Photography

FotoPro's Master Kit turns iPhone 5 into a complete photographic outfit

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The FotoPro Master Kit comprised of a protective case for the iPhone 5 with tripod and flash mountings for the other accessories in the pack
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
The kit's Bluetooth remote can be handy in this situation
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
The Master Kit includes a mini-tripod
The Kit includes a protective case for the iPhone 5 with tripod and flash mountings
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
The Kit includes a protective case for the iPhone 5 with tripod and flash mountings
The Kit includes a protective case for the iPhone 5 with tripod and flash mountings
The kit is comprised of a protective case for the iPhone 5 with tripod and flash mountings for the other accessories in the pack
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
Bluetooth remote control
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5
The FotoPro Master Kit comprised of a protective case for the iPhone 5 with tripod and flash mountings for the other accessories in the pack
View gallery - 31 images

Chinese Photographic Accessory Designer FotoPro is best known for its range of tripods, but is diversifying with some equally innovative products released at Photo Fair Thailand. The pick of the bunch is a lightweight accessory pack designed to turn the iPhone 5 into a photographic kit.

We've seen a steady stream of products devoted to helping get the most out of the photographic capabilities of the iPhone. The FotoPro "Master Kit" aims to bring an all-in-one solution to the table that goes beyond add-on lenses. The kit is comprised of a protective case for the iPhone 5 with tripod and flash mountings for the other accessories in the pack: a Bluetooth-controlled flash, three lenses (X12 telephoto, wide angle, and fisheye, with both the wide-angle and fish-eye converting to macro lenses), a miniature tripod, a miniature monopod and a Bluetooth remote control.

The FotoPro Master Kit for iPhone 5

The remote control is actually very useful, as taking a photo with a smartphone involves pressing the screen, which can compromise the quality of the image. The remote takes camera shake out of the equation, and it makes for a great deal more flexibility when using the tripod for self images of groups shots that you wish to be included in. It's also very handy for using a long monopod as an extension arm (though this isn't included in the kit) for those occasions where you need to get up above the crowd .

The Master Kit, including the iPhone 5 case, costs around $200. We'll update you on availability when we know more.

Source: http://www.fotopro.com/en/" target="_blank">FotoPro

View gallery - 31 images
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5 comments
David En Renate Sorensen
Why do all these guys make fish eye lenses. Who in the world needs fish eye lenses? What we all need is a good 50mm lens on the iPhone so that we can finally start taking normal pictures with it.
The fact that so many manufacturers produce an even wider wide angle lens than iPhone already has and then an even wiiiider angle (which is of nu no use whatsoever except of a one time funny shot - that's it) , shows they never take photos with iPhone themselves and just imitate eachother, thinking 'this is good business'.
But I think most people who love photography and own an iPhone would buy these products only when there would be a lens that DECREASES the terrible wide angle of the iPhone so you can take normal images, normal portaits for example.
P51d007
LOL...by the time you spent enough money to turn an iPhone, or any smartphone into a "full fledged" camera, you could have spent the money on a REAL camera. The problem with 99.9% of smartphone cameras, isn't the camera, it's the SENSOR. When you have basically a pinhole camera, the sensor is TOO SMALL to realistically do any good. In normal/good lighting conditions, they aren't too bad, but if something you have to capture, is in the foreground, and the background has a higher light source, the metering, even if your camera has spot metering, will render the subject dark, and the background blown out. Then comes the indoor or low light photos. Grainy/noisy at best. You can slap all the lens units on the front of a smartphone you want, but it still doesn't solve the issue of the sensor that is capturing the light.
f8lee
@Rusty makes a good point; it is the sensor size that makes phone cameras sub-optimal.
That said, one advantage (from the manufacturer's point of view) is that the smaller image area of the CCD leads to ever-more death of field, meaning that in essence everything in the scene will be in focus (that's why there is no need for a focus mechanism or even auto-focus).
The Fisheye lens is a novelty whose amusement value dues taper off quickly, but a 12X telephoto might be a nice touch. However, it order to avoid blur due to motion (of the subject or the camera) it would need to be used in bright light conditions (to minimize shutter speed) and most likely will require a tripod in most instances.
Chris Maresca
The commenters are right, this is far too expensive. I just bought a Fuji X-F1 for $200 and it has the same 2/3 sensor as the highly rated X10.... Plus it's actually significantly smaller than this getup or even a bare iPhone 5 (about 1cm shorter...).
Joost de Nijs
@David En Renate Sorensen: With a wide-lens or fish-eye lens you increase the angle of light-input to the lens. So with the same small tiny sensor you get more light, so no problem making good picture, because the exposure time can be short, so no movement visible in the picture. With a narrow-lens tele-lens, you DEcrease the angle. So you get less light on this tiny sensor. This tiny sensor was just good enough for normal pictures, so it will need a too long exposure time to make pictures with a tele-lens. So the risk of blurry shots is bigger. That is why almost all manufacturers that make tele-lenses for phones (including the one from this article) include a tri-pod. And it is also why they are less popular, People don't want to hassle with a tri-pod. They just want to take a picture. And the tele-lenses are always long, so to big to keep on they phone while you have it in your pocket.