iPhone Hardware Accessories

Further on Rosco's DMG DASH pocket light...

I'm OK with Rosco's insistence on doing battery replacement for the reasons explained in the user manual. Heat is a mortal enemy of lithium batteries, and the DASH has components designed to address that. I've asked for the current cost.

From Rosco: The lithium-ion battery, which is 6,000mAh, is under warranty for one year, after which replacement costs US$75. In the U.S., the replacement is done by Lux Lighting. Lux specialises in stage and set lighting and has offices in New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles: https://luxlightingllc.com

So far, I like the light, the modifiers and the iPad/phone app a lot. If I'm still happy in a few months, I may acquire 2 or 3 more. Rosco also sells these as four and eight light kits. They can be combined to act as a single light as well as used individually.

This video, which is excellent on the DASH light generally, discusses the Quad kit from 5:25. Also, note how the included magnet mount is used with an articulating arm from 4:40. As Peter McLennan suggested earlier, flexibility in mounting pocket lights is important. I think it's a mistake to screw one to a phone cage and leave it at that:

Re the Quad kit, if one doesn't need the case for four lights, it's less expensive to purchase four lights individually plus the DMG DASH Link4. The Link4 can be purchased on its own: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... link4.html

Stu Maschwitz has posted a video about new LUTS that he's offering for free via his Prolost blog. They're a major update on the LUTS that he made available a few months ago.

I suggest reading, or at least scanning, his blog post first:

iPhone ProRes Log in Peru and Taiwan
https://prolost.com/blog/iphonelog-peru-taiwan

The blog post has a download link for the LUTS. The file is called Prolost Apple Log LUTS 2.0, and it's 64.7MB.

The video is below. As an incentive to pay attention, I would suggest that one start by watching the 90 seconds of video that he recently shot, using the new LUTS, in Taiwan. From 10:35 of the video.

Maschwitz has also come up with an interesting way to use the Blackmagic app's false colour to judge exposure.

[Apple Vision Pro is] very tempting, but I think I'll wait for version 1.2

Hoping to not venture too far into the weeds but interested in a little perspective, I did a little research and the equivalent price for an Apple II back in 1977 was nearly $6K USD

Apple says that it's updating Final Cut Pro to edit spatial video shot on your iPhone 15.

Here's the U.S.'s most entertaining tech reviewer, Joanna Stern, on wearing a Vision Pro "for the better part of 24 hours", including while skiing:

When he isn't working for Google, Joey Helms makes visually splashy short films for YouTube. He's purchased a Vision Pro and says that he'll be posting videos about using it starting next week.

She's nothing if not entertaining.

I recall when the iPad appeared, people nearly universally saying "What's this for?" "How are you going to use this thing?"

Give it another year.

Meanwhile, I'll keep pinging the Tilta website.

She's nothing if not entertaining.

I recall when the iPad appeared, people nearly universally saying "What's this for?" "How are you going to use this thing?"

Give it another year.

I remember the guffaws about the name iPad. Also, lots of "Why would someone buy this thing?" I had never owned an Apple product, but I was about to spend two months travelling in Europe. I had a look at an iPad at an Apple store, realised that it was just what I needed and bought one on the spot. Within months, I also switched to an iPhone and a Mac.

The iPad launch reminds me of Steve Ballmer laughing at the first iPhone. After all, Ballmer had just released Microsoft Zune to kill off the iPod, and Windows powered countless mobile phones, Apple none:

While we wait for Tilta to release its Khronos Ecosystem for the iPhone, which was supposed to be by today, some might be interested in its new Zombie Rig. This is basically an Easyrig for boom operators. It transfers the weight of a boom pole from your arms to your legs. I don't imagine that Tilta is the first to come up with this idea, but as far as I know such a device is not in use. I'm interested in what the participants in Jeff Wexler's forum think of it: https://jwsoundgroup.net

It's quite a bit more complicated than an Easyrig, but cheaper - a mere US$800, $720 until February 6th.

URL: https://tilta.com/shop/tilta-zombie-rig ... rt-system/

There's the usual razzmatazz Tilta video, but the one below is more informative. Why, as I watched this, did I start to feel sorry for "Nick from Tilta"?

Tilta Tech Channel: Zombie Rig Setup & Overview

From Apple, shot on an iPhone 15 Pro Max. I expect that there's going to be a lot of discussion about this film.

Little Garlic, a 15 minute film for Chinese New Year.

In Chinese with English subtitles (and probably other languages).

