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Prynt Pocket iPhone photo printer and camera grip review

If you own a smartphone, I am willing to bet that you have more than a few images on your phone. Except for a Canon 70D DSLR that I use to take most of my product review shots, I use my iPhone 7 Plus to take all my personal shots. 90% of those images stay on the phone and don’t get shared which is kind of sad. Remember the Polaroid cameras from decades ago that had a built-in printer that printed and spit out the picture as soon as you snapped them? The Prynt Pocket iPhone photo printer reminds me of a smaller version of that product. 

What is it?

The Prynt Pocket is a photo printer and camera grip made especially for the Apple iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone SE, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5s, and iPhone 5.

What’s in the box?

Prynt Pocket grip/printer
Zink paper pack with 10 sheets
MicroUSB cable
Quick start guide

Design and features

The Prynt Pocket is a more compact version of the Prynt Case which Elizabeth reviewed earlier this year. It is available in several colors including the black version that was sent to me. It’s made of plastic with a textured grippy covering.

One side of the Prynt Pocket has a molded grip with a lanyard loop on the edge.

The bottom of the Prynt Pocket has the slot where the printed image comes out, a micro USB charging port and a charging status LED.

The top of the Prynt has an expandable slot with a lightning connector that can accommodate different sized iPhones.

Depending on the iPhone model, it may or may not be able to fit in the Prynt slot with a case. My iPhone 7 Plus would only fit with a very thin case like the Totallee thin leather case. Other cases I tried made the phone too wide for the slot.

The Prynt Pocket doesn’t use ink to print pictures, it uses special Zink thermal printer paper. It’s exactly the same type of sticker paper used with the Polaroid Zip printer. At least I thought it was the same.

The Zink paper comes in packs of 10 sheets. The pack with the special blue top sheet loads into the Prynt paper cartridge.

The Prynt Pocket comes with one pack of 10 sheets. I was also sent a box of 40 sheets with my review sample. Instead of opening the extra box after I had used the first 10 sheets, I pulled out an old package of Zink paper that I use with my Polaroid Zip printer. Although the paper looks and feels identical, right down to the blue top sheet which is used to tell the printer the type of paper, the old pack wouldn’t load into the Prynt Pocket. It was very slightly too wide. Grrrrr…

After you have the right paper loaded into the cartridge, the cartridge slides into the slot on the top of the Prynt Pocket.

Unfortunately, that’s as far as the cartridge can be inserted. A little less than half of it remains sticking out of the Prynt. This isn’t a huge problem if all you plan to do with the Prynt Pocket is print pictures that you’ve already snapped. But if you want to use the Prynt Pocket as a camera grip, it makes the whole setup feel pretty awkward.

Even if the cartridge wasn’t sticking out the top of the module, the grip is still awkward to hold and use. The shutter button is too close to the edge of the grip and needs to be more centered.

Let’s print some pictures

To print pictures with the Prynt Pocket, you will need to install the iOS Prynt app on your iPhone. You’ll also need to create an account to use the printer which is annoying.

 



But once the app is installed, you’ve created an account and are logged in, the rest is pretty easy. You can choose to print images in your existing library or take a new image.


The app has some basic photo editing capabilities including cropping, enhancing, and even adding some text.


Another fun feature is the ability to record a video that will play when you view the image through the Prynt app. Think of it like live images or Harry Potter style images.

After you’ve chosen a picture to print, you just press the print button and in a few seconds, you’ll have your printed picture.

The image comes out of the Prynt completely dry since actual ink isn’t used.

The quality of the images is about the same as other Zink printers that I’ve used. The colors are a bit washed out with a yellowish or greenish cast to them.

The best part about the images is that the paper is peel and stick. This makes it easy to stick the pictures in your journals, which has been my main use for them. Even if they aren’t the best quality prints, they are more than adequate to make me relive the memory of when I took them.

Final thoughts

At $149.99 for the Prynt Pocket and the relatively high cost (.50 cents) for each print, the Prynt Pocket isn’t very economical compared to other Zink printers like the one I mentioned earlier in the review. That said, the Prynt Pocket is fun to use and it’s really handy for people who like to journal like me. If you are shopping for a photo printer that’s plug and play and has a built in camera grip, this is the one to get.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Prynt. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $149.99
Manufacturer: Prynt
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Easy to use
  • No Bluetooth pairing required
Cons:
  • Can't use other versions of Zink paper with this printer
  • Grip is awkward
  • Expensive

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Prynt Pocket iPhone photo printer and camera grip review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 11, 2017 at 12:44 pm.

