The Best Camera Gear for Your Smartphone

[Karlston]

The Best Camera Gear for Your Smartphone

From mobile lenses to shotgun mics, here’s everything you need to assemble a portable, pro-grade photo studio.

 

 

We're living in a golden age of mobile photography. Also whatever the opposite of a golden age is for basically everything else. A global pandemic makes it tough to justify getting outside to shoot photos or videos, but most of the gear in the guide will up your shooting-video-at-home game. Alternatively, traveling light is always a good idea if you're headed out to protest (just make sure you're kitted out appropriately, and you know how to take protest photos responsibly.

 

All of our favorite Android phones and iPhones have outstanding cameras, but if you want to get some professional-grade photos and videos out of your phone, you might need to pick up a few things. Here is everything you need to turn your phone into a pro-grade powerhouse.

 

Be sure to check our guides to the best compact cameras and best instant cameras too.

 

Updated for June 2020: We've added a filter mount, a grip, and refreshed pricing.

 

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  Photograph: Moment

  A Pocket-Size Cinema Lens

  Moment Anamorphic Lens

   

  Your smartphone's camera is already great, but its key shortcoming is the built-in—and very small—lens. A bigger lens means more detailed and more dramatic images. That's where Moment comes in. Using professional-grade optics, Moment lenses greatly expand your phone camera's capabilities. The company makes different lenses for different applications. Pictured here is the Moment Anamorphic lens, which is perfect for video or ultrawide landscape photography. If you're looking to shoot better portraits with your phone or wade into street photography, I'd also recommend Moment's 58-mm lens. It's right in that telephoto sweet spot, delivering 2X magnification and some luscious bokeh. Don't take my word for it, check out Moment's photo gallery to see what these lenses are capable of.

   

  To use any of Moment's lenses, you will have to invest in a Moment Photo Case, but the designs are stylish, and they offer excellent all-around protection. The cases are only available for select phones from Samsung, Google, OnePlus, and Apple. For a more universal and affordable option, we like clip-on lenses from Aukey, like this one.

   

  $150 $130 at Amazon

  $150 $130 at Moment

   

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  Photograph: Moment 

  A Filter Mount and Polarizer

  Moment 37-mm Mount + CPL Filter

   

  This filter and mount kit opens up a world of possibilities for your phone camera. It mounts to any Moment case, and the filter screws right on. The included filter is a polarization filter, which makes it possible to shoot photos and video without capturing reflections.

  That way you can take photos through windows or photos without reflected sunlight on the surface of water. The CPL filter also makes it easy to shoot video of people wearing glasses without catching yourself in the reflection all the time.

   

  $40 $30 at Moment

  $40 at B&H Photo

   

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  Photograph: Shoulderpod

  A Grip With Mounting Points

  Shoulderpod G2

   

  The Shoulderpod G2 is a weird-looking device. It's a big hunk of durable, rubberized plastic with a heavy-duty clamp to secure your smartphone in horizontal or vertical orientation. The grip makes it easy to keep your videos steady, and the six cold-shoe mounts offer plenty of options for external lights and microphones. Plus, it has a tripod mount so it can be as mobile or stationary as you need it to be. It's a versatile addition to any kit.

   

  $70 at B&H Photo

  $70 at Amazon

 

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  Photograph: RODE Microphones

  A Portable Shotgun Mic

  Røde Videomic Go

   

  Good video is nothing without good audio. Microphones can get expensive and cumbersome, but since we're trying to keep things lean here, I'd recommend the Rode VideoMic Go. It's my personal go-to when I'm shooting something and I want to keep my kit lightweight. It's super small, and it doesn't need an external power source; it just plugs into the phone's 3.5-mm jack (or your dongle) like a pair of headphones.

   

  The audio quality isn't studio-grade by any means, but it's definitely better than the mic on your phone, and it's capable of picking up clean sound from a good distance.

   

  $100 at B&H Photo

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  Photograph: Joby 

  A Go-Anywhere Tripod

  Joby GripTight Pro 2 Gorillapod

   

  You won't always have a nice flat surface to set your tripod on, especially if you're shooting out in the wilderness. But Joby's GripTight Pro GorillaPod has your back. The articulated legs on this tripod can be adjusted to any angle so your phone stays level on almost any surface. The legs are so bendy that they can curl around anything—fence posts, tree branches, your hand—to form a tight grip. It's also good for vlogging because it's small enough that you can squeeze all three legs together into an easily grippable monopod.

   

  $87 at Amazon

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  Photograph: Amazon

  A Fistful of Dongles

  Linklike 3.5mm to USB-C Dongle

   

  Any ultralight photo kit is going to require a couple of dongles, and this one is pretty essential. This dongle has a headphone jack and a USB-C port, so it lets you connect your microphone without hogging the connector you need to charge your phone. That means you'll be able to plug in a mic and a charger or external battery at the same time, which can be crucial if you're out and about for most of the day.

   

  Now, if you don't have a phone with a USB-C jack, don't worry. There are plenty of dongles out there that will offer you the same functionality.

   

  $40 $25 at Amazon

   

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  Photograph: Amazon

  A Portable Battery

  Anker PowerCore 10,000

   

  Even the latest smartphones will burn through their battery pretty quickly if you're going around shooting video or taking a lot of carefully composed photos. Portable power is essential. That's why I recommend this Anker power bank. It's small enough to slip into a jacket pocket but considerable enough to give you an extra charge or two, depending on your phone.

   

  $26 at Amazon

 

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  Photograph: Peak Design

  An Everyday Carry Bag

  Peak Design Everyday Sling V2 6L

   

  All right. You have your kit, you have your phone, but now you need to carry and organize all these items. Get the Peak Design Everyday Sling. The contents of this list can easily fit inside the 6L size version. It has tons of internal organization space, along with some dividers you can move around to suit your needs. Plus it's weather-sealed, so you can tote it in the rain without any worry.

   

  This is my go-to camera bag, my do-everything bag, and I've subjected it to all kinds of abuse, but it's never once sprung a leak or failed to protect my devices. It's a good investment for anyone who needs a small everyday carrier.

   

  $100 at B&H Photo

  $100 at Adorama

 

 

The Best Camera Gear for Your Smartphone