iPhone camera accessory review
Cameras have become so small these days, so it’s not surprising to find miniscule camera accessories being sold everywhere. In fact, many people tend to favor them because they’re so convenient to carry around, making them more likely to be used. If you have yet to see an example of what I’m talking about, check out Griffin’s Clarifi lens for the iPhone 3G/3GS camera.
Why ?
Don’t be fooled by its appearance. Clarifi looks like a simple slider case, but its main feature is the built-in lens that can be easily slid into place whenever you need to improve your iPhone camera’s focus accuracy. Its name, which is pronounced the same as clarify, perfectly sums up what it does best, i.e., improve the clarity of your pictures.
What we love
This accessory is perfect for those who don’t want to lug around a bulky item that does only one thing. With Clarifi, you get not only a case but also a lens that both do their jobs quite well: The case nicely covers the back and sides of your iPhone and keeps the screen elevated when you lay it on any flat surface. The lens, on the other hand, boosts your camera’s ability to take clear close-up shots.
iPhone 3G/3GS cameras generally must be a foot or more away from whatever you want to shoot in order for it to focus properly. However, Clarifi enables you to shoot great photos even at distances as short as four inches. Visit Clarifi’s page on Griffin’s online store to see the comparison photos.
Like the camera lens, the case easily slides into place, so putting it on or taking it off is a breeze. Its ergonomic design leaves all ports and physical buttons uncovered, too. This means you don’t have to take it off when you need to charge your iPhone or disable its sounds.
What we don’t love
Clarifi’s lens can be a problem in certain situations. Since it does not lock into place, you can’t just whip it out and expect to take great photos all the time. You must align it properly with your iPhone’s camera first if you want to avoid messing up your photos. Moreover, if you’re planning to use it to improve the quality of every single photo you take with your phone, look for another accessory to purchase. The lens blurs any shots other than close-ups.
The end game
People who still love taking photos with their iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS may like Clarifi. With it, close-ups are much clearer, which means you won’t be forced to shoot at farther distances just to avoid experiencing problems with the camera’s focus accuracy. However, you must remember that Clarifi is effective only with close-up shots, so if you don’t take a lot of those, you don’t really need this accessory.