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DxO ONE camera attachment for iPhone and iPad review

I have been a digital photographer for over 15 years now. I started with the equivalent of an Instamatic, and moved up to a prosumer, then full DSLR cameras. I have bought and sold lenses, filters, and other equipment. While I don’t pretend to know how to adjust f-stops and ISO for challenging conditions, I have made some nice photos, been paid for some and awarded prizes for others. I’m rarely ashamed or embarrassed by my work. I’ve also bought into the iOS ecosystem hook, line, and sinker. So it was only a matter of time before I subsumed to the Siren call of the DxO ONE iOS camera. I pre-ordered this about three years ago, and my Lovely Bride kept asking “What is this charge on our credit card?” to which I would reply “It’s a new camera. It’ll be here any day now.” She’s sweet to believe in me. And she’s seen much more funneled into my photography habit. And it only took nine months to ship!

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

DxO has a long history in Photographic software. Their measurement software for photo accuracy is an industry standard for many. The DxO ONE, however, is the first piece of hardware they have produced. It doesn’t look much like a standard camera. For one, it doesn’t have a viewfinder of any kind. Second, there is no way to see what your settings are. The first version, before the first firmware update, could only shoot from within an app on a connected iOS device.

A physical release pops out a lightning connector, and attaching it to your iPad, iPod touch or iPhone launches the software that controls the camera and turns your device’s screen into a viewfinder.

While that was cool enough (and the DxO ONE’s 25-megapixel sensor easily bested the resolution of the 8 megapixel iPhone 5s I was using at the time), the first firmware update added the ability of the unit to take pictures independently of the iPhone using the black-and-white screen as a rough viewfinder. (Yes, black-and-white. Zero shades of gray. Think original Macintosh. See picture below – loads of dithering. Those are the boards of my deck, through a glass table.)

Crazy as it sounds, this is a James Bond/Man from U.N.C.L.E-type spy camera. I can pull something out of a cigarette pack that doesn’t look like a camera and grab a really, really good photo in dim light. In full color. My 10-year-old self would be screaming for joy about now. I regularly use it for concerts and candid shots, but just this weekend, I discovered what the newest firmware update added: remote control. As in, I can turn this camera on, set it up, and walk away, and snap photos from it at will from anywhere on the same wifi network. (Pictures below are of me snapping hummingbird photos. The first pic is focused on my phone, the second photo is focused on the DxO ONE on the tripod. Since the devices are both on wifi, I could have been anywhere on my network monitoring the camera.)

And the camera is so quiet and unassuming, it’s more stealthy than some nanny-cams. And, as I was researching further, I found it can also be controlled from an Apple Watch! Sure, you don’t get the nice preview with the watch like you do with the iPhone, but you can hit the shutter release without touching it, or looking at your camera screen.

Another advantage of using the Lightning Port is that you can easily pull the camera off and turn it 180° to make a selfie camera of amazing quality. (It doesn’t help the subject matter, sadly, but you get more details to edit out.)

Sometimes, you find a case that doesn’t give good access to the flat area around your Lightning port, but there are many on the market that do. I recently spent some credit card points on a tripod mount and lens mounting adapters, in hopes of finding a decent telephoto lens to fit.

Since this is a camera review, I guess I should have some comparison shots from a known camera. I shot three scenes on full auto indoors with no flash, outdoors with full sun, and indoors in a dimly lit area with flash. The ones on the left were taken with the onboard iPhone 6s Plus camera. The ones on the right were taken with the DxO ONE attached to the same phone. (The DxO is attached to the lightning port, so it’s on the opposite end from the built-in phone. This is what accounts for the slight shift in point-of-view.) The only changes to the basic auto setting I made was to force flash to fire in the indoor flash shot. There are no lights turned on in the room, or in my mini-studio, only the camera flash. The images are full-frame with no cropping or enhancement added.


 


 

 

 

 


 

In the first shot, it’s easy to see the increase in light the ONE’s sensor makes. There is some fuzziness, but that’s to be expected with handheld shots. The shutter button on top of the ONE makes you have to pay much more attention to camera shake since it’s a physical button, rather than the virtual button on the iPhone app.

In the outdoor shot, things look equal in the well-lit areas, but the details under the shade, like the bark on the tree left of center, fall apart on the iPhone. If you’re wanting to get all CSI on the background, like my neighbor’s garage or porch area, the DxO has way more data to play with.

In the final flash set, the body of the camera is about the same, with a little fuzziness on both shots. The texture of the strap in the DxO shot is far more clear when you blow it up, however. Given the distance from the light source, the lighting is better, too.

So, is the difference worth the price? Hard to say. Three years ago and two generations of camera phones, it was to me. On our last vacation, most of my travel photos were taken with just the iPhone 6s Plus. While I always wish for more glass for zoomed shots, I was very happy with the outcome. Adding a clip-on polarizing filter (which is not easily doable with the DxO) made a lot of difference in sunny outside shots.