Writer/Director Marc Webb https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Webb
Screenwriter Pan Yi Ran or Pan Yiran, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bad_Kids_(TV_series)
Lead actor Fan Wei https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_Wei_(actor)

RadicalMedia, which made the Hallowe'en event that Apple shot on an iPhone, was also behind this. I haven't done a comparison, but the copy of the film on its website may be higher quality than the YouTube version below: https://www.radicalmedia.com/work/apple-little-garlic

YouTube copy:

Apple has also released a behind the scenes that runs 3m 16s.

Tribeca Film Institute on the cinematographer, Cecile Zhang: https://www.tfiny.org/filmmakers/detail/cecile_zhang

Zhang's website: https://cecilezhang.net.

Her 2022 showreel on YouTube:

There doesn't appear to be any information on the internet about what camera app was used to shoot the new Apple film, Little Garlic. Apple's own? Blackmagic's?

[Edit: This question is answered in the Chinese-language behind-the-scenes video 10 posts below].

Apple claims that the lidar sensor on the iPhone 15 pro helps the camera autofocus 6x faster. Doesn't the Beastgrip cage when used with a lens backplate completely cover the lidar sensor?

Apple claims that the lidar sensor on the iPhone 15 pro helps the camera autofocus 6x faster. Doesn't the Beastgrip cage when used with a lens backplate completely cover the lidar sensor?

As I understand it, Apple has been saying that since the iPhone 12 and that its claim is "up to" six times faster. If Beastgrip plates have been interfering with Lidar for the last four years, apparently nobody has noticed. Looking at the plates I have, Beastgrip could probably include a cutout for the Lidar sensor if it wanted to, although that might create a light leak issue to deal with. Why don't you ask them about this. They're pretty quick to respond: info@beastgrip.com

There is a question on Reddit about Moment plates and interference with Lidar, where the issue was about iPhone Portrait mode, depth of field and Lightroom. The few contributors couldn't agree on how enhanced depth of field works.

Personally, I'm not much interested in this issue because I use the native lenses and the filter mount. The plates are irrelevant unless you're using a third party lens. The only Beastgrip lens that I have is their macro lens, where speed of autofocus is not what you'd call a big issue. Given that the Lidar sensor apparently has a range of 5 metres, I don't see it being of much use with Beastgrip's telephoto lens either.

If you ask Beastgrip, I'm interested in what they have to say. That said, I think that the more important question is what practical difference it makes either way. I'm more interested in questions like whether the new filter mount avoids vignetting with the phone's 13mm ultra-wide lens. To my pleasant surprise, it does, including when ND filters are stacked.

I sent them the question and will post the reply. I want to use lenses with autofocus. The 13mm is too extreme and using an 18mm lens brings it back to my acceptable use. Also using lenses as well as just the iPhones lenses gives more focal length options as well as anamorphic.

I sent them the question and will post the reply. I want to use lenses with autofocus. The 13mm is too extreme and using an 18mm lens brings it back to my acceptable use. Also using lenses as well as just the iPhones lenses gives more focal length options as well as anamorphic.

Re "I want to use lenses with autofocus." We aren't talking about manual vs autofocus, we're talking about speed of autofocus in a limited number of circumstances. In addition to having a range of only 5m, isn't Lidar also mostly for shooting in low light?

Recently, Apple released a firmware update to increase telephoto speed. If you aren't aware of that, you might find it useful to look at the release note.

If you're thinking of using other brands' lenses on a Beastgrip cage, you might also find it useful to watch what Vadym Chalenko says about that in his December 29 video about release of the iPhone 15 Beastcages.

Recently, Apple released a firmware update to increase telephoto speed. If you aren't aware of that, you might find it useful to look into the issue, which had become a subject of internet discussion, and the fix.

Do you have any further info on the firmware update?

From Apple, shot on an iPhone 15 Pro Max. I expect that there's going to be a lot of discussion about this film.
Little Garlic, a 15 minute film for Chinese New Year.

Astounding. Even discounting all of the ancillary gear (as during the Apple presentation) the image quality available from the iPhone 15 is just, well, astounding.

And for me as an owner, both inspiring and humbling.

Recently, Apple released a firmware update to increase telephoto speed.

Do you have any further info on the firmware update?

From the December 11 iOS 17.2 release notes:

This update introduces Journal, an all-new way to reflect on life’s moments and preserve your memories. This release also includes Action button and Camera enhancements, as well as other features, bug fixes, and security updates for your iPhone.

...

Camera
• Spatial video lets you capture video on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max so you can relive your memories in three dimensions on Apple Vision Pro

• Telephoto camera focusing speed when capturing small faraway objects on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max

Thanks, robedge.

Apple asserts that the lidar sensor on the iPhone 15 Pro enhances camera autofocus speed by 6 times. However, when the Beastgrip cage is used with a lens backplate, does it not entirely obstruct the lidar sensor?

