NEWS – Photojojo’s Shutter Remote works with most every mobile device’s camera – Android or Apple. Pair the remote to your mobile device via Bluetooth, and you’re ready to take candid photos or group shots from up to 30 feet away from the phone or tablet. You can also use it to start/stop video recording. There won’t be any blur or out-of-focus shots caused by shaking the camera while pressing the shutter, either.
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NEWS – Photojojo’s Shutter Remote works with most every mobile device’s camera – Android or Apple. Pair the remote to your mobile device via Bluetooth, and you’re ready to take candid photos or group shots from up to 30 feet away from the phone or tablet. You can also use it to start/stop video recording. There won’t be any blur or out-of-focus shots caused by shaking the camera while pressing the shutter, either.
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REVIEW – Each photographer has his or her own type of photography that is special to them. I like to photograph subjects in nature, and I also like to use existing objects to create my scenes. Water drop photography is a favorite of mine, and this device promises to greatly help me to expand my creativity.
What is it?
The MIOPS Smart is a device that responds to Lightning, Sound, Laser, Timelapse, HDR and more to trigger the shutter of a camera to take a picture.
What’s in the box
1 x MIOPS Smart
1 x Mini USB Cable
1 x Camera Trigger cable
1 x Quick Start Guide
Design and features
The MIOPS Smart is a small and nicely built camera shutter trigger that can be activated in several modes. On the front there is a display screen and buttons to navigate the screens should you choose to do so from the device. On the side under a removable cover, there is a port for extension DIY projects, a flash trigger port, a camera trigger port, and a mini USB port for charging the battery.
On the top, in addition to the control buttons and the display screen, there is the trigger LED, the power LED and the on/off power button.
On the front (side), there are an infrared sensor and a motion sensor lens.
On the back of the MIOPS Smart, there is a 1/4-20mm female mount that sits on a Hot Shoe mount, the microphone and a battery door that covers the slot that holds the rechargeable battery.
Performance
While you can control the MIOPS Smart via the buttons on the device, the optimal way to use it is via the app. It has several operational modes and setup screens that are available via the app.
App
Once you install the app and launch it, and turn on the MIOPS Smart, it appears on the app. If you have more than one MIOPS device turned on, they will all show up as available for selection.
Once you select the MIOPS Smart by touching the icon on the screen, it connects to the app and is ready to be controlled via the app. At this stage, all of the available modes and options are available on the left of the screen. (I used the app on my Pad for this demonstration)
Scenario option:
For example, you can create custom scenarios by combining all available modes with up to five different steps. You can do so by using any combination of the sensors or by using different sensors for various steps of your scenario. For instance, you may want the MIOPS to trigger the camera shutter to take a picture after an object breaks the laser beam and then makes a sound either from hitting a surface or by some other action.
Lightning option:
This option has one screen which gives you the ability to set the sensitivity level to trigger the device.
Sound option:
Settings for Sensitivity, Delay, and Lock.
Laser option:
Threshold, Delay and Frame settings screens.
Time Lapse option:
Settings for Interval, Exposure, and Limit
Bulb Ramping option:
There are 4 settings screens for this option: Interval; First Exposure; Last Exposure; Frame.
HDR option:
Settings screens are for: Center; EV (+-); Frame.
For my testing of the MIOPS Smart, I chose the sound option. I set up for water drop photography using the MIOPS Splash Water Drop Kit and the MIOPS Smart, within a photography lightbox enclosure. (Additional items like a catch basin for the water, etc are necessary)
The enclosure that I used does not have any built-in lighting. To light the effect, I used a flash strobe with a colored gel insert. To take the pictures, I used a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a 70mm Sigma Art Macro Lens. The MIOPS Smart was connected to the 3-pin trigger port on the Canon and mounted close to the MIOPS Splash. A flash trigger transmitter was attached to the shoe on top of the camera, and a receiver was connected to the strobe. I used 2 iPhones to simultaneously control the MIOPS Splash app and the MIOPS Smart app. When I trigger the MIOPS Splash device to drop water, the mechanism makes a sound that in turn triggers the MIOPS Splash to trigger the camera shutter. This setup takes time and a whole lot of patience to get the size and timing of the waterdrops as desired, as well as to get the sensitivity and timing correct for the MIOPS Splash to receive the sound and trigger the camera to take the picture at the right time. This setup is actually one of my less complicated setups and describing the details of it is challenging.
The MIOPS Smart is a great device, and I do plan to try it with a laser beam for the laser option, as well as with lightning when a safe and convenient opportunity presents itself. The following are 2 pictures of water drops that were taken as a part of the testing:
What I like
I like the build quality and the functionality of this device. So far it has worked flawlessly and has allowed me to increase my photography creativity.
What can be improved
1: Longer camera trigger cables must be made available
2: Include a tested laser that works with the device. (They are quite inexpensive but all may not work with this device)
Final thoughts
The MIOPS Smart is a great camera trigger device that is nicely built, and that offers endless opportunities for creative photography. I am thoroughly enjoying using it, and every day I am designing more elaborate photo opportunities. As long as it continues to function well, it is well worth it.