Computational photography is making the size of the sensor obsolete much faster than the “camera guys” are improving the optics of camera hardware. Given Cupertino’s income from sales, they have far more resources to spend in this area than companies like Canon and Nikon, let alone poor little DxO. But, still, it’s a neat gadget, and I don’t regret purchasing it. Meanwhile, the price is down $100 from what I paid, but with the software updates, I’m still up to date. I love living in the future.

Source: The item for this review was purchased with personal funds. Please visit DxO for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $469.99 (retail is $499)
Manufacturer: DxO, Inc.
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • iOS device
Pros:
  • Small and light.
  • Tight build quality.
  • Software under active development.
  • Easy to connect to iOS device.
Cons:
  • It's so small, attaching lenses is difficult, and finding quality lenses is difficult.
  • Some cases don't let it fit device fully.

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DxO ONE camera attachment for iPhone and iPad review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 14, 2017 at 8:30 am.

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This crystal ball won’t let you see the future but it can help you take amazing photos

Hey, all of you amateur and not so amateur photographers, iPhoneographers, and photobugs out there. I have something very cool to show you. It’s the Lensball and it might just take your everyday photos to the next level.

The Lensball is a photo accessory that doesn’t require a special mount for your camera or smartphone and it doesn’t require batteries. It is an actual crystal ball that is made of hard scratch resistant K9 crystal which is the same crystal that is often used to make optics like camera lenses.

Lensball makes two sizes. There’s the 80mm (3.1in) size which weighs 650 grams (1.4lb), and the smaller 60mm (2.4in) size which weighs 250 grams (.55lb).

The idea is that you shoot through the ball to capture some really interesting images.

Be sure to check the Lensball on Instagram for some examples of the types of images that you can capture while using this unique accessory.

You can buy the 80mm version of the Lensball for $34.95 and the smaller 60mm version is $24.95. Visit Lensball.com for more info. You can find similar crystal balls on Amazon that cost less, but they don’t all say that they are made of the K9 crystal and some comments mention that they arrive scratched or with flaws.

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This crystal ball won’t let you see the future but it can help you take amazing photos originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 5, 2017 at 11:30 am.

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Hasselblad True Zoom Camera Moto Z Mod review

When you shop for a new smartphone, do you base your decision on how good the camera is? It’s a determining factor for me. I wouldn’t consider buying a phone that has a sub par camera because my phone is my main camera. That’s why I’ve been fascinated with camera accessories like clip on lenses that might improve my images and when Motorola and Hasselblad created the True Zoom camera Moto Mod, it perked my interest and I was happy to get the chance to try one out for a few days. Let’s take a look.

What is it?

The Hasselblad True Zoom is a Moto Mod for Motorola Moto Z smartphones that turn the Moto Z into a true pocket camera with a zoom lens.

This quick review isn’t going to be super technical because I’m not a professional photographer and I don’t know all the ends and outs of lenses and camera gear. I just am a casual photo snapper who mainly uses automatic mode to snap a few images every day. But I am always interested in making those images look better with the least amount of effort.

You probably already know what Moto Mods are by now, but just in case you don’t, they are magnetic attachments for Motorola Moto Z phones that offer extra functions and customizations. There are decorative covers for the back of the phone, Bluetooth speakers, projectors, gaming controllers, and more.

The Hasselblad True Zoom Camera Moto Z Mod shown above on the left has electrical contacts that match up with contacts on the back of a Moto Z phone to create an electrical connection. The mod is also magnetic which allows it to attach to the back of the phone without clips or latches.

At first glance, the True Zoom looks like a point-and-shoot camera. But upon closer inspection, you will notice that it doesn’t have a viewfinder, a display or a memory card slot. That’s where the Moto Z comes in.

The True Zoom snaps securely to the back of the Moto Z to turn it into a full fledged 12MP camera with 10x optical zoom, a xenon flash, shutter button, and zooming mechanism.

What’s in the box?
Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod
Protective carrying case
User guide

Camera specs
Sensor type: BSI CMOS
Sensor size: 1/2.3-inch
Pixel size: 1.55 um
Aperture: f3.5-6.5
Zoom: 10x optical/4x digital
Focal length: 4.5-45 mm (25-250mm 35mm equivalent)
Macro: 5cm @1x – 1.5m @10x
Image stabilization Still: OIS Video: EIS
ISO equivalent: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
Dimensions: 152.3 x 72.9 x 9.0 – 15.1 mm
Weight: 145g

The True Zoom doesn’t need to be charged as it gets all the power it needs directly from the phone it’s attached to. It also doesn’t need its own software because it uses the built in camera app. So all you need to do is snap it on the back of the Moto Z and you’re ready to shoot.

The True Zoom Moto Mod adds considerable thickness to the very thin Moto Z2 Play Android smartphone that was included with the True Zoom for my evaluation. It’s a bulky mod and as such, it’s not something that you would leave attached to your phone all the time.