From Apple, shot on an iPhone 15 Pro Max. I expect that there's going to be a lot of discussion about this film.
Little Garlic, a 15 minute film for Chinese New Year.

Astounding. Even discounting all of the ancillary gear (as during the Apple presentation) the image quality available from the iPhone 15 is just, well, astounding.

And for me as an owner, both inspiring and humbling.

I watched the new restoration of Le Ballon Rouge last night and realised that Albert Lamorisse could have made it with an iPhone.

The Little Garlic credits show that there was a substantial lighting crew but a three-person grip crew. That and the behind-the-scenes video suggest that the film was shot, in large part, with pretty simple gear. In the behind-the-scenes video, I was struck by the number of times the camera consisted of the iPhone and a basic phone clamp. I got a kick out of the basketball rig.

I think a lot of people are going to be inspired, especially people with more ideas than money. Lamorisse worked with a talented cinematographer, Edmond Séchan, but Le Ballon Rouge was made on a shoestring. Éric Rohmer and Nestor Almendros shot Pauline à la plage with a crew of five. When he needed a dolly, Almendros took up residence in the trunk, if one can call it that, of their Peugeot

Watching Little Garlic and Apple's first iPhone films, the Intelligent Details series from ten years ago, is quite the demonstration of technological development:

It turns out that Apple invited a U.K. based, Mandarin YouTube channel called Mediastorm onto the set of Little Garlic. Looks like it was given very free access. It's made an 11-minute video with a good deal of information on how the film was shot. Unlike Apple's behind-the-scenes, this video also shows some of the more sophisticated gear that was used.

Apparently most of the film was shot using Apple's own app, with Blackmagic's used for some sequences, especially where follow-focus was needed. It sounds like they got Tilta's Nucleus Nano II to work for them.

Apple contacted Mediastorm at "the end of 2023" while Little Garlic was still shooting. Given that the film was uploaded to YouTube on January 28th, this suggests a pretty efficient post-production period.

Mediastorm has done a good job on English closed captions. In the thumbnail below, that's writer/director Marc Webb on the left.

Thanks for these links, robedge.

One has to wonder what Arriflex, Red, Sony et al think of these developments. Not that these little miracles we insist on calling "phones" will replace them, but films like Little Garlic show that for some subjects, those BFCs are overkill.

From Beastgrip regarding my lidar question: Thank you for reaching out to us!

Yes, correct. In low-light filming scenarios the Lidar sensor is temporary active to help with autofocus. When you attach external lenses, they naturally cover the sensor and it's practically impossible to design a filmmaking rig that avoids this. What you can do is remove the lens mount plate and film with no lenses to have the Lidar sensor fully exposed. Our consistent use of Beastcages in all the footage me make and YouTube reviews made by other users demonstrates that there are no issues with image quality or autofocus since the Lidar sensor isn't essential under normal filming conditions. Hope this information helps.

Best regards,
CJ

Thanks for these links, robedge.

One has to wonder what Arriflex, Red, Sony et al think of these developments. Not that these little miracles we insist on calling "phones" will replace them, but films like Little Garlic show that for some subjects, these BFCs are overkill.

Given that smartphones have already turned making cameras into a niche business, I expect that those companies are plenty worried.

For the last several years, Apple has been merging its technology into one product with different form factors reflecting the product's emphasis. I imagine that there have been many internal discussions about making a product that emphasises their camera. Isn't that, in part, what Vision Pro is about?

Plus, Apple and Samsung have R&D capacity and economies of scale in manufacturing that the makers of conventional cameras can only dream of.

That said, Apple takes its time. Isn't that the constant criticism? It's always behind everybody else? Its System on a Chip powered the first iPad in 2010. It didn't show up as an M1 Mac for 10 years

From Beastgrip regarding my lidar question: Thank you for reaching out to us!

Yes, correct. In low-light filming scenarios the Lidar sensor is temporary active to help with autofocus. When you attach external lenses, they naturally cover the sensor and it's practically impossible to design a filmmaking rig that avoids this. What you can do is remove the lens mount plate and film with no lenses to have the Lidar sensor fully exposed. Our consistent use of Beastcages in all the footage me make and YouTube reviews made by other users demonstrates that there are no issues with image quality or autofocus since the Lidar sensor isn't essential under normal filming conditions. Hope this information helps.

Best regards,
CJ

Great. Thanks for posting CJ's reply. So he's telling you that if you want to use Lidar, and its somewhat faster autofocus up to 5 metres in low light, you should use one of Apple's native lenses. There are three of them to choose from.

His clear response, and how quickly you got it, is one of the reasons that I have a lot of time for Vadym Chalenko and the people who work with him at Beastgrip.

