Smartphones continue to improve the quality of the images they take, but one could argue that ergonomics have either stagnated or worsened over time. That’s where the Shiftcam program comes in.
It’s not that there was no grip for the phone before. LG was probably the most ambitious in 2016 when it adopted a modular approach with the G5 and one of the attachments was a grip. That idea never stops, but the idea behind it never dies, and Shiftcam is trying its hand at being ambitious.
Progrip does not discriminate by platform – iOS and Android users are mostly on equal footing. The contrast is actually in areas that may surprise you and you don’t always have to include your hand in the price offer here.
Design and build
People usually capture their pictures in portrait or landscape mode, and that’s why Progrip’s clamp system is tilted. It’s not as mechanical as a motorized gimbal, so you need to rotate it manually as you wish. While doing this, it has a satisfying click to make sure you got it right, and the orientation to go to the portrait is always clockwise and counterclockwise to go to the landscape.
It is quite clear that ShiftCam has taken a strategic approach by setting up a clamp of approximately three inches wide, keeping it compatible with many phones that have been around for several years. Not every phone fits this level, primarily because some handsets are too small or slippery. I just noticed this while trying to shoot with the iPhone 13 Pro. This was unusable without a case, although Progrip itself has a solution in the box: two silicone strips, when you place them on either side of the clamp, create a buffer to hold small phones in place. They lock in the clamps with perforated holes, helping to secure everything.
If you have a case that provides sufficient thickness, you may not need to use them. This was the case with the iPhone 13 Pro, but not the 13 Mini, which required strips even when a case was running. Small rubber stoppers are also thrown for the screen with curved edges that can slip off the clamp. The maximum range of clamps is 3.54-inches, which is enough to accommodate larger phones, such as the iPhone 13 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, and Vivo X80 Pro, among others. The spring mechanism isn’t particularly flexible, but I haven’t had a hard time getting a phone inside and outside the clamp, including if it’s in any case.
The grip has a physical shutter button that connects to the phone via Bluetooth. Click on it and you will take a still image on an iPhone or Android phone. Hold it and you start recording video on an iPhone, when you shoot an explosion on an Android device. I can’t find any way to change or adjust those settings.
There is an LED array on the other side of the grip to indicate pairing status and battery life. One of the great things ShiftCam was able to integrate was a Kiwi wireless charger on the clamp that would bring juice to the phone while using the program to capture whatever you want. The charging pad itself is not difficult to align with the coil on the back of the compatible phone. However, if your phone does not have wireless charging, you can plug in using a cable from the USB-C port at the bottom.
Setup
The setup basically depends on what program you have. No, there are no two forms besides ash and charcoal color schemes, but there are two ways to get the product The ProGrip itself comes in at $ 100, or you can pay পেতে 150 to get the starter kit, which gives you an adapter for a nice protective case, hand straps, cold shoe mount and hot shoe mount. I checked the starter kit to see how much difference the extra pieces make. One of my complaints about the case is that it only fits the program. This makes room for the hand strap, but attach the cold shoe or hot shoe adapter and it will not close. You must first remove them to close the case.
Progress is easy to pair out of the box, but to do it again, just hold down the Bluetooth reset button and click the shutter to bring it back to pairing mode. The wireless charger also has its own on / off button.
Extra pieces of kit don’t lend themselves to some pretty sophisticated setup. Undoubtedly a part of it is an upsell from Shiftcam which is going to increase the gear of its lenses and accessories for you, but you can use whatever you have. I used a case and lens of the moment with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, as well as tried different LED lights on the cool shoe. Below the grip is a standard screw mount so that it can be attached to a tripod, monopod or rod. None of this was particularly difficult to do. My only concern was that the cold shoe mount could sometimes be a little loose, but nothing bad happened during my test.
Out of the field
I would say that in most situations ProGrip has a greater impact when shooting video than stills. A pervasive problem with capturing video handheld on a phone is that the software often has to pay for hand shaking and shaking. So, phone makers find ways to offset it, whether using ultra-wide lenses or software to help stabilize the footage.
The program is a low-tech way to deal with it because it adds good old-fashioned stability through its design. The hand strap has proven to be very effective in securing my grip, especially if I try to shoot at high, low or fuzzy and hard angles to get the best advantage points. The program doesn’t care which mode you use on the phone. Just apply settings, exposure, etc. and click shutter to take pictures. I found it to work well in low-light and pro mode situations, as the firmness allowed for a steady view.
I imagine that vloggers will take over all of this very quickly. Phones often force you to compromise on how and when to shoot, and especially in landscapes, it’s usually a two-handed affair. Progrip changes it a lot. Even if I could mount it on a small tripod, I could just grab the phone from the grip with the attached tripod for a quick shot – something more ergonomically difficult without the grip.
For other uses
Shiftcam presented the program as a desktop stand and it was right to do so. Keeping the phone in any orientation while working or watching something hands-free has proven to be beneficial. Video calls were easy, as were phone calls using speakers The only downside is that it’s a fixed angle, so if you have too much or too little for it, you need to improve.
I like to keep it on a flat surface for long exposure shots. The only problem is the fixed angle, which means it is not possible to change its direction. If I want to capture something from a glorious perspective, I have to find a way to do it, or if I have an easy one, just use a tripod. Same with the eye view of a steep bird.
One thing I would say about the 6400mAh battery is that it is very convenient to have. Sometimes the phone had a weird tendency to start charging wirelessly, only to shut down after a few minutes, but in the end it worked just fine. The battery also has pass-through capability, so if you plug in ProGrip to charge the phone, Grip will charge the phone at the same time.
All about grip
Of all the phone camera grips I’ve got, it was the most functional and elegant. It just works, whatever it is you really want from the camera grip. While it would be nice to have other buttons for certain functions, I later realized that it could have complicated things, especially for straddling the line between iOS and Android devices.
The starter kit is worth the extra money because the pieces that come with it make a real difference in how you prepare. Whether it’s a lighter or a microphone, a tripod or an external lens, the program gives you more flexibility when you have the pieces in place.
Have options?
There are plenty of others out there, like Pictar Pro With its retro styling and the ability to both focus and zoom using the onboard physical buttons. It even has a detachable viewfinder, as well as a dedicated app for shooting in different modes, including full manual and RAW. ShiftCam is actually releasing a new grip called SnapGrip, which includes a Kickstarter campaign before any retail availability. It focuses more on creating content than pro photography and there is definitely a lifestyle vibe through the different color options.
The Joby Gorillapod Mobile Rig It’s not a grip on its own, but it does include a tripod with two arms to attach accessories for a full-on smartphone rig.
Will you buy it?
Yes, if you think your mobile photography game can be helpful. The program really changes how you capture both static photos and videos because it gives you static ergonomics. At $ 150 For starter kits, it is also better priced than the alternatives.
