The ShiftCam SnapSeries lineup has developed to incorporate a extra highly effective battery pack, a bigger studio gentle, and a a lot taller tripod — all linked through MagSafe. This is the way it all suits collectively.
ShiftCam gives an more and more various vary of apparatus 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 most recent SnapSeries merchandise.
ShiftCam additionally gives 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 suitable with this set through a brand new case, so I will focus on the set alongside SnapSeries right here on this roundup.
There’s lots occurring with ShiftCam and it appears the corporate is paying shut consideration to how individuals use their iPhone to create. The corporate has additionally launched MagSafe SSDs that may snap into place alongside any SnapSeries accent.
All the things snaps along with magnets, however you might not want or need every thing, so here is how every accent works and suits in with the remainder.
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 pictures and report 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 helpful when recording high-resolution video that is draining the battery rapidly.
The SnapGrip Professional is not only a MagSafe battery although, it is a Bluetooth shutter that may management the iPhone’s digicam. The grip is formed like a conventional digicam grip too, so it helps regular pictures.
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 variety of swiping and urgent gestures with Digicam Management, which could be helpful in some conditions, however there’s nothing higher than an easy-to-press shutter.
Get a greater grip whereas capturing pictures 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 palms. It’s kind of fiddly too, so urgent the shutter can generally result in by accident zooming.
With SnapGrip Professional, you may simply maintain the iPhone regular with one hand and press the shutter. It is actually about what perform you want, as I discover each can exist and have their separate makes use of.
Get the SnapGrip Professional for $89 from ShiftCam’s web site.
SnapStand Max
The 70-inch SnapStand Max is a good moveable tripod that collapses to simply 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 could be left at any size securely.
The mount nonetheless feels a lot sturdy even in the event you load it up with equipment just like the SnapStudio Mild, SnapGrip Professional, and an iPhone. Nonetheless, concentrate on how a lot weight there may be as you lengthen the tripod, as an uneven floor may trigger your entire gadget to tilt and fall.
The total 70-inch peak can get wobbly, particularly with different equipment connected
When extending the SnapStand Max to its tallest setting, it might 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 connected, maybe maintain an individual holding it regular.
I am joyful that the SnapStand Max can lengthen to such a tall peak. It is helpful for capturing a fast photograph or video in some conditions. Nonetheless, that further size comes at a tradeoff to stability and a slight bump may cause every thing to fall over.
Even simply setting it to 55 inches elevated my confidence in its potential to face with no wobble by lots. Like every tall stand like this, it is necessary to grasp its limits.
The collapsible ft do not do a lot to stop tilting
The SnapStand Max is not like a conventional tripod that has three legs that reach. As an alternative, it is bought three ft that keep the identical measurement whereas a neck is prolonged, which is robotically 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, at present discounted from $79.
SnapStudio Mild
The SnapStudio Mild 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 linked to an influence supply.
SnapStudio Mild gives nice lighting choices for pictures and video
Customers may also management temperature 10 steps between 2,500K and 6,000K. Buttons on the aspect of the sunshine present quick access to controls.
The MagSafe mount within the heart could 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 conveyable selfie or vlogging instrument.
Like with any ring gentle, reflections are going to be an issue, particularly at a detailed proximity. You are going to see the sq. gentle in your glasses and even mirrored in your eyes until you are at a sure distance or angle from the sunshine.
The SnapStudio Mild has a middle MagSafe mount that may be rotated
The great factor concerning the ShiftCam ecosystem is the entire choices for mounting units. There is a screw mount on both sides 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 out there brightness.
Get the SnapStudio Mild for $89 from ShiftCam.
ProMic Shotgun and Chilly Shoe Mount
For those who’re wanting so as to add somewhat 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 good addition as a result of it attaches through MagSafe however permits different equipment outdoors of the ShiftCam ecosystem to be connected. It is simply a typical chilly shoe mount, so carry no matter gentle or mic you want.
The ProMic Shotgun does a fantastic job choosing up your voice, and it’ll be higher than your iPhone mic in some conditions. That is very true since you could have the choices for various wind filters.
It is a Tremendous-cardioid mic with a 20Hz to 18kHz frequency response. It really works over a typical 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 carry LensUltra to iPhone 16 Professional Max
The brand new case is constructed from a very nice textured material that is really 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 as a consequence of a shift in how they need to make lenses sooner or later. The 12mm mount requires a few turns to safe the lens fully, 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 needs to be sufficient for customers to get by. Nonetheless, for somebody like me that owns the total lens set, I want I may order extra S-mount adapters individually simply so I did not must swap the mount between lenses.
The case helps MagSafe charging and works with all of the SnapSeries equipment with out problem. 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. Make sure 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’ll match collectively in fascinating methods to perform totally different duties. After all, you may snap all of them collectively right into a sort of monster MagSafe tower, but it surely’s doubtless not very sensible.
ShiftCam SnapSeries can be utilized collectively for a modular setup
Set as much as report a video with the stand, gentle, and microphone, and because you’re doubtless stationary, use an exterior energy supply as an alternative of attaching the MagSafe battery to the already wobbly stack. Use the battery pack whenever you’re seeking to go handheld fairly than counting on the stand.
That is not to say you may’t join every thing collectively, but it surely’s just a bit unwieldy. As I’ve mentioned beforehand, use your greatest judgement.
I do assume it is actually cool that you could decide 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 approach the SnapGrip Professional expenses the iPhone is whether it is immediately connected, however there are conditions the place you’d need it anyway. For instance, place the iPhone within the SnapStudio Mild then connect the SnapGrip Professional so you could have a grip with a shutter button for taking well-lit selfies.
Take higher selfies with SnapGrip Professional and SnapStudio Mild
Take that setup even additional by utilizing a USB-C cable to supply energy and enhance the SnapStudio Mild 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 doubtless maintain coming again for extra from ShiftCam to enhance the flexibility of the setup.
Get the SnapSeries Skilled Equipment with the SnapStudio Mild, SnapStand Max, and SnapGrip Professional for $231.30 from ShiftCam, a ten% low cost out there at publication. The SnapSeries Skilled Equipment Professional consists of every thing plus the ProMic Shotgun and SnapShoe for $311.93, additionally discounted by 10%.
