Smartphone News

We all know that people tend to become self-conscious with a camera pointed in their face, and the new COVR Photo iPhone Lens Case helps solve all that with a unique product that lets you take candid shots while holding your phone like a TV remote— putting your subjects at ease even if they know they are being photographed.

Like most photographers I occasionally become equipment obsessed, but sometimes even the smallest tool, something as simple and useful as a new LensPen, can make creating new images a little easier. I’ve often said that the most important piece of equipment is the one between a photographer’s ears, but creating images also requires tools. Choosing the right tool or accessory may not make the difference between a good photograph and a bad one, but may make the difference in whether or not you even try to capture it.

We’ve seen a multitude of new smartphone accessories lately, but the 3D­‑printed DotLens is definitely one of the more zany. This self-adhering “conversion” lens comes in three strengths: 15X, 30X and 60X—the later of which enables you to view objects as small as 1/10 the width of a human hair.

The Galaxy S4 Zoom is what you might call a “multi-personality” device. Phone, camera, Browser, game device, gateway to all the Android apps, GPS, mapper, email connector--it’s all of that and more.
I say “multiple” because while the initial face of the unit looks like half point and shoot camera/half phone, one pasted atop the other, there is a lot more going on under the hood. That includes all the current connections one could imagine and access to the entire Android set of apps,from camera functions to finding where you can get a decent latte in any city or state or country you might find yourself. One can listen to music; watchvideos; browse the Internet, get email, tap compatible phones (literally) to share content; and send and receive via any social media you could imagine.

Wireless camera remotes are fairly common these days but most offer only limited control over your DSLR or mirorrless camera. That changes with the new and sophisticated Pulse remote camera trigger from Alpine Labs, which combines pro features with an easy-to-use interface and a surprisingly low introductory price of $89.

Tony Sweet says that smartphone photography “isn’t officially part of the show” at his photography workshops, but the subject does come up with increasing frequency. “They’ll do their big camera work first,” Sweet says of the students, “then they’ll pull out the phones and shoot a few things, discuss among themselves, and ask me some questions.”