Apple says that it's updating Final Cut Pro to edit spatial video shot on your iPhone 15.

Here's the U.S.'s most entertaining tech reviewer, Joanna Stern, on wearing a Vision Pro "for the better part of 24 hours", including while skiing...

Marques Brownlee has had a Vision Pro for two weeks. Better on the technical issues if not as entertaining:

Brownlee refers a number of times to the Quest 3. That's Mark Zuckerberg's new entry into the VR headset market.

DJI has issued a firmware update for its new Mic 2 that addresses the audio problem that Curtis Judd identified shortly after it was released.

Judd has now posted his review. There's a timestamped index in the YouTube description. In the viewer comments section, Judd says that Røde is being sued for patent violation with respect to the Wireless Pro.

DJI Mic 2 Review vs. RODE Wireless PRO! | Curtis Judd

On December 24th, Tilta posted a teaser video about its upcoming "Khronos ecosystem" for the iPhone 15. Shot by Claudio Miranda, the video was called The X Gift. The Khronos system was supposed to be released by the end of January, together with a behind-the-scenes video by Gene Nagata (Potato Jet on YouTube). We're still waiting for Khronos, but Nagata's video was posted yesterday.

His video consists mainly of interviews with Miranda and Production Designer Yong Ok Lee. While mildly interesting, I would like to have seen more focus on The X Gift. However, Nagata clearly didn't have the kind of access that Mediastorm did to the set of Apple's Little Garlic (see Mediastorm's video 7 posts above).

Starting at 13:00, there is discussion about the Khronos system, the Blackmagic app and the ISO range used for The X Gift. At 11:45, there's also a brief discussion about pulling focus with Tilta's Nucleus Nano II.

Presumably, Tilta will roll out the Khronos system sometime in the next few days.

Why "Shot On iPhone" Commercials Look So Good! Ft. Claudio Miranda

Gene Nagata's video shows that Tilta uses a hinge on the top of its cage to drop filters in place. In the first image below, the filter shows a reflection of the phone's lenses as it's being lowered over them. The second image shows the filter in place. Tilta's approach requires one to purchase proprietary Tilta filters. For the iPhone 15, due to negative market reaction, Polar Pro made its own proprietary filters optional.

It's unclear from these screen captures how one uses a polariser or third party lens with the Tilta cage.

Hinged filter

cage2.jpg (72.73 KiB) Viewed 92734 times

Filter in place

nd in olace.jpg (67.27 KiB) Viewed 92734 times

Beastgrip's iPhone 15 Pro Max cage and my existing filters (neutral density, diffusion, polariser and filters for black and white photography) are getting along fine together. I have zero interest in Tilta's "Khronos ecosystem" if, to use it, I have to pay Tilta to duplicate the expensive set of filters that I already own, for use with its first iPhone cage and a single camera. We'll know whether that's Tilta's position, or whether one can also use one's own filters, when it releases its "ecosystem", presumably soon. If Tilta is going full-tilt proprietary, jack the buyer, the remaining question is whether it offers any useful components that can be used with my Beastgrip cage.

Note that the dimensions of the iPhone area dedicated to lenses are not fixed. Apple can change the dimensions, and has due to number or placement of lenses. Indeed, Apple changed the position of the telephoto lens for the iPhone 15 Pro models.

The next time it does this, the dimensions of Tilta's hinge system and the dimensions of its proprietary filters may become obsolete. One's investment in Tilta's proprietary filters may be worthless for the new phone.

Because of this year's change in telephoto lens placement, and to prevent vignetting with the 13mm ultra-wide lens, Beastgrip had to change its filter mount. The new mount cost me US$25: https://beastgrip.com/collections/iphon ... -15-series

The Beastgrip iPhone 15 filter mount is shown below. I look forward to Tilta explaining its reasons for the "Khronos ecosystem solution" shown two posts up:

beastgrip filter mount.jpg (130.66 KiB) Viewed 92583 times

Based on nothing but a few freeze frames from YouTubes, I can see several things I like about the Tilta cage, proprietary lock-in notwithstanding.

I see cushioning, grippy bump stops along the faces. My Neewer case has a bad combination of slippery and heavy.

I love the instant connect side handle. Changing handle positions on the Neewer cage is a PITA and there are many "available" positions that are impractical.

I also love the idea that the connection points are also power delivery. I hate dangly, snaggy, failure-prone wires. A famous DP once told me as we were debugging a problem: "It's the wires. It's always the wires".

The jury will decide on the flip down filter holder/lens cap idea. I can see good things and bad about that approach. Pola implementation will require some proprietary engineering.

