Get a proper flash for your smartphone with the iblazr 2 Kickstarter
Smartphone photography has come in leaps and bounds since the first manufacturer decided to squeeze a camera into a phone with the first fully functioning model coming from Sharp to the Japanese market in November 2000. It shot 0.11 megapixel photos which you could actually send to people.
You can take some incredible photos with phones now but there's still one major stumbling block - low light performance. Some phones promise to work better in the dark but most rely on their generally measly flashes. Another solution is on the way in the form of the iblazr 2.
It's an external wireless flash unit which you can sync with your phone to give you a flash that's massively more powerful and easy to control for photos which simply look better. The unit comes with a unique clasp to attach it to your phone and you can take snaps with the included app. You can also use it for extra light during video recording or as a handhelp portable and rechargeable torch.
It's up on Kickstarter right now - here's a look.
It's a follow on from their first model which had to be physically attached to the camera via the headphone jack and also looked a bit naff. There's a touch control now and quick wireless syncing as well as the ability to adjust the colour temperature of the light - something which should prove useful for awkward white balancing situations.
You'll also be able to mount it to your DSLR with the cold shoe, giving you access to a quick and easy professional-looking rig. A lot of projects come and go on Kickstarter but this one looks geniunely useful, especially for those who are constantly disappointed by the quality of the photos they get from their phone.
The project has already reached its modest goal of $70,000 and has 20 days to go. The cheapest available model goes for $49 and an extra tenner also gets you a cool charger which doubles as a light and even smartphone holder with a length of 400mm.
