Over time, I’ve tried a bunch of iPhone digital camera equipment that promise to raise the smartphone images expertise. To be trustworthy, few, if any, have accomplished that. Both they have been a trouble to hold, wanted fixed charging, or just did not add any worth to the artistic expertise, and I swiftly misplaced curiosity. So when the Fjorden digital camera grip popped up on my radar, I used to be a bit of sceptical… however curious sufficient to take it for a spin.
I have been utilizing the Fjorden grip for about six months now, since late summer season 2024, and remarkably, it is stayed connected to my iPhone 15 Pro Max roughly always throughout that point. That alone is a testomony to its enduring attract.
The unique advertising hype promised to show your iPhone right into a “correct” digital camera, which was a stretch, though they’ve since modified their messaging to “Shoot like a Professional together with your iPhone.” That stated, the ingenious design has made me behave in another way and, as promised by the hype, shoot with my iPhone extra severely, with extra consideration and artistic intent. That alone makes it a worthwhile funding, and my iPhone images throughout this era has advanced for the higher.
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Elevating the iPhone digital camera expertise
In the end, the Fjorden Grip is designed to easily to provide you a greater maintain in your iPhone together with bodily controls for shutter, zoom, publicity, focusing, and extra. It does simply that and does it exceptionally effectively.
It is light-weight and comparatively unobtrusive even when saved, connected to an iPhone in a denims again pocket. I’ve saved it connected to my iPhone roughly always, which says loads.
The grip is sweet sufficient for my comparatively huge fingers and simple to carry. The 2-stage shutter button is infinitely superior to the native digital camera controls on the iPhone 15 Professional, and whereas the iPhone 16 has the new and pretty good camera button, the Fjorden grip nonetheless improves the “images expertise,” particularly when capturing one-handed.
It should be famous, although, that the ergonomics are significantly higher within the horizontal orientation when taking panorama pictures. Taking vertical footage, standard with most social media platforms, creates a extra clunky ergonomic expertise. The grip may be rotated to make use of within the upright place, pivoting across the central attachment “clasp,” however it will disconnect the MagSafe connection and compromise stability. It feels flimsy and precarious utilizing it this manner. I tended simply to rotate the iPhone and grip, which was positive however required each fingers.
Fjorden worth and availability
The Fjorden Fundamental bundle prices $159.99 / £139.99 on the Fjorden website and consists of the digital camera grip and adhesive adapter. The Fjorden Plus bundle provides a MagSafe case and prices $179.99 / £169.99. Fork out $199.99 / £199.99 for the Professional bundle and a clamshell case plus wrist strap can be bundled in, whereas the Final bundle ($239.99 / £229.99) additional features a MagSafe adapter. Australia availability and pricing TBC.
Usefully for one-handed capturing, a helpful wrist strap is included within the Professional Bundle. Whereas not a groundbreaking accent worthy of writing about, this more and more useful strap is nice for capturing on the streets, particularly as photo-snatching thieves have gotten extra prevalent. I additionally continuously discover myself photographing in barely precarious locations, reminiscent of leaning over the deck of a ship, the place the strap is a helpful safeguard towards unintended dropping.
It must be talked about, although, that the material used to connect the wrist strap might and must be stronger. I’ve already worn by means of the “loop” on one facet, and the second loop seems to be threadbare and shortly to interrupt. Within the huge image, this appears a small and comparatively superficial level to deal with, nevertheless it is a vital one nonetheless. I discover it shocking that when all the pieces else is so effectively thought of and crafted, the bundle would fall quick on maybe the simplest factor to get proper.
Along with the strap, the Professional Bundle consists of the MagSafe digital camera case to connect the grip to the iPhone, an adhesive adaptor if you wish to use your individual case, and a carrying case. Different bundles within the Fjorden vary embrace the Final package deal, which provides a magnetic adapter for the Fjorden Grip with thumb relaxation, tripod, and chilly shoe mount.
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The Fjorden grip is powered by a CR2032 battery, which Fjorden claims will final a few 12 months. After 5 months of fairly heavy use, my system is at 80%, so this appears to be an correct assertion. The grip connects to an iPhone through Bluetooth, which drains the iPhone battery considerably throughout heavy capturing. That is annoying, and you will have to hold a battery pack in the event you plan to shoot loads. The Bluetooth connectivity means the grip will double up properly as a distant set off, too.
Digicam apps for seasoned photographers
The grip works with the Fjorden Digicam App and third-party apps like Digicam Professional (I did not check this) and is quickly to be absolutely built-in with the Leica LUX Professional app. Fjorden and Leica have fashioned a partnership, and it’s now branded as “Fjorden, a Leica Digicam Firm.” Maybe it will not be lengthy earlier than it additionally will get the long-lasting Leica “pink dot” (and worth improve).
The accompanying free Fjorden Digicam App helps you to shoot in Full Auto, Guide Mode, or Portrait Mode, and it is superb. It’s now solely out there if you buy the grip, which is a disgrace as even with out the grip, it is a good “pro-spec” smartphone digital camera app. When used with the grip, it comes into its personal.
Collectively, the Fjorden Grip and digital camera app provide you with full management over your iPhone digital camera. The scroll wheel permits you to simply management publicity, shutter velocity, ISO, a set of seven movie emulations or types, focus, and white stability. Precisely how you like to configure these parameters is as much as you and may be personalized within the settings. Publicity management, exact focusing, and movie emulation are the three I used most, and I prioritized these on the scroll wheel.
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Naturally, the affiliation with Leica means there can be integration with the Leica LUX professional app, too, though on the time of writing it isn’t absolutely built-in. I’ve examined a beta model with some integration in place, and it appears good with some beautiful Leica-styled “seems to be.” On the draw back, there’s a month-to-month subscription with the Leica LUX Professional, which, after the price of the grip, may not sit effectively with everybody. Nonetheless, I perceive there can be Fjorden + LUX Professional bundles coming within the close to future that may supply a greater incentive.
Both means, the Fjorden app is greater than adequate and a delight to make use of. There may be at present no Android model.
Verdict
Some minor niggles however, I really like this grip. It’s been just about in my again pocket, connected to my iPhone 15 Professional Max, since I acquired one round six months in the past. It’s been around the globe, actually and brought fairly a bashing. As my pattern pictures present, there’s some beauty put on and tear, however except the loop that attaches the hand strap to the iPhone, it’s nonetheless in fine condition.
What I actually love, nevertheless, is how the grip has made me change my creative behaviour when utilizing my iPhone. I now make pictures with extra intent, fastidiously contemplating composition and light-weight in a means that I beforehand reserved for my ‘correct’ digital camera. To this extent, the system lives as much as its advertising hype.
The controls will not be solely ergonomically sound, however in addition they permit me to regulate my publicity worth (EV) simply, focus exactly, and tweak different parameters, giving me extra artistic management over my image-making. What’s to not like!
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