Speaking of which, I can see a need for a cheap, flexible silicone snap-on lens cap for these devices. Every time I slide my naked $2K camera into a jacket pocket full of lint and other junk, I wince. Can 3D printers make flexible silicone parts?

The price will be interesting. If I published my guess, I'd earn a chorus of hate from the rest of us.

Note that the dimensions of the iPhone area dedicated to lenses are not fixed. Apple can change the dimensions, and has due to number or placement of lenses. Indeed, Apple changed the position of the telephoto lens for the iPhone 15 Pro models.

Given the arrival of the Vision Pro and its ability to view 3D imagery, It's entirely possible that Apple would move one or more cameras to the opposite end of the body to accommodate interocular distance requirements.

I love the instant connect side handle. Changing handle positions on the Neewer cage is a PITA and there are many "available" positions that are impractical.

As you know, Neewer is on Gen 2 of its cage, it appears partly due to complaints about the side handles. I couldn't be happier with the Beastgrip side handles, which run along a Nato rail. There are also two other choices for handles.

Beastgrip side handle:

I also love the idea that the connection points are also power delivery. I hate dangly, snaggy, failure-prone wires. A famous DP once told me as we were debugging a problem: "It's the wires. It's always the wires".

From Gene Nagata's video, power delivery was the one thing about the Tilta cage that I'm keen to learn more about. I expect that there will be a number of competing products in time for NAB in April.

The jury will decide on the flip down filter holder/lens cap idea. I can see good things and bad about that approach. Pola implementation will require some proprietary engineering.

Tilta's proprietary design for filters is almost identical to what Polar Pro did until the iPhone 15, except that Tilta's rectangular filters operate vertically rather than slide horizontally. People voted on Polar Pro's proprietary filters with their wallets. Now Polar Pro sells a $20 adapter so that people stuck with their iPhone 13 and 14 proprietary filters can use them with Polar Pro's current phone case.

I think that a linear polariser would work fine with an iPhone, but there still needs to be a way to rotate it.

Speaking of which, I can see a need for a cheap, flexible silicone snap-on lens cap for these devices. Every time I slide my naked $2K camera into a jacket pocket full of lint and other junk, I wince. Can 3D printers make flexible silicone parts?

When I'm not running the camera, I have a cheap Kenko 58mm clear filter screwed onto the Beastgrip 58mm filter mount shown three posts above. Over Christmas, Kenko USA was clearing out excess stock of these for $2 each.

The price will be interesting. If I published my guess, I'd earn a chorus of hate from the rest of us.

Fully rigged, I expect hundreds, maybe into four figures. I think that the power delivery system will be expensive. Also, I'm curious to see what proprietary filters are available, who made them and what a full set costs.

I posted earlier about using a Peak Design sling bag and capture clip to carry an iPhone 15 hands free: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=191338&start=50#p997433

I imagine that just an ordinary neck or shoulder strap can be used to carry most, if not all, cages. A Beastcage has an eyelet/lug at each of the top corners. One could also use two 1/4"-20 sockets with screws that terminate in a D-ring. B&H offers a dozen D-ring screws, such as these Coiro ones: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... amera.html

Beastcage eyelet/lug. There's another in the upper right corner. If preferred, the 1/4"-20 sockets along the top and bottom of the cage will take D-ring screws.

eyelet.jpeg (86.82 KiB) Viewed 92394 times

I want to use a strap with my Beastcage that can be attached and separated quickly. In Peak Design's system, its Anchor Links remain attached to the cage when the strap is removed. I don't want two Peak Design Anchor Links flapping around on my iPhone 15 cage, getting in the way.

anchor.jpg (87.03 KiB) Viewed 92394 times

This is where Eddy of Eddycam comes in. Eddy makes camera straps in Germany and also makes a quick release. Peak Design charges US$25 for two of its Anchor Links, which are meant to be purchased per camera. B&H wants $40 for Eddy's, which need only be purchased once: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... ieces.html

Eddy's quick release stays with the strap, not the camera; and you don't have to purchase one of his straps to use it. It can be used with any camera strap. The videos show how it works. Might be an idea to turn down the music, especially in the second video, which is more than a little dramatic.

See 1:55 and 3:22:

I came across Eddy's quick release because I was given one of his camera straps. I should have the release tomorrow. On the weekend, I'll report on how well it works. The B&H customer reviews (link above) are very positive.

I've received the Eddycam quick release and discovered that my options are to use it after adding camera attachment split rings to the Beastcage or opt for Peak Design's Anchor Link system.

