The ShiftCam SnapSeries lineup has advanced to incorporate a extra highly effective battery pack, a bigger studio mild, and a a lot taller tripod — all related by way of MagSafe. Here is the way it all matches collectively.
ShiftCam provides an more and more different vary of kit for content material creators and photographers that work from iPhone. Once I reviewed the unique SnapGrip, I used to be excited by the prospect of an evolving MagSafe accent ecosystem, and ShiftCam continues to ship with the newest SnapSeries merchandise.
ShiftCam additionally provides a lens set for iPhone referred to as LensUltra, which I discovered to be a powerful competitor to different attachable lens choices. The iPhone 16 Professional Max is appropriate with this set by way of a brand new case, so I will focus on the set alongside SnapSeries right here on this roundup.
There’s rather a lot happening with ShiftCam and it appears the corporate is paying shut consideration to how folks use their iPhone to create. The corporate has additionally launched MagSafe SSDs that may snap into place alongside any SnapSeries accent.
Every part snaps along with magnets, however chances are you’ll not want or need every thing, so this is how every accent works and matches in with the remaining.
SnapGrip Professional
The SnapGrip Professional is an enormous replace to the unique mannequin with a 5,000mAh capability and Qi2. It is far more environment friendly and allows you to seize photographs and document video for much longer.
SnapGrip Professional is a MagSafe battery pack and shutter management for iPhone
Join on to the USB-C port for 20W PD charging. It is a lot quicker than Qi2 and useful when recording high-resolution video that is draining the battery shortly.
The SnapGrip Professional is not only a MagSafe battery although, it is a Bluetooth shutter that may management the iPhone’s digital camera. The grip is formed like a conventional digital camera grip too, so it helps regular photographs.
The iPhone 16 lineup has a devoted button referred to as Digicam Management, but it surely’s not fairly the identical as utilizing SnapGrip Professional’s shutter button. There are a whole lot of swiping and urgent gestures with Digicam Management, which may be helpful in some conditions, however there’s nothing higher than an easy-to-press shutter.
Get a greater grip whereas capturing photographs and seize with much less shake with SnapGrip Professional
I actually like Digicam Management, however I have a tendency to make use of it whereas holding the iPhone with two fingers. It’s kind of fiddly too, so urgent the shutter can typically result in unintentionally zooming.
With SnapGrip Professional, you possibly can simply maintain the iPhone regular with one hand and press the shutter. It is actually about what operate you want, as I discover each can exist and have their separate makes use of.
Get the SnapGrip Professional for $89 from ShiftCam’s website.
SnapStand Max
The 70-inch SnapStand Max is a superb transportable tripod that collapses to only 11 inches lengthy and makes use of MagSafe to connect an iPhone. There’s a built-in rechargeable shutter button that may be faraway from the deal with too.
SnapStand Max folds up to slot in your bag
The MagSafe mount head can swivel 200 levels for no matter angle you want. It is sturdy sufficient to carry your iPhone aloft with out worrying about sag.
The stand opens with a button on the base of the deal with when it is closed. It telescopes easily upwards and may be left at any size securely.
The mount nonetheless feels a lot sturdy even in case you load it up with equipment just like the SnapStudio Gentle, SnapGrip Professional, and an iPhone. Nonetheless, concentrate on how a lot weight there’s as you prolong the tripod, as an uneven floor might trigger your complete system to tilt and fall.
The complete 70-inch top can get wobbly, particularly with different equipment hooked up
When extending the SnapStand Max to its tallest setting, it could be greatest to restrict it to the iPhone and SnapLight. It stays its sturdiest to about 48 inches in size — any taller with extra equipment hooked up, maybe hold an individual holding it regular.
I am comfortable that the SnapStand Max can prolong to such a tall top. It is useful for capturing a fast picture or video in some conditions. Nonetheless, that further size comes at a tradeoff to stability and a slight bump could cause every thing to fall over.
Even simply setting it to 55 inches elevated my confidence in its skill to face with no wobble by rather a lot. Like several tall stand like this, it is necessary to know its limits.
The collapsible toes do not do a lot to forestall tilting
The SnapStand Max is not like a conventional tripod that has three legs that stretch. As a substitute, it is acquired three toes that keep the identical measurement whereas a neck is prolonged, which is routinely not as sturdy by design, however you do get a a lot smaller product when folded up.
All that mentioned, I would not ask for the stand to be shorter. Customers simply should be cautious and use their greatest judgement when establishing.
Get the SnapStand Max for $71.10 from ShiftCam, presently discounted from $79.
SnapStudio Gentle
The SnapStudio Gentle is one other battery-powered accent from ShiftCam. It has 10 steps of brightness adjustment as much as 440 lumens whereas on battery or 600 lumens when related to an influence supply.
SnapStudio Gentle provides nice lighting choices for photographs and video
Customers may management temperature 10 steps between 2,500K and 6,000K. Buttons on the facet of the sunshine present quick access to controls.
The MagSafe mount within the heart may be rotated 180 levels for simple switching between back and front cameras. Connect it to the SnapStand Max for a studio setup, or join it to the SnapGrip Professional for a transportable selfie or vlogging software.
Like with any ring mild, reflections are going to be an issue, particularly at an in depth proximity. You are going to see the sq. mild in your glasses and even mirrored in your eyes except you are at a sure distance or angle from the sunshine.
