Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

4 Must-Have iPhone Photography Accessories for the Dedicated iPhoneographer

By Mike Richard Updated December 18, 2019

We’re fast-approaching a point with smartphone camera technology where travelers wanting to catch that perfect shot may no longer need to carry a separate DSLR camera. Clip-on Zeiss lenses, ultra-compact tripods, and Photoshop-grade mobile apps are replacing bulky, “old school” digital camera kits. Here are four of our favorite iPhone Photography accessories for budding (or near-pro) travel photographers.

ExoLens with Optics by Zeiss Wide-angle Lens – $200

iphone-with-lens-mount — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Snap-on iPhone lenses are nothing new. However, most suffer from at least one of two shortcomings: their flexible design (to allow for use on a wide range of iPhone types) provides a less-than-ideal fit, or the quality of the glass isn’t worth the hassle. The awkwardly named ExoLens with Optics by Zeiss Wide-angle Lens (18mm equivalent) solves both problems. First, the included precision-machined mounting brackets provide for an ultra-tight fit with whatever iPhone you happen to be packing. Second, and most important, the lenses make use of world-famous Zeiss optics meaning the picture quality is far superior to any other smartphone lens kit on the market. The downside? Great quality and fit doesn’t come cheap.

Recommended Videos

Snapseed – Free

Snapseed Introduction

Like all great software and apps, Google purchased Nik Software (creators of Snapseed) in 2012. It’s no surprise, as original iterations of the mobile app were approaching the power and flexibility of full-fledged desktop photo-editing software. The latest version offers many of the best features of Adobe Photoshop. Instagram-style filters allow for fast, stylized editing. But, additional nuanced features allow power users to individually adjust for things like exposure, ambiance, warmth, and saturation — on a per-picture level or via preset brushes to edit only small portions of a photo. Where the app really shines is with desktop-grade features like a healing brush, facial recognition (to, for example, highlight only a single face or pair of eyes in a given photo), and an automated stretch feature. The latter allows for smart resizing to, for example, add additional blue sky or to extend a fence line in a photo where neither previously existed.

Pakpod – $99

Image used with permission by copyright holder

For years, Gorillapod was the standard for photographers looking to take their cameras anywhere. While the company’s products are still solid as ever, Pakpod offers all the same features and then some. The uniquely designed mobile tripod was purpose-built for outdoor and adventure travelers who use their cameras in the most extreme situations. It’s lightweight, compact, and extremely portable. But, its biggest selling point is its stake system which allows it to be firmly secured in sand, turf, or snow. Once in place, all three legs are lockable with just one twist. What’s more: dedicated tie-down points guarantee the tripod will never budge.

Roxant Pro Stabilizer – $65

The Roxant Pro Video Camera Stabilizer (Steady Cam)

While smartphone software and hardware are rapidly catching up to DSLR camera technology, the one thing that’s been difficult to overcome is their awkward form factor. Smartphones were never intended to be used or held like a traditional camera. Enter Roxant’s Video Camera Stabilizer. The device features a universal mount that accepts not only smartphones but GoPros and DSLRs up to 2.1 pounds. The design offers a solid hand grip, three individual counterweights for better balance, and a purpose-built, Hollywood-inspired stabilizing design for shooting smooth, “indie film-style” footage without the usual smartphone shakiness.

Contributor

Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…

Travel

Inside The Londoner: The luxury hotel that’s worth splurging on in London

Why London's luxury super boutique hotel is worth the splurge

Accessories, Bag, Handbag

Luxury hotels promise a lot. Beautiful rooms, impeccable service, incredible restaurants, over-the-top amenities. Sometimes they live up to the hype. Other times, you leave wondering what exactly earned them five stars in the first place.

The Londoner had me convinced before I even made it to the check-in desk.

Travel

The Obelisks of Rome: A pointed walking tour

Take a walk into history with these fascinating Roman landmarks

City, Architecture, Building

When you walk around Rome, no matter which way you turn, you are likely to see the sky pierced by an obelisk. It is a defining part of the Roman skyline. But they don’t really belong here. Rome is a city that has never been shy about borrowing greatness. Few monuments illustrate that better than its obelisks. While these towering stone needles feel quintessentially Roman today, they began life in ancient Egypt, most carved along the Nile. While there, they were associated with the sun god and served as symbols of divine favor and royal power. Today, Rome boasts thirteen ancient obelisks, more than anywhere else in the world, including Egypt itself.

Their journey to Rome began after Augustus conquered Egypt following the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra in 30 BCE. Bringing obelisks to the capital was more than an exercise in decorating the city; it was a statement of conquest. Egypt's sacred monuments had become Roman trophies, proclaiming that a new empire now enjoyed the favor of the gods. Later emperors continued importing obelisks, scattering them across circuses, temples, and public spaces.

Travel

Oregon’s Tualatin Valley is a wine festival hub with idyllic views just outside Portland

This city escape is perfect for lively gatherings and self-guided tasting trails

Plant, Tree, Fir, Mt Hood Forest Grove

The Pacific Northwest's wine scene gained international acclaim with hotspots like the Walla Walla Valley and Columbia Gorge, praised for their well-crafted bottles. But fewer have heard of the Tualatin Valley, a destination brimming with over 40 estate wineries. Nestled along the northwestern edge of the Willamette Valley, it offers the quickest access to wine country from downtown Portland.

Tualatin Valley’s wine-laden hills and tasting rooms start a mere 20 to 30 minute drive from the city, yet they feel hours away. In record time, you’ll find yourself luxuriating on a breezy hillside with a glass of Pinot Noir in hand. You can stretch your legs, admire Mt. Hood’s majestic peak, and chat with other lucky escape artists who also discovered this special place.