The Eddycam quick release normally attaches straight to the camera eyelet/lug:

EC Closed.jpg (105.17 KiB) Viewed 92291 times

However, the Beastcage has a channel rather than a standard eyelet, and the body of the Eddycam release (the black component before the hook) is a couple of millimeters too thick for the channel:

eyelet.jpeg (86.82 KiB) Viewed 92291 times

This means that the stainless steel hook is too short by a few millimeters

EC closed & open.jpeg (122.71 KiB) Viewed 92291 times

Even if the body of the Eddycam release was thin enough to fit inside the channel, I suspect that the release wouldn't work properly because its movement would be restricted.

Plan B: Either add camera attachment split rings between the Beastcage channel and the quick release, or go with a Peak Design camera strap and Anchor Links.

A diversion...

The fellow who made the video below shows himself threading a camera strap. It happens to be an Eddycam strap, with Eddy's quick release, but that's beside the point. So is the fact that the strap has two buckles instead of one. I'll bet that the person who made this video is one of those rare people who knows how to tie a bow tie. Look at the screen capture below. The thread is perfect. There's no tail hanging out. Elegant.

no tail.jpg (180.29 KiB) Viewed 92261 times

He speeded up the clip that shows him threading the strap, but if you reduce the playback speed at 2:10 to 0.25 you'll see how he did it. No fumbling either. He knows exactly where he's going.

There are several videos on YouTube that show how to thread a camera strap. His video has had 817 views in five years. One has over 165,000 views, plus over 200 comments thanking the person who made it. The only problem with the latter video is the method. If you want the tail end of your strap flopping around, it and most of the other videos will teach you how to do it. The method works, but so does a clip-on bow tie.

The YouTube Short below provides a brief but clear view of Beastgrip's holder for an SSD (or power bank?). The holder can also be mounted on the top of the cage. It should be available on Beastgrip's website soon. Price will apparently be US$35 or $40, depending on choice of an option.

In a recent video, Beastgrip said that the SSD holder is a somewhat smaller version of its universal smartphone clamp: https://beastgrip.com/collections/shop- ... beastclamp

YouTube Shorts aren't automatically displayed in posts:

https://youtube.com/shorts/Ep0n293XzwM? ... F4Jj1QLEzv

This is a capture from the YouTube Short above. Note that Beastgrip has secured the SSD bracket to the 1/4"-20 sockets circled in red, but not to the sockets on the other side of the cage. This suggests that it's confident that the bracket is strong enough and stiff enough, with an SSD, that it doesn't need additional attachment points.

Some people use the sockets on the other side of the phone to attach one of the two types of Beastgrip side handles. These people will be able to use their preferred handles - called arm mounts - as well as attach an external SSD.*

As noted in the previous post, it will also be possible to attach the SSD holder to the top of the cage, as I understand it via the cold shoe.

* The handle in the capture is Beastgrip's simplest, least expensive. Called a CH-50, it can be used by itself or as a pair.

ssd holder.jpeg (164.85 KiB) Viewed 92145 times

I've never used a wrist strap before, but I tried one today with my iPhone 15 Beastcage. The purposes of a wrist strap are to prevent one's camera from crashing to the ground and to help dissuade people from stealing it. Psychologically, at least, it works. When I put on the wrist strap, I definitely felt more relaxed about carrying the Beastcage around. I've also learnt that a wrist strap, using my hand to absorb the weight, can be used to comfortably carry my Beastcage.

I now have a Peak Design wrist strap called The Cuff. It cost US$35. It consists of a short strap and Peak Design's "anchor link" quick release.

On a Beastcage, the anchor link can be attached to one of the two lugs in the top corners of the cage. See the second photo, four posts up.

The strap can also be attached to a D-ring screw affixed to one of the 1/4"-20 threaded sockets on a cage. A company called Coiro, which makes sling camera straps, sells the D-ring screw that I tried: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... amera.html

It's important to use the right type of D-ring screw. BlackRapid, Coiro, RuPac and a number of other companies make camera straps that are screwed directly into a camera's tripod socket. There are also D-ring screws that pass through a quick release plate before being screwed into the socket. This second type of D-ring screw was too long to use with my Beastcage. If the first part of a screw's shaft is unthreaded, it's a dead give-away that it's for use with a quick release plate.

This is the Coiro D-ring screw. It was a perfect fit for my Beastcage's 1/4"-20 sockets:

Untitled.jpg (47.18 KiB) Viewed 91987 times

I haven't used a Peak Design product in a long time, and I was concerned that its "anchor link" would get in the way. The anchor link turned out to be shorter than I recalled, and it didn't interfere at all.

The forecast here is for pretty poor weather tomorrow, but I'll post a photo or two of this setup in the next couple of days. I was also able to use a standard camera strap, and the Eddycam quick release, with the Beastcage. I'll post some photos of that too. I prefer Eddy's quick release to Peak Design's.