Price: $219 Where to buy:MIOPS Website or Amazon Source: The sample for this review was provided by MIOPS.
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Ok, that’s a wild exaggeration, but seriously, the just announced COOLPIX P1000 from Nikon has a 24-3000mm lens. Nope, that isn’t a typo and yes, I thought it was too. That’s right, this camera features an incredible 3000mm lens. That’s 125x optical zoom. It also has an aperture range of f/2.8-8, and a 16MP BSI CMOS sensor. A camera with this type of zoom lens works well for nature and moon photography. The COOLPIX P1000 will start shipping in September and can be pre-ordered now at Adorama and B&H Photo.
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A modular photography system for iPhone focused on premium lenses and a CPL filter. Bitplay’s lenses are compatible with their iPhone cases (available for each model) as well as their Clip product if you want an alternative to cases or to use a lens on the front camera while using the SNAP! X case.
Hardware specs
Premium HD wide angle lens
Magnification: 0.604x
Minimum focus distance: 15 mm
Angle of view – Horizontal: 89.7º
Angle of view – Vertical: 102.9º
Lens construction: 6 elements in 6 groups
Dimensions: 44 (Ø) X 25.7 mm (H)
Weight: 36g
Premium HD telephoto lens Magnification: 2x
Minimum focus distance: 240 mm
Angle of view – Horizontal: 32.3º
Angle of view – Vertical: 39.8º
Lens construction: 5 elements in 4 groups
Dimensions: 44 (Ø) X 31.1 mm (H)
Weight: 53g
M52 CPL w/ adapter
Threads: M52 mm
Dimensions: 55 X 11.5 mm (CHECK DIMENSIONS)
Weight: 15.8g (lens only) (CHECK WEIGHT)
SNAP! X Dimensions: 14.4 x 7.4 x 1.65 mm
Weight: 53g
CLIP Dimensions: 35 x 37 x 18 mm
Weight: 10g
What’s in the boxes?
Premium HD Lens Series – Premium HD wide angle lens
– Premium HD telephoto lens
– M52 CPL filter, adapter and gasket
– User manuals
– Lens caps and storage bag included with each HD lens, zip storage case comes with the CPL filter
CLIP – Lens clip for iPhone, user manual
SNAP! X – Snap! camera case for iPhone X, wrist strap, extra adhesive handle, user manual
^ CLIP ^ ^ Premium HD Lens Series ^ SNAP! X camera case
CPL zip case ^ Phone leash ^ HD storage bag and lens caps
Design and features
Bitplay has approached their system from a photographer’s point of view and the result is a product that functionally and visually leans towards a point and shoot camera. For this review of their premium HD lens series, they provided the SNAP! X case as well as their clip, both of which provide the interface to your iPhone. Let’s look at the design of each of these components.
SNAP! X – The most visual aspects of the design is the retro “camera” look of the case, specifically the handle and the trigger button, both of which provide some balance to the camera mount area and lenses when attached.
The trigger button sits more proudly when the phone is installed
So how’d they get a new physical button to work where there’s no button on the iPhone? If you have an iPhone, you likely know that you can take a photo by pressing either volume button when in the camera app. Bitplay created a long lever arm that ties the new trigger button to one that presses the volume (-) button. Looking at the inside of the case you can see a small gap around the perimeter. This plate provides some internal clearance for that lever arm to freely pivot when the case is on a phone.
Most of the case is made up of PC and ABS for durability. The front edge of the case is TPU allowing for flexibility and a non-slip surface. The power and volume + buttons are part of that same injection process, and both have a good tactile response to presses. The handle is also TPU and provides a grippy surface for you to hold the whole setup with a single hand, much like a point and shoot camera.
Unique to the iPhone X model, the lens mount area has two mounting positions; one for each lens. You will only need the lower position if you’re shooting with portrait mode. The mount area is an aluminum insert which creates a butter smooth rotation for screwing in the lenses.
The lenses – The bell shape of the lenses is balanced by the curved glass lenses and it’s instantly apparent that these are not inexpensive lenses. The aluminum bodies have a silky black finish with the lens name for each cleanly printed on the side in white. That print and the telephoto being longer are the only visible differences between the two.
The flare of the bell shape extends past the peak of the glass lens allowing them to safely rest on a table if placed lens down. The mounting side has a small lens nested into the center of shallow threads for connecting to the case or CLIP with slightly more than a single 360º rotation.
Both lenses ship with front and back lens caps. The large front caps are soft, flexible and easy to use. The rear caps are stiffer, small and easy to lose.
M52 CPL Filter – The filter is designed specifically for use with these two premium HD lenses. Comes with the filter, an adapter and a TPU gasket
CLIP – The clip is designed to work on all iPhone models without a case, as well as on their SNAP series cases for the front camera.
Setup
I primarily used the SNAP! X case for this review, so let’s look at that setup first…
To put the case on, lead with the left side of the phone and start to push until both the top and bottom corners are in place, then push the right side of the phone down and into place. This is a pretty straightforward step, but I did have one install where the trigger button was fully depressed before install and the top edge of the volume (-) button got stuck between the case and the phone resulting in a couple hundred photos being taken in burst mode.
