NB: While set in Chicago, this post is #TheShyPhotographer's first post in the Philippines.
When I got the iPhone 5s, I thought long and hard about the type of protection I would give it. I want it to be as simple as possible because I don't want to cover up the beauty of the device.
After much research, I decided on the Manfrotto Klyp+.
The Klyp+ is a nice all-around bumper for the iPhone 5/5s. The sides are covered while the front and back sides surfaces of the phone are prevented from having direct contact with, say, a table. The bumper is a great way of preventing scratches on your precious phone.
Unlike other iPhone protectors though, the Klyp+ still highlights the beauty of the 5/5s. The gold color of the phone is still visible and you can still access the different ports and buttons, especially the new finger print sensor.
However, Manfrotto designed the bumper so that only the official iPhone charging cable and earphones (or something of the same size) will be able to access the charging and earphone ports respectively. I tried using a third-party charging cable but, unfortunately, it wasn't able to clear the small opening.
There is an included tripod mount that also doubles as a stand. This gadget, after all, is made by Manfrotto. You can use this stand/tripod mount on any ¼-inch tripod. This way, you can have blur-free shots and even include yourself in the picture!
A hand strap is also included with the bumper. This makes the iPhone photography experience similar to that of using a point-and-shoot. It also makes sure that your iPhone won’t go tumbling to the ground, or to the river below if you are shooting from a bridge, in case your phone slips. The strap is another layer of protection. Note, though, that the strap will be on the “wrong” side of the phone if you use the “volume up” button to trigger the camera.
However, this is only the beginning of what this nifty iPhone accessory can do.
If you get the separately-sold lenses, then you will be able to raise your iPhone photography to a whole new level.
You get a portrait lens, a wide angle lens, and, my favorite, you get a fish-eye lens. With this set-up, you now have an interchangeable lens set up for the iPhone! You get wider shots, better portraits and lots of fish-eye fun. Below are samples of what you get from the iPhone camera, the fish-eye lens, the wide angle lens and the portrait lens respectively. The only thing changed in-between shots are the lenses. Position of the iPhone, camera-subject distance and camera angle all remained constant.
And it’s so easy to set up. Just screw the lens of your choice and that’s it. You can either use the standard camera app or use the iphone photography app of your own choosing.
Or better yet, get the Klypapp+ made by Manfrotto. With this app, you can make time lapse and stop-motion videos, aside from the standard photo and video captures.
And it still does not stop there!
Another very useful, separately-sold accessory is the LED light. Dubbed Surface Mount (SMT) LED, this constant-light accessory will aid your photography when the sun goes down or when you are in dimly-lit environments. The lamp, mounted to the bumper also, is perfect for portraiture and, most especially, when you do video interviews. And since it’s constant light, you will have a great idea of how your picture will look even before you take the shot.
Want off-camera lighting? Fret not! The LED lamp comes with a detachable base that’s also compatible with a ¼-inch tripod screw. Manfrotto thought of everything!!!
Is there anything I want changed? Well, when you use the iPhone as a phone, you know, to call, then the bumper sticks a little to your ear. I tried talking to the wife in a noisy environment and, in such situations, I push the earpiece of the phone closer. This hurt my ear a little. Another, the fit of my bumper is not perfect: the phone wiggles a little inside the bumper. Also, the opening for the charger and the earphone could be a little bigger so as to accommodate more third party accessories. Oh, and there is a slight vignetting on the corners of the wide-angle and portrait lenses, and i cannot seem to center the fish-eye lens...
However, the protection and expandability brought by the Klyp+ bumper, accessories and the Klypapp+ far outweigh those negatives making the Manfrotto Klyp+ system a must have.
The Manfrotto Klyp+ system is Highly Recommended!
So get yours here:
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Gear used to make this post:
-- Canon Powershot G15 (Reviews Part 1 and Part 2)
-- Lowepro Urban Photo Sling 150 (My reviews here and here)
-- Manfrotto Pixi (review)
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