Chris Niccolls on wrist straps

Here are photos of my iPhone 15 Beastcage with a Peak Design Cuff wrist strap. For me, the phone and cage definitely feel more secure using the strap. Also, the strap can be used to carry the cage (see the post three down).

I'm only showing the strap attached to a D-ring because I don't think that other cages come with strap attachment points. The D-ring is the Coiro D-ring shown in the post above.

The D-ring can be attached to any 1/4"-20 on a cage. I expect that people would vary in their choice. Some considerations...

I found that being right handed is irrelevant to which side of the phone I attach the strap.

It doesn't matter whether I hold the phone so that the lenses are at the top or at the bottom. It's all the same to the Blackmagic Camera app. However, if my hand is right beside the lenses when I'm using the 13mm ultra-wide, it's easy for a finger to show in the frame.

The closer the D-ring is to my wrist, the more slack there is in the strap. The placement of the D-ring in the first photo is OK, but its placement in the second photo provides more slack. The amount of slack doesn't have a bearing on how secure the phone is. If the cage falls, or someone grabs it, the strap will immediately cinch.

d-ring top right.jpeg (214.66 KiB) Viewed 91840 times

d-ring lower left.jpeg (209.86 KiB) Viewed 91840 times

When the strap is disengaged from the anchor link, it can be put away or remain on one's wrist. There's a magnet in the strap that can be used to turn it into a bracelet. The magnet can be moved within the strap so that it will coincide with the metal band that you see in the photos.

There are other wrist straps on the market that I prefer to Peak Design's for material and looks, and there are also other options for quick release. I like the Eddycam release and I'm looking at some others. I'll report back on this.

A split ring would itself be a quick release mechanism if there was an easy, fast way to take one on and off. It turns out that there is. I suspect that this is fairly new, but my Peak Design Cuff came with a component to remove a split ring or open it enough to receive a Peak Design anchor link. The component doesn't look very sturdy, but there are tools that are and that can do the job in seconds.

I plan to post about that too.

B&H customer reviews on split rings are peppered with complaints about how hard it is to add or remove one. A good number of people say that they actually couldn't do it. Meanwhile, the whole point of a split ring is that it's supposed to be hard.

Peak Design is now including a small plastic tool with The Cuff, and I presume other straps, to make split ring manipulation a bit easier; and like many others I have personal experience using small screwdrivers.

I'm probably not alone in having been oblivious, until a couple of days ago, to the existence of split ring pliers. They're used, among others, by people who make or use fishing lures, and there are many models available. It appears that decent ones cost US$15-$20, although one can spend upwards of $50. Some of the brand names may be familiar, such as Shimano and Daiwa. A U.K. brand called Toit Fishing comes in at the high end. Here, Texas Tackle pliers are popular and cost about $18.

There are entire YouTube videos and fishing forum threads about split ring pliers. The pliers are sold in different sizes for different size split rings. Camera split rings are apparently around size 8 or 9, for which medium pliers are the ticket.

It's apparent that these pliers make short work of manipulating split rings, as in seconds. It probably doesn't take more time than installing or removing one of Peak Design's Anchor Links. Purchased from fishing or jeweler suppliers, split rings are also a fraction of the cost of Peak Design's Links, which are US$25 a pair.

These pliers can provide a quick release system for $20 that lasts forever, requiring only that one discard a split ring when it becomes no good at its job .

This Toit Fishing video is long, but the first minute shows how split ring pliers work:

In the post three up, I said that a wrist strap could be used to carry a Beastcage with phone, not just to protect them from a fall or theft. I've come across a photo on Gordy's Camera Straps that shows what I mean. Hold the strap more firmly than in the photo, and it works as a carry strap. This transfers the weight of the camera from your wrist to your hand; and a Beastcage and 15 Pro Max weigh quite a bit less than her Leica M and lens. I found that this worked very well.

However, Peak Design's Cuff is made of fabric, and the leather wrist strap in the photo, like all of Gordy's straps, is quite narrow. I don't know how well this would work with a more substantial leather strap, at least before it's been broken in.

Carry Photo.jpg (78.65 KiB) Viewed 90694 times

I've been looking for an alternative to Peak Design's straps for a quick release mechanism.

Eddycam
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... ieces.html

I've tried and like Eddycam's Eddyconnection. The quick release stays with the strap, I don't have to pay Peak Design US$25 a pair for its Anchor Links, and it's less bulky. There are photos above that show how the release works.

