Seen this? Turn your iPhone 5 into a large-sensor, f1/8 lens camera.

[dspphotos]

http://www.iphotocourse.com/iphone_to_large_sensor_prime/

Still under crowdfunding stage.

--
Salevoke Marketing | Profitable Marketing for Professional Photographers
Visit us at http://www.salevoke.com/dpr to get your free books and resources.

 

[bigley Ling]

Looks like it could be quite an innovative and powerful accessory. If it is possible this will turn the iPhone into digicam equivalent of Fuji x100 or a Sigma DP series camera.

A good question, is where they will source a 50mm f1.8 lens? capturing a good high quality image is not just based on sensor size and quality alone. The lens plays a very important part in achieving and overall quality image. Being only $137 USD can they achieve this, and have a decently large sensor?

For this reason I believe instead of going for a fixed lens solution, they should consider putting a lens mount, eg Leica M, and just use the existing voigtlander and leica lens to mount onto the accessory. In this way, Ladibird does not need to invest heavily into developing a 50mm f1.8 lens with proper adjustable aperture blades. and overall less electronics as these lens are all mechanical manual focus. The idea of interchangable mirrorless also gives the iPhone user a choice on focal length, and brand. For the wealthier, Leica M lens can be the option they pick, and Voigtlander can be for the rest. Both brands makes some impressively thin M mount lens.

 

[bigley Ling]

Wow, had a look at the web site, the specs are vague and do not tell much, but, the 7.5x larger sensor than a smartphone should make the sensor size around the size of the 1" sensor. This is indeed impressive, and is larger than the 1/1.2" sensor found in the 808.

Also if they are advertising 50mm f1.8, is that actual focal length in relation to 35mm frame size, or has it already been adjusted for a 35mm frame field of view to be 50mm

 

[Adam Latip]

bigley Ling wrote:

Also if they are advertising 50mm f1.8, is that actual focal length in relation to 35mm frame size, or has it already been adjusted for a 35mm frame field of view to be 50mm

Hello bigley Ling, this is Adam Latip, founder of the ladibird. To answer your question, it is the latter, we are taking a lens adjusted for 35mm Field of View to be 50mm.

At this stage I cannot talk about the lens production, but what I can say is that unfortunately we cannot simply use another manufacturer's lens onto our sensor. The 2 main issues for users are

1) Lack of autofocus.

2) Equipment dependency (there are more iPhones available as opposed to Leica/Voightlander lenses).

Based on your comments, I believe you are a photographer who can manually focus well. It is true there would be less electronics involved with these manual lenses but not many people share your skill. Believe me, I personally do understand your wish and if I had my way, I would make a ladibird that could accept other vintage 50mm lenses such as an M42 version that would take Super Takumar lenses. But that would only suit myself and a small group of people. Perhaps we will consider doing a special version of ladibird that can perform such a role in future. But not for now.

At this stage I cannot say more due to restrictions with the Non-Disclosure Agreement we have signed with our manufacturers & partners. But we truly appreciate your interest in this project and kindly ask for your support and to follow us on our facebook at http://facebook.com/theladibird

Thank you very much for understanding Oh and as for the cost of US$137, that was for the first 100 units only. Currently, ladibird #101-400 costs US$167 and ladibird #401-500 cost US$197. We will hold a second So we are slowly ramping up the price to US$315+ by the time we hit retail.