The makers of Snapzoom want to bring your smartphone closer to the action without relying on your device's digital zoom. The universal adapter works with most smartphones with or with out a case, they say, and all single or dual eyepiece scopes like binoculars, spotting scopes, telescopes and microscopes.
Snapzoom is the brainchild of Daniel Fujikake and Mac Nguyen, two surfers (and brothers-in-law) from Hawaii looking for a better way to capture and share video of their themselves riding the waves. The pair are launching a Kickstarter campaign in support of Snapzoom today.
Snapzoom offers sample images shot with the device using binoculars, a spotting scope and a telescope on their website that look interesting enough to make us want to put the device through our own thorough testing.
I do have a DSLR, with all the lenses i really need. Got this for the sole purpose of getting around NOT being able to get my gear into a concert. Darn bag checks!
As a news shooter I see the advantage of this. Sure I have a trio of Canon dSLR bodies and a 300/2.8L with extenders to shoot surfing and other distance things. But having my iPhone or an iPodTouch attached to this mean easily transmitting live super-telephoto video for news events. I can't do that with my Canon dSLR as HDMI out has the overlays (yes, I can turn them off via MagicLantern), need an external HDMI monitor, Teradek or LiveU encoder/transmitter, decoder or Mozy/AWS server. So sure, for still photos I'll stick to my Canons, for live video this makes life much easier.
I was initially as cynical as others here. If you want the best quality photos just get a proper camera and forget the contraptions. That's speaking as a photographer.
Speaking as a smartphone user, not everyone would want or see the need for a proper camera since the quality available from high end phones is stunning (for what they are). Sure there could be softness, chroma and distortion that a serious photographer might not tolerate but I can see a market for people who already have a smartphone and a scope. They may get shots with this they wouldn't otherwise get as they wouldn't go out and buy a whole camera system.
The device functionality and appeal could be improved by including a thread that would allow for tripod mounting without a scope.
Plus some attachments that would allow it to be mounted (without the scopes) on a car, bike, etc., making it simply a mounting device. 'We don't need another Hero'.
I notice that they mention compatibility with all single and dual optical path scopes but don;t mention that you only get to use one of the eyepieces, thus losing half the total light. Just something to be aware of.
I actually think this is really clever stuff and would be a lot of fun. I loved the moon shot ... but of course, putting a mirrorless Panasonic or Sony on the eyepiece would get you a similar shot and you probably already have that adapter anyway. Still, if not too pricey it open up a lot of interesting casual imaging and video at distance.
Now personally I dont have much interest in this. But, open your mind, reach with a scope or binoculars is different to a lens.... and to get a nice lens you need a camera.
Now sure enough you could get a point and shoot, but if you are someone who likes "watching" wildlife sports etc. clipping on this adaptor means you can get images and video right on your phone and you can share immediately.
Dont know what this will cost, and it may not work if only because it could be difficult to communicate the advantages... but for someone who enjoys viewing through binoculars (and there are lot of people) this replaces most cameras and you can share immediately... Just saying.
Oh my! They must have been out looking for birds ... or something ... and there they had a mobile phone and a pair of binoculars. And no camera. And ... then they tried to hold that %&%¤#¤ phone to that %&%¤#¤% eyepiece. They saw something on the screen ... but it was impossible to hold it steady. So ... they came up with this. Good try guys ... but get a real tele capable camera instead. Much easier to use ... and takes better images.
It's not like digiscoping hasn't been around for over a decade... The issue is that if you purchase a smartphone with sufficient camera resolving power to actually get quality images, you probably could do as well or better either with a good bridge camera such as Canon's SX 50 HS or using your own digiscoping setup. Of course if you already have a super high resolution phone camera such as the Nokia 808 then it might be a handy way to use your stabilized binoculars to catch some closeup snaps on vacation, etc.
Snapzoom= FAIL Anyone with binoculars, spotting scopes or telescopes is also going to have a real camera to use with them already . I have the Verizon HTC Droid DNA with 1080p 5" display and 1080p front and back cameras but if I want to use a pocket size zoom I use my Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 superzoom with 24-480mm eqiv zoom and 1080p60 that is not available on any smartphone.
If you want to come out with something useful come out with shoes without laces , It's now 2013 and using string to keep your shoes on your feet is stupid.
Just holding my iPhone 4s against the rubber eyecups of my Swaro binos lets me align and hold the camera perfectly for a casual "digiscope" shot - I can't imagine why I'd want all that plastic getting in the way.
Oh my, another useless: "use" for the smartphone...
I like smartphones, don't get me wrong, even sometimes use the camera...
But if I'm going to carry a pai of binocular, or any other such contraption, will have to carry a tripod (otherwise forget about such photos), carry that chunky adapter... well I might as well carry a more capable camera. Or some superzoom... and skip the rest. Look at the samples on the page - the quality isn't exactly exciting... and if I go to such lengths, I at least want some quality.
Why is it (like this weird rotational lens grip), that people try to do smartphone-everything. They're practical, no doubt - but most of those add-on contraptions actually help at nothing.
If you're going to carry all that gear and bolt a tiny sensor onto a big set of bins, then why the hell would you not just go and get yourself a megazoon P&S? They're cheap, smaller, and take far better pics.
I would feel embarrassed for people who have the logical processes which leads them to buy stuff like this.
Its a great idea, but not for the average smartphone user... if you are a wildlife freak and already are used to carry a lot of equipment, this would be a great add-on that will make you dust-off all those old scopes and give them new life... i guess that concept might bring back to life a lot of different old devices.
