Elevate your smartphone photography with these 10 must-have accessories
From mini tripods and gimbals to LED lights, these tools can help you unlock your phone’s full creative potential.
This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.
It's said that the best camera is the one that you always have with you. By that definition, it's no wonder smartphones are such popular photography devices. Photo: Unsplash
This audio is generated by an AI tool.
With innovative camera hardware and AI-boosted software, smartphones can often rival dedicated cameras. Many flagship smartphones now boast larger image sensors, improved low-light capabilities and multiple rear cameras with varying focal lengths.
For those eager to elevate the quality of their photos or videos, an array of accessories awaits. While they can’t turn a bad shot into a masterpiece, these tools open up exciting creative possibilities for keen photographers.
KEEP THINGS STEADY
In photography, stability is a fundamental principle. Keeping your camera steady is the cornerstone of capturing excellent shots. Tripods effectively minimise camera shake, ensuring your images are sharp and crisp. Moreover, they play a crucial role in long-exposure photography, enabling you to produce creative effects such as light streaks and dreamy, flowing water. What’s more, their ability to pan smoothly can result in amazing panoramic shots. Some tripods have flexible legs that can be positioned on irregular surfaces or wrapped around objects, granting you access to unique angles and vantage points. If you’re into fast-paced action or sports photography, try gimbals. These nifty devices provide rock-solid stability so your camera stays level and centred.
1. TONEOF 60-inch Cell Phone Selfie Stick Tripod with Integrated Wireless Remote (S$45.99)
Featuring a fully telescopic handle and built-in foldable legs, this compact 340g tripod pulls double duty as a desktop tripod and a selfie stick. Crafted from corrosion-resistant aluminium alloy, it’s adjustable in height from 30cm to 152cm. With a built-in wireless remote control that works within a 10m range and compatibility with iOS/Android phones, it’s a must-have for the smartphone-savvy photographer.
Weighing just 300g, the JOBY GorillaPod Stand PRO features rubber legs that grip and flex for unique angles or standard tripod use. Its height ranges from 10cm to 31cm, making it a portable and flexible choice for any photography adventure.
Are your videos so shaky that they’re giving viewers motion sickness? A gimbal is essential to stabilise jerky camera movements when you’re filming on the move. The device keeps your phone centred and level to ensure smooth, professional-looking footage. An AI-based tracking feature ensures your subject stays centred in the frame, making dynamic shots a breeze.
ADD LIGHTING
The key to good photos and videos is great lighting. While modern phones can handle low-light situations to some extent, introducing an additional light source is often essential to avoid grainy footage. Using your phone’s flash should be reserved as a last resort as the light it emits tends to be harsh and unflattering. With LED panels getting smaller and more affordable, having one to provide the much-needed fill light can be especially useful for capturing detail in dark environments or for taking portraits. Unlike a flash, you can dim an LED panel to emit a softer glow without the risk of harsh overexposure.
4. ULANZI VL120 RGB Pocket LED On-Camera Video Lights (S$56.90)
Ever wondered how content creators take great photos even when a restaurant is dimly lit? The secret is having your own light source. The pocket-sized ULANZI VL120 provides adjustable brightness, colour and temperature. It boasts a built-in 3,100mAh USB-C rechargeable battery that is good for three hours of continuous lighting. For a more compact option, consider the ULANZI VL49 RGB Video Lights (S$29.90).
ADD IMPACT TO YOUR IMAGES
Clip-on lenses and filters help smartphone photographers unleash their artistic vision. Wide-angle lenses, fisheye lenses and telephoto lenses can be clipped on to smartphones to create a diverse range of effects. Filters can infuse your photos with mood, atmosphere and drama. These nifty add-ons allow you to enhance or alter colours and tones in your photos in a way that’s challenging to replicate with image-editing apps.
5. Mocalaca Phone Camera Lens Kit with Travel Case (S$40.74)
Enhance your smartphone’s creative potential with this 11-lens kit, which includes fisheye, starburst and radial lenses. Compatible with most Apple and Android smartphones, it reduces ghosting, flares from reflections and distortion using optical glass.
6. Kase 41mm Magnetic Camera Lens Circular Polarizer Filter with Clip (S$53.84)
Not just for interchangeable lens cameras, circular polariser filters cut out certain wavelengths of light that cause reflections and can help improve colour contrast. The magnetic clip-on design of the Kase circular polariser filter allows users to install and replace filters quickly. Made of high-quality optical glass, the 41mm-diameter filter works for most phone lenses.
7. Kase 41mm Magnetic ND512 Neutral Density ND Filter with Clip (S$54.77)
Neutral density filters are essential for preventing overexposed images in bright light. This one from Kase also offers unique effects like blue streaks, light pollution and starburst.
BE SEEN, BE HEARD
While every smartphone has a built-in microphone for recording audio, a dedicated external microphone will significantly boost your video’s audio quality. Microphones for use with smartphones are usually either cardioid or omnidirectional. A cardioid microphone is your go-to choice when you need to record from a single source while minimising background noise. An omnidirectional microphone is better for recording group conversations or a broader soundscape of your surroundings as it captures the sound equally from all directions.
8. RØDE VideoMic ME-L Directional Microphone for iOS Devices (S$97.28)
Take your videos to the next level with this high-quality directional microphone. It plugs directly into your iPhone’s Lightning port and features a 3.5mm headphone jack for real-time audio monitoring. An included furry windshield helps filter out wind noise during outdoor recording.
9. BOYA by-MM1 Compact On-Camera Shotgun Video Microphone (S$46.20)
Suitable for streaming, podcasting, home studio recording, field recording and voiceover use, this cardioid pointing condenser microphone is versatile and doesn’t require batteries. With TRS and TRRS audio plug output cables, it’s compatible with smartphones, cameras, camcorders, audio recorders and computers.
10. Kenko KCA-S01 Cleaning Supplies (S$15.60)
Dirty equipment can ruin your perfect shot. Keep appropriate cleaning supplies within reach so your phones and accessories are free of dust and ready for action.
Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals of good photography and videography, affordable accessories can help open up new artistic avenues. From stunning landscape photos to silky smooth action videos, you’ll be able to maximise your phone’s creative opportunities.
This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.
Prices are accurate as of the time of publication. Discount codes for some products are available for eligible Prime members.
Not a Prime member yet? Join Prime or start a 30-day free trial at Amazon.sg/prime. Prime members enjoy free one-day domestic delivery and free international delivery on eligible items.