The True Zoom lives up to its name because it does indeed have a built in lens that zooms from 4.5-45 mm (25-250mm 35mm equivalent).

The Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod has a small power button on top and a larger shutter button with a spring loaded collar around it that is used to zoom the lens in and out.

Just like true cameras, you can press the shutter half way to focus and then all the way to snap the image.

The mod also offers a nice grip that adds even more to the pocket camera feel when you’re using it.

Let’s check out some images to see if the True Zoom makes a noticeable difference shooting images compared to capturing the same images with just the Moto Z2 Play.

Example images

I tried to frame the comparison shots as closely as I could and snapped them one after the other. So I would take a picture with the Moto Z2 Play and then put the Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod on the back and shoot the same image in that order. Also, all shots are taken without a tripod.

All images can be clicked to see the original full size photo.


Indoor shot with bright backlight. Both were taken with no zoom applied.


Both images above were taken without any zoom applied. They are similar except that I think the True Zoom captures colors that look more natural compared to the Moto Z2 Play’s image on the left which has too much green/yellow tint to it.


Both images have zoom applied and we start to notice that the True Zoom is sharper than the digital zoomed image from the Moto Z2 Play without the moto mod attached. The color tinge on the Moto picture is still noticeable.


More zoom applied to both. Both are blurry when you view the full sized image but the True Zoom pic looks considerably better in small sized web images.


Max zoom applied to both. The Moto Z2 Play image looks very blurry compared to the True Zoom pic. But if you click to see the full sized image, the True Zoom is also a little blurry. That could be because the picture was taken without a tripod which probably should be used with 10X zoomed pics. A threaded tripod socket on the True Zoom would be a nice feature that is lacking.


The yellow mailbox in the True Zoom image looks better than the Moto Z2 Play’s image because the color on the top curve of the mailbox is smoother and not over exposed like in the Moto Z2 image.


Again, the True Zoom’s image looks better when you compare the two Android figures.




When it comes to indoor low light pics, the Moto Z2 Play’s image without flash is brighter than the True Zoom’s image.

Using flash, the True Zoom’s image looks better. Check out the window in both images and notice how you can see the trees in the True Zoom’s picture (FYI: this is a basement window).

Note: you can shoot in RAW format with the True Zoom.

Using the Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod was easy for the most part because all I had to do was place it on the back of the phone and launch the camera app. No other special changes are needed. But I did notice a few issues.

The camera app seemed to crash on a semi-regular basis while the True Zoom was connected to the phone. I also noticed that sometimes the lens would extend when I would pull the phone with the attached mod out of my pocket because it was easy to press one of the buttons on the mod which sometimes (but not always) cause the mod to activate and wake the phone.

Final thoughts

I like the idea of the Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod, but when it comes down to the images improvements over a Moto Z without the True Zoom, I wasn’t overly impressed especially with non-zoomed images. I’d personally only carry this mod with me when I knew I’d be taking a lot of telephoto (zoomed) shots. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother using it due to the added bulk. There’s also the price which puts this accessory in the “I’d like to have this but I don’t want to pay this much for it” category for most people.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Verizon Wireless. Please visit their site for more info.

 

Product Information

Price: $249.99
Manufacturer: Hasselblad / Motorola
Retailer: Verizon Wireless
Requirements:
  • Moto Z family of smartphones
Pros:
  • Easily snaps on the back
  • No charging necessary
  • 10 X zoom
Cons:
  • Bulky
  • Expensive
  • Camera app crashes regularly
  • Lacks a tripod socket

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Hasselblad True Zoom Camera Moto Z Mod review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 28, 2017 at 4:53 pm.

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ShiftCam is a 6 in 1 dual lens case for the iPhone 7 Plus

Do you consider yourself an iPhoneographer? You’re not alone if you do. By itself, the iPhone 7 Plus has a great camera, but is there a way to make it and your photos even better? The people behind the successful Kickstarter campaign for the ShiftCam Camera Lens Case think so.

What is a ShiftCam? It’s a specially designed case for the iPhone 7 Plus that features a set of sliding lenses that add telephoto, wide-angle, fisheye and macro capabilities to the built in camera.

The lenses are built right into the case so you don’t have to remember to carry clip-on style lenses with you when you are traveling.

The ShiftCam also offers a hand strap and a built-in grip to give your iPhone a true pocket camera feel. Check out the video below to see how the ShiftCam works.

Do you want a ShiftCam case for your own iPhone 7 Plus? It’s priced at $59.00 through shiftcam.com. You can also check out their Kickstarter campaign page for extra info.

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ShiftCam is a 6 in 1 dual lens case for the iPhone 7 Plus originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 26, 2017 at 10:00 am.

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