I disagree jcmarfilph, I think this is actually pretty cool (now, I don't have smartphone believe it or not, but I do own numerous binoculars and telescopes!).. perhaps someday I will make use of this, or a similar type of adapter. Brackets of these sorts do indeed have utility, though this is the first one I see that adapts readily to binoculars.
Chris and Jordan are enjoying some well deserved time off this week, so we're taking a trip in the wayback machine to revisit the launch of Canon's original full-frame mirrorless camera, the EOS R. Give it a watch to see how far Canon's mirrorless line has come.
The a7R V is the fifth iteration of Sony's high-end, high-res full-frame mirrorless camera. The new 60MP Mark IV, gains advanced AF, focus stacking and a new rear screen arrangement. We think it excels at stills.
Topaz Labs' flagship app uses AI algorithms to make some complex image corrections really, really easy. But is there enough here to justify its rather steep price?
Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a 'best' option. We case our eye over the options costing more than $2500 but less than $4000, to find the best all-rounder.
There are a lot of photo/video cameras that have found a role as B-cameras on professional film productions or even A-cameras for amateur and independent productions. We've combed through the options and selected our two favorite cameras in this class.
What’s the best camera for around $2000? These capable cameras should be solid and well-built, have both the speed and focus to capture fast action and offer professional-level image quality. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing around $2000 and recommended the best.
Family moments are precious and sometimes you want to capture that time spent with loved ones or friends in better quality than your phone can manage. We've selected a group of cameras that are easy to keep with you, and that can adapt to take photos wherever and whenever something memorable happens.
What's the best camera for shooting sports and action? Fast continuous shooting, reliable autofocus and great battery life are just three of the most important factors. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for shooting sports and action, and recommended the best.
Chris and Jordan are enjoying some well deserved time off this week, so we're taking a trip in the wayback machine to revisit the launch of Canon's original full-frame mirrorless camera, the EOS R. Give it a watch to see how far Canon's mirrorless line has come.
While peak Milky Way season is on hiatus, there are other night sky wonders to focus on. We look at the Orion constellation and Northern Lights, which are prevalent during the winter months.
We've gone hands-on with Nikon's new 17-28mm F2.8 lens for its line of Z-mount cameras. Check out the sample gallery to see what kind of image quality it has to offer on a Nikon Z7 II.
The winning and finalist images from the annual Travel Photographer of the Year awards have been announced, showcasing incredible scenes from around the world. Check out the gallery to see which photographs took the top spots.
The a7R V is the fifth iteration of Sony's high-end, high-res full-frame mirrorless camera. The new 60MP Mark IV, gains advanced AF, focus stacking and a new rear screen arrangement. We think it excels at stills.
Using affordable Sony NP-F batteries and the Power Junkie V2 accessory, you can conveniently power your camera and accessories, whether they're made by Sony or not.
According to Japanese financial publication Nikkei, Sony has moved nearly all of its camera production out of China and into Thailand, citing geopolitical tensions and supply chain diversification.
A pro chimes in with his long-term impressions of DJI's Mavic 3. While there were ups and downs, filmmaker José Fransisco Salgado found that in his use of the drone, firmware updates have made it better with every passing month.
Landscape photography has a very different set of requirements from other types of photography. We pick the best options at three different price ranges.
AI is here to stay, so we must prepare ourselves for its many consequences. We can use AI to make our lives easier, but it's also possible to use AI technology for more nefarious purposes, such as making stealing photos a simple one-click endeavor.
This DIY project uses an Adafruit board and $40 worth of other components to create a light meter and metadata capture device for any film photography camera.
Scientists at the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia have used a transmitter with 'less power than a microwave' to produce the highest resolution images of the moon ever captured from Earth.
The tiny cameras, which weigh just 1.4g, fit inside the padding of a driver's helmet, offering viewers at home an eye-level perspective as F1 cars race through the corners of the world's most exciting race tracks. In 2023, all drivers will be required to wear the cameras.
The new ultrafast prime for Nikon Z-mount cameras is a re-worked version of Cosina's existing Voigtländer 50mm F1 Aspherical lens for Leica M-mount cameras.
There are plenty of hybrid cameras on the market, but often a user needs to choose between photo- or video-centric models in terms of features. Jason Hendardy explains why he would want to see shutter angle and 32-bit float audio as added features in cameras that highlight both photo and video functionalities.
SkyFi's new Earth Observation service is now fully operational, allowing users to order custom high-resolution satellite imagery of any location on Earth using a network of more than 80 satellites.
In some parts of the world, winter brings picturesque icy and snowy scenes. However, your drone's performance will be compromised in cold weather. Here are some tips for performing safe flights during the chilliest time of the year.
The winners of the Ocean Art Photo Competition 2022 have been announced, showcasing incredible sea-neries (see what we did there?) from around the globe.
Venus Optics has announced a quartet of new anamorphic cine lenses for Super35 cameras, the Proteus 2x series. The 2x anamorphic lenses promise ease of use, accessibility and high-end performance for enthusiast and professional video applications.
We've shot the new Fujinon XF 56mm F1.2R WR lens against the original 56mm F1.2R, to check whether we should switch the lens we use for our studio test scene or maintain consistency.
Nature photographer Erez Marom continues his series about landscape composition by discussing the multifaceted role played by the sky in a landscape image.
The NONS SL660 is an Instax Square instant camera with an interchangeable lens design. It's made of CNC-milled aluminum alloy, has an SLR-style viewfinder, and retails for a $600. We've gone hands-on to see what it's like to shoot with.
Recently, DJI made Waypoints available for their Mavic 3 series of drones, bringing a formerly high-end feature to the masses. We'll look at what this flight mode is and why you should use it.
Comments