Get The Most Out of Your iPhone Camera With These Photograph Accessories

It seems like everyone can be a photographer these days because of the improved cameras on smart phones as well as easily accessible effects and sharing platforms such as Instagram. Increasingly, people are turning towards their phones for taking and uploading images to Facebook and Twitter because of the speed and ease of doing so. When you think about the effort involved of linking a digital camera up to your computer and then uploading the photos, a smart phone seems like the way to go, even if you are sacrificing a little bit of quality.

But the quality of smart phone cameras has improved greatly to the point that Niall asked whether phones were about to wipe out the digital camera industry.  While it hasn’t yet come to that yet, we have since then seen Kodak, one of the most recognisable names in photography, file for bankruptcy and remain involved in legal disputes with smart phone manufacturers such as RIM and Apple. Of course, we can argue a multitude of different reasons as to what casued Kodak to file for bankruptcy, but none the less it is indicative of a shift in how photography is used and perceived in our day to day lives.

But the emergence of smart phone cameras has also led to a burgeoning side industry – accessories to enhance the iPhone camera experience and make it more like a real camera with specific functions. One such device is the iPhone Rangerfinder from Photojojo, which turns you iPhone into what looks and works just like a traditional camera – complete with a shutter button, tripod mount and viewfinder.

Another cool device is the Dot from Kogeto which attaches to your iPhone and lets you shoot 360 degree videos like this one, which you can of course then share via Kogeto’s site or through Facebook, Twitter or email.

This is one for the more adventurous sporty types who want to record themselves in motion – a device to turn your iphone into a POV camera, strapped to your chest. The device is called Miveu and is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter to become a fully fledged start up.

But all these devices do not mean that the desire for professional photography is waning. In fact, the existence of this specific market indicates that people are more interested than ever in enhancing their photography skills and capabilities, and the iPhone is the medium through which they are able to do so.