The SnapStudio Gentle has a middle MagSafe mount that may be rotated
The good factor in regards to the ShiftCam ecosystem is all the choices for mounting gadgets. There is a screw mount on either side that may connect to the included stand or any commonplace tripod mount.
The interior battery can final about 40 minutes at max brightness. Join the SnapGrip Professional and wire it to the sunshine to increase its time and accessible brightness.
Get the SnapStudio Gentle for $89 from ShiftCam.
ProMic Shotgun and Chilly Shoe Mount
For those who’re wanting so as to add a little bit extra versatility and common compatibility, ShiftCam has a chilly shoe mount referred to as the SnapShoe. It is solely $29.99 from ShiftCam.
The ProMic Shotgun attaches to the MagSafe SnapShoe mount
For those who purchase the ShiftCam ProMic Shotgun, it may be set into the SnapShoe. Purchase them as a bundle for $109.98 or get the mic alone for $79.99.
The SnapShoe is a superb addition as a result of it attaches by way of MagSafe however permits different equipment outdoors of the ShiftCam ecosystem to be hooked up. It is simply an ordinary chilly shoe mount, so deliver no matter mild or mic you need.
The ProMic Shotgun does an important job choosing up your voice, and it will be higher than your iPhone mic in some conditions. That is very true since you have got the choices for various wind filters.
It is a Tremendous-cardioid mic with a 20Hz to 18kHz frequency response. It really works over an ordinary audio jack and has a second port for connecting headphones.
ProMic Shotgun depends on audio jacks for interfacing
You are going to want a USB-C to headphone jack adapter to make use of this mic, so it is most likely not your best option for contemporary iPhones. Although, if that is not a difficulty, then it is a good mic.
Maybe ShiftCam can work on releasing a brand new model with USB-C connectivity.
SnapMount Digicam Case
ShiftCam let me check out its SnapMount Digicam Case along with its SnapSeries equipment. It is a part of an entire pictures or media manufacturing bundle, so I needed to put all of it along with the LensUltra set.
SnapMount Digicam Case with adapters deliver LensUltra to iPhone 16 Professional Max
The brand new case is constructed from a very nice textured cloth that is truly machine cleanable. It has a cutout for Digicam Management and tactile covers for the opposite buttons.
The lens mounting system modified to one thing ShiftCam calls an S-mount. It was beforehand a 12mm thread, so this alteration is a bit odd contemplating the LensUltra system nonetheless makes use of that older thread fashion.
I assume it is on account of a shift in how they need to make lenses sooner or later. The 12mm mount requires a few turns to safe the lens utterly, whereas the S-mount is only a easy twist mechanism that feels safe with a half flip.
The SnapMount Digicam Case comes with two S-Mount adapters
The SnapMount Digicam Case ships with two of the S-mount adapters, in order that ought to be sufficient for customers to get by. Nonetheless, for somebody like me that owns the total lens set, I want I might order extra S-mount adapters individually simply so I did not should swap the mount between lenses.
The case helps MagSafe charging and works with all of the SnapSeries equipment with out challenge. I like that the case has a pleasant design and is not too cumbersome, so it may be used as a case often with out feeling like I must take it off when not utilizing the lenses.
Get the SnapMount Digicam Case for $49.99 from ShiftCam. Remember to select your iPhone mannequin from the record.
Utilizing SnapSeries
For those who get the SnapSeries Skilled Equipment and the opposite equipment talked about above, they will match collectively in attention-grabbing methods to perform completely different duties. After all, you possibly can snap all of them collectively right into a sort of monster MagSafe tower, but it surely’s seemingly not very sensible.
ShiftCam SnapSeries can be utilized collectively for a modular setup
Set as much as document a video with the stand, mild, and microphone, and because you’re seemingly stationary, use an exterior energy supply as a substitute of attaching the MagSafe battery to the already wobbly stack. Use the battery pack whenever you’re trying to go handheld relatively than counting on the stand.
That is not to say you possibly can’t join every thing collectively, but it surely’s just a bit unwieldy. As I’ve mentioned beforehand, use your greatest judgement.
I do suppose it is actually cool that you would be able to choose and select equipment to snap collectively for no matter you want at that second. Nonetheless, there could also be some trial and error in determining precisely which order the items ought to go in.
The one means the SnapGrip Professional costs the iPhone is whether it is immediately hooked up, however there are conditions the place you’d need it anyway. For instance, place the iPhone within the SnapStudio Gentle then connect the SnapGrip Professional so you have got a grip with a shutter button for taking well-lit selfies.
Take higher selfies with SnapGrip Professional and SnapStudio Gentle
Take that setup even additional by utilizing a USB-C cable to supply energy and improve the SnapStudio Gentle brightness, or cost the iPhone over cable at 20W.
There are many methods to make use of the SnapSeries magnetic equipment. The kits are one of the best ways to get every thing you want, however be warned, you may seemingly hold coming again for extra from ShiftCam to enhance the flexibility of the setup.
Get the SnapSeries Skilled Equipment with the SnapStudio Gentle, SnapStand Max, and SnapGrip Professional for $231.30 from ShiftCam, a ten% low cost accessible at publication. The SnapSeries Skilled Equipment Professional consists of every thing plus the ProMic Shotgun and SnapShoe for $311.93, additionally discounted by 10%.
