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Taking pictures and videos is one of the main functions of your mobile phone, although the quality of your smartphone’s cameras may be limited. If you would like to have a smartphone that captures better images, but you don’t want to buy a new terminal, you have the option of resorting to an accessory that transforms any mobile phone into a professional camera.
The name of this accessory is SwitchLens and it basically consists of a Micro Four Thirds camera that attaches to the back of the smartphone. This camera works in conjunction with your smartphone’s lenses and allows your smartphone to take photos in RAW format of 5592 x 3710 pixels and videos in 4K at 60 fps. At the moment, SwitchLens is a project that is looking for financial support on Kickstarter, although you can already pre-order it to receive it in a few months.
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SwitchLens, the accessory to take professional photos with your mobile
SwitchLens is an accessory developed by the Chinese brand Sneaki Design that basically attaches to the mobile phone to improve its photographic quality. It achieves this through a Micro Four Thirds camera with a 1-inch CMOS image sensor that can capture RAW and JPG photos with a maximum resolution of 5592 x 3710 pixels, as well as record videos in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second.
Unless you have one of the phones with the best cameras on the market, your phone will usually not be able to take images of such good quality as those achieved by SwitchLens.
It should be noted that the creators of this company have worked with other brands to offer different lens options. In addition to the above, SwitchLens is compatible with 7.5mm and F/2.8, 12mm and F/2.8, 25mm and F/1.8, 27mm and F/2.8, 35mm and F/0.95, 35mm and F/1.8, and 50mm and F/1.8 lenses.
As we can see in the images, SwitchLens attaches to the mobile phone through the back of the phone. There are 2 options for connection: magnetically via MagSafe and Qi2, and also with the help of a magnetic ring. Once attached to the smartphone, you have to download an app in the latter that will allow you to configure the parameters of the SwitchLens camera.
For example, with the app you can adjust the ISO, shutter speed and also white balance. The connection between the app and the accessory is made via WiFi connectivity, and is maintained even when the SwitchLens is physically disconnected as long as the separation does not exceed 10 meters.
We know that SwitchLens gets its power from a 14,500 mAh battery, although Sneaki Design has not specified what the autonomy of it is. Of course, it must be taken into account that the device has a total weight of 180 grams, so it will greatly increase the weight of the mobile phone. In the following video you can see in detail how it works.https://www.youtube.com/embed/enuhyGN2DuQ?feature=oembed
SwitchLens is currently leading a funding campaign on Kickstarter, where you can already pre-order your unit. The sale price is 199 dollars. You also have the option of buying it together with 3 lenses ($346) and together with 6 lenses ($649). In all cases, the shipment will begin in November 2024, so you have to wait a few months to receive it.
At the time of writing, SwitchLens has raised about 140,000 euros from 330 different sponsors. If you are not convinced by how it works, you can always look among the cheap phones with the best camera on the market.
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