Gordy's Camera Straps
https://gordyscamerastraps.com

Gordy sells a "Quick Disconnect Kit" that adds 1.25" (32mm) to strap length. One can duplicate the kit by purchasing a carabiner (spring clip) and a split ring. Simple, but it would work. I'd want a carabiner that locks.

Termination in a Loop of String

Peak Design's straps are a variation on a strap that terminates in a loop made of strong string. You place the string loop through a split ring or lug and thread the strap through the loop. This is common with wrist straps. Peak Design effectively does this with all of its straps. It's how its Anchor Links work. The purpose of Peak Design's disc is to attach the loop to the rest of the strap.

Some Gordy wrist straps, terminating in a loop (just one of his termination options):

Gordys.jpg (62.05 KiB) Viewed 90514 times

An expensive Eddycam wrist strap:

eddycam wrist strap.jpg (88.74 KiB) Viewed 90514 times

Add Peak Design's Quick Release Mechanism

Several boutique makers of leather camera straps will add Peak Design's release system to the ends of their straps. I don't like Peak Design's straps aesthetically in the first place, and I've yet to see an attractive marriage of a traditional leather strap and a Peak Design quick release.

Lucky Straps
https://luckystraps.com

This Australian maker of camera straps has come up with what appears to be a clever and effective quick release mechanism. However, one has to purchase a Lucky strap to use it. I received this reply when I asked whether I could purchase the quick release by itself:

Although our quick release clips would possibly work with most 10mm webbings, what makes the clip ultimately work is the loop in our custom made dyneema webbing. Our webbing has been made super thin to get through the clip and is also cut resistant. We don't sell it [the webbing] separately unfortunately.

My interpretation is that Lucky wants to sell straps, not quick releases. They do look like well-made straps. I'm kind of on the fence about the aesthetic, which brings to mind Alberta and Wyoming. Fits my perception of Australia.

When I watched Lucky's video on the quick release, I had trouble understanding how it works until I slowed the video to .25 speed. This customer video, at 3:20, does a better job of explaining the mechanism:

Split Ring Pliers

Discussed two posts up. I live on Long Island and occasionally fish for Stripers (the local name for Atlantic striped bass), which is my excuse for ordering split ring pliers this morning.

However, see the post immediately below.

I had a discussion today with Toronto designer and craftsman Harry Benz. He said some things about split rings that I want to pass on.

Harry thinks that it's important to use rings that are made of high quality stainless steel. Also, he points out that a well-made split ring can easily be bent to the point that it won't recover its original shape. If that happens, it becomes a liability.

Someone who's using split ring pliers needs to be aware of this. One of the attractions of the pliers that I've ordered is that they're designed to address this very issue. That said, I’ll quote Harry: “No matter the type of rings one uses (btw, I only use industrial strength stainless steel split rings - the Best of the Good), once they are attached to a camera, don’t touch them again. One strap. One camera.”

Harry has a brief, to the point primer on split rings on his website at https://www.harrybenz.com/split-rings

Meanwhile...

What the heck, Tilta?

Meanwhile...

What the heck, Tilta?

I think that I've figured out the reason for the delay. From the top of Tilta's home page:

Our Chinese HQ is closed February 4th-18th for Chinese New Year.

In a new video, Blake Calhoun of the iPhonographers YouTube channel takes an interesting approach to using a Beastgrip Pro. The video is about a new gimbal, but that isn't what got my attention. There are two halves to a Beastgrip Pro cage. One of the halves can be used by itself as a phone clamp. Calhoun uses one that way, with an iPhone 15 Pro Max in a Sandmarc phone case. One could equally use a PolarPro LiteChaser case. With the LiteChaser's new mount for 67mm filters, one could use the rig with standard, non-proprietary neutral density filters. The ND filters would cover all three native iPhone lenses in one go, which is not the case with the other half of a Beastgrip Pro.

The result is an unusually comfortable phone clamp, with a built-in carry handle, and the ability to use and change out ND filters faster than is possible when both halves of a Beastgrip Pro cage are used. I'm sure that one could also add Beastgrip's SSD holder, which should be available soon.

Note that this only makes financial sense if one has reasons to own both a Beastgrip Pro and a LiteChaser case. Also, I know very little about Sandmarc, and it's possible that the same can be done with its case. In the video, Calhoun just uses half a Beastgrip Pro and the Sandmarc case to add some weight to the gimbal that he's reviewing.

See 1:10 of the video:

Tilta planned to release its Khronos "ecosystem" for iPhone at the end of January. It missed that, and closed February 4 - 18 for Chinese New Year. It's now Monday, February 19th in China, and Tilta should reopen for business in a few hours.

Inside Usher's Super Bowl halftime show. Shot by Mike Carson on the iPhone 15.

Carson's website: https://www.mikecarson.tv