To install a lens, remove the back lens cap and screw the lens clockwise into place on the case.
To install the filter, unscrew the filter from the adapter and remove the TPU gasket. Sandwich the lens you want to use between the adapter and the gasket, then mount the lens to the case or clip. When you’re ready to use the filter, just screw it on to the front of the lens. Note that the lens cap does not fit with the filter in place. Bitplay does appear to sell that cap separately however.
To use the CLIP, unlock the clasp, slide the two faces apart and place onto your phone. Align the crosshairs for the center of your phone’s lens, squeeze the faces together and then re-lock the clasp. Now screw in the lens of your choice and you’re good to go.
Performance
The lenses are easier to use when running the case on your phone. I’ve had this case on my phone the majority of the last 4 weeks. I want to call out that fact because I usually switch cases every couple days rotating between a few favorites. I get annoyed with cases quickly and while there are a few things I’d change, the functionality is so good for what it does, that it has stayed on my phone consistently.
Using the system in the real-world brings out a couple of facts quickly. First is that this is a photography setup. The intent is for calculated shots that you’re taking the time to get right, or at least have put a lens on and you’re in ready-to-shoot mode. If something unexpected is happening, you’re unlikely to get your phone out and install a lens quickly. I’d file that under knowing what you’re getting into and not a deal breaker by any means. Second is adapting to a multiple lens scenario. We’ve gotten used to having a phone (camera) at our disposal that fits in your pocket. You can still pocket your phone with one lens, but adding a second lens and a filter and lens caps and it starts feeling pretty fidgety. Switching between lenses feels more than twice as difficult as I definitely did not want to drop a lens. If you’re transitioning from using a multiple lens camera, you’ve got a very different reference point and may not mind at all.
Let’s move past all that stuff though, because once a lens is in place on your phone (case or clip), you immediately forgot how it got there and start seeing what it can do to your photography.
Here’s comparison photos to look at. All should be clickable to zoom into the details.
Stock iPhone cameraHD Wide Angle LensStock iPhone cameraHD Wide Angle LensHD Telephoto LensStock iPhone camera HD Wide Angle Lens HD Wide Angle Lens w/ CPL Filter HD Telephoto Lens HD Telephoto Lens w/ CPKL FilterStock iPhone camera HD Wide Angle Lens HD Telephoto Lens
The lenses work pretty well for video as well. Here’s Muse playing “Uprising” at Bottlerock. This was shot with the HD Telephoto lens and otherwise would have been a lot further away.
Okay. So what’s it all mean? I was really happy with the quality of the images and the options provided by a telephoto and wide angle lens. As you can see above, the wide angle lens really opens up the field both horizontally and vertically providing an image much closer to what you actually see. The telephoto helps to solve that feeling of “I thought I was closer than that” and results in a great focused composition. Both lenses are really well made with a quality heft. They’re also easy to install and remove from the case and I guess that’s why I kept feeling a little anxious about the storage options as I’m not sure I want to find out how they’d fair if I dropped one. They’re heavy enough that I can imagine the bell of the body denting or worse… the glass lens shattering. Bitplay does offer a zipper storage case for both a single and a pair of HD lenses and I’d recommend picking up one of those if you don’t have a camera bag that would work for lenses of this size.
The CPL filter I have less to comment on. I can see some temperature differences in the images above, but I’m not sure it’s something I’d use. There is obviously a demand for filters in the traditional camera market, and similarly in the app world. Again, if you’re coming from a dedicated camera scenario then you’re likely to know if this is something you want.
I’m a huge fan of the case after using it for this review. It offers great protection to the entire phone including the front glass as the TPU edges sit proud of the screen. After using the trigger to take photos, I don’t want to go back to using the screen. It’s really easy to press without jostling the phone. The trigger does extend past the case a good bit and you will get some random photos as a result, or decreasing volume if it gets hit when you aren’t expecting it. The TPU handle is also pretty tall which works great as a handle and less great when you want your phone to lay flat on a table, or charging pad. It did not affect wireless charging, however.
What I like
The trigger button
The fit and durability of the case
Quality of the lenses and security of the mount
The TPU handle
What needs to be improved
Lens cap fidget factor when switching lenses – maybe add tethers?
Case does not lay flat when on a table (tilts phone away from you)
Volume button is really hard to get to
Lens/filter storage
Final thoughts
Bitplay has created a compelling photography system here. All the components are extremely well made, look and feel valuable. And they should, because at ~ $250 it’s a chunk of change to lay down, but the results are hard to argue with. You’ll want to be prepared to answer some questions as it’s hard not to notice either the lens or the case when you’re taking photos in public.
Prices: Multiple
$202.49 – Premium HD Lens Series (Wide Angle, Telephoto, CPL Filter)
$43.99 – SNAP! X camera case
$9.99 – CLIP Where to buy: Bitplay and Amazon Source: The sample for this review was provided by Bitplay.
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SNAP! X camera case
CPL zip case ^ Phone leash ^ HD storage bag and lens caps
The trigger button sits more proudly when the phone is installed
