if I don’t have this case, ShiftCam offers a metal adapter for any phone. Just attach it to your phone or case and you’re good to go. My iPhone doesn’t need an adapter to use the grip, but the MagSafe iPhone case helps strengthen the magnetic bond and protect the phone.

Whenever I want to use the grip, I just place it near the back of my Pixel or iPhone and the MagSafe magnets snap it into place. Simple and easy. Best of all, it doesn’t block any port or button on the phones, unlike other grips that stick to the sides and end up turning off the screen or interfering with the volume.

The handle itself looks like it was cut off of a DSLR or mirrorless camera. It has a large protrusion around which your hand fits snugly and where your index finger can rest naturally, leaving at least two or three other fingers to wrap around the back. It’s very ergonomic to hold for long periods of time – much more so than squeezing a thin smartphone slab ever will be.

I have very steady photography hands (years of taking clear 2 megapixel photos of medicine leaflets at home for studying helped me develop that), but I still love the freedom of not having to worry about balancing my phone while you tap the screen shutter. . Instead, I can just physically press the shutter button under my index on the SnapGrip and take the photo! You can’t argue with that kind of tangible feedback.

My biggest gripe? Every time I used the camera grip, I wished it had zoom buttons. Because of the excellent quality of the Pixel 7 Pro’s telescoping lens, I rely on its zoom to better frame most of my shots. Switching to the touchscreen to adjust it and then back to the handle feels unintuitive and distracting. Emotional zoom buttons would make this a much better world for Android zoom masters – less so for the iPhone.

In my tests, I liked how solid the entire assembly felt, even though the grip and phone are two separate entities held together by MagSafe magnets. I wouldn’t trust the Pixel 7 Pro’s grip over a bridge, a moving body of water, or a dangerous vacuum, but I used it for everyday photography. Streets, tourism, parks, exhibitions, fun events; it can be great for all of them. If you have pets or children and run after them, this would be ideal; you only need to pair once via Bluetooth and it will connect automatically every time you turn it on.

But the grip does more than just give you a better grip on your phone. It can be a good vertical or horizontal stand. It also has a 3,200 mAh power bank that can charge the phone wirelessly while it’s plugged in. LED lights show the remaining battery time.

Charging is limited to 5 watts, but it was enough to keep my Pixel going while I walked around and took pictures. Again, 10W or more would be better here, but the idea is to avoid draining the battery too quickly rather than fully charging the phone.

If you choose the Creator Kit, you get three additional accessories with the ShiftCam SnapGrip. They can all be used alone or together in any combination for maximum versatility. Again, the beauty and simplicity of magnets.

My favorite is the round MagSafe LED light and mirror that opens up so you can point it back to shoot anyone, turn it towards you for a selfie, or snap it to any metal surface or tripod. additional light source. It only has a USB-C port for charging and a button to change the brightness of the LED light between five different levels.

The mirror is a small but ingenious addition that helps people frame and check themselves before you take their picture. Another bonus: You get a case that carries both the grip and the light with you.

There’s also a small plastic table stand that works on relatively flat surfaces, but one I wouldn’t use in unstable environments, and a MagSafe stand holder that lets you clip a phone, a light, or both. I find this perfect for night and astro photography because as steady as my hands are, they’re not as stable as a phone tripod for long exposure shots.

The flexibility of all these elements makes this layout interesting, especially since all you have to do is snap them together. No plugs, hooks, screws or anything time-consuming. This puts them among the best smartphone photography accessories for me.

I’ve used the SnapGrip sometimes alone with my phone and other times with a light; I’ve used the tripod mount to support my phone with and without light; and I’ve used a tripod light to brighten up a scene I shot while holding my phone. Add light-bending capability for selfies and regular photos, then a tripod and wireless charging, and you’ve got a versatile setup to help with creative photography and videography on the go, from streets to people, nature and astro.

My two biggest concerns with the ShiftCam SnapGrip are price and spontaneity. You either have to plan ahead and carry this MagSafe grip with you when you know you’ll be shooting a lot, or you have to carry it with you all the time. When we start adding these many accessories to our phones, we might as well carry a mirrorless camera instead, right?

The pricing also feels prohibitively expensive for what it’s at: a handle-shaped wireless power bank with a round magnetic element and a Bluetooth trigger. $70 for that and $120 for the Creator Kit with light, stand and bag feels like a stretch. The Apple tax is very real, but hey, you’re getting multiple products together, which can help justify the investment.