Olloclip Studio - The Perfect iPhone 6s+ Case for Olloclip Photographers

I've always been fascinated by the Olloclip lenses. With it, my iPhone photography has gone beyond what the phone itself can accomplish. The iPhone camera in itself is already very good, but the different Olloclip lenses add more muscles to the already capable camera phone.

To recap, there are several types of Olloclip lenses. The ones in my arsenal are, first, the wide angle lens and the 10x macro underneath it and the fish-eye lens with the 15x macro underneath it. My second set is composed of the 2x zoom lens, the wide angle lens and the polarizing glass.

With the zoom lens, I don't "pinch to zoom" to get "closer" to my subjects. Doing this is actually a really terrible idea because you will just be enlarging the pixels - you are not actually moving closer. If you want to get closer, you have to walk!

The iPhone has an equivalent of 34mm focal length, making it perfect for street photography, but if you want to get a wider field of view, you would need a wider-angle lens. This is where the wide angle lens of Olloclip comes in handy.

And with the fish-eye lens, you get a much, much more of the view!

And of course, macro photography is something the iPhone cannot do on its own: it simply is not capable...

Finally, the polarizing lens helps reduce glare and reflections in your photos.

However, no matter how great the Olloclip lenses are, it has one limitation that may discourage a lot of people: since you slide the lenses to the body, using the lens prohibits you from using a case. I myself often found myself in such a dilemma: I bought an Apple silicone case but when it comes to using the "clips", I still needed to remove the case. And I missed several photographic opportunities because of this...

The solution to this problem is the Olloclip Studio. This is a case made specifically for either the iPhone 6/6s and iPhone 6+/6s+. The case provides ample protection for the phone and it covers all sides of it. There are cuts along the sides to give way for the mute switch, the speaker grill, the power port and the headphone jack. You can place the phone face down and still feel confident that the display will not touch the surface.

With the case on, the iPhone-case system is built like a tank. Though I rarely drop my phones, I feel confident that, if ever I do, my iPhone 6s+ will be able to handle the impact.

But, the thing that sets this case apart from all the rest is its compatibility with the different Olloclip lenses. The cut at the top of the case makes Olloclip photography (yes, that's a thing) a possibility. You don't need to remove the case anymore if you want to use your Olloclips.

But not only that, there is a railing at the back of the case where you can attach the different accessories that came with the case. Yes, there are accessories that came with the case!

First off are a couple of cold mounts where you can attach, say, an iPhone-compatible microphone and external lighting. There are also a couple of attachments that will enable you to mount the iPhone on a tripod - one for the vertical orientation, the other for the horizontal orientation. There is a hand grip that will stabilize the phone when you, say, hand hold the iPhone during a video session. This will also provide a more stable grip during daily use.

Attaching these accessories to the case is simple via the railing that I mentioned. It is a quick and easy method that will help you expand your iPhone photography and videography.

What is not mentioned in the Olloclip website is there actually is a slot where you can thread a hand strap, similar to what you can find in the box of your point-and-shoot camera. I don't know why Olloclip does not advertise this, but this makes shooting with the iPhone a similar experience to that of using a point-and-shoot.

There is one last accessory but this one is not photography-related: a stand... With it you can prop your phone and you can watch a movie hands free. Standing your phone in the vertical orientation with this accessory is doable but highly unstable...

But of course, not all is perfect with this case. Using a case, outside of Apple's silicone cases, will add heft to the phone. For me, this is not actually an issue. And the alternative, the one where I don’t use a case, is a no-no because I find a case-less iPhone 6s+ to be really, really slippery. If you want a thinner case, this might not be for you. And of course, if you use an Olloclip lens, you won't be able to use a screen guard on the phone's display. If you decide to use an Olloclip, you risk having your screen scratched when, say, you put your phone in your pocket together with some loose change.

But all-in-all, the Olloclip Studio is a must-have accessory if you are a big fan of Olloclip lenses. It just makes you Olloclip-iPhone photography a more fun and fuller endeavor. And your phone will also be greatly protected from behind and from the sides.

Highly Recommended!

Also, check out my video review here!

Note: You can purchase the different Olloclip accessories on amazon.com on the following links: Olloclip Studio, Olloclip 4-in-1 Lens, Olloclip Telephoto + Wide Angle + Macro 10x Lens + CPL Lens.

Photos shot with an iPhone 6s+ using the iOS app VSCO

A Trip to the Orlina Museum in Tagaytay

The wife and I, with the in-laws were treated to an overnight stay in Tagaytay by a family friend. It was a really wonderful experience!

Sandwiched between the awesome adventures was the trip to the Orlina Museum. It was just inside the main road used to go in and out of Tagaytay and it can be easily missed. It's a good thing I saw the sign right away!

Entrance fee was just 100 pesos and this will let you inside the 5-floor building. When you step inside, you will be treated to some of the best works of art!

I took a lot of photos and these are just some of my favorites.

If you happen to pass by Tagaytay, then make sure to check this place out. It's worth it!

Photos shot with an iPhone 6+ using the iOS app VSCO

Review of the MeFOTO SideKick 360+

An insurance plan is something nice to have. For example, you wouldn't want to be caught without a car insurance when, say, you hit another car. And when you get sick, a health insurance is a big, big help if you don't want to be strained financially with hospital bills and such.

However, if you are not using either, it seems as if you are just throwing money away. Well, think of it this way: the reason why you haven't been using your health insurance is because you are not getting sick and the reason why you haven't been using your car insurance is because you haven't been in an accident.

As the adage goes: it's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

So, this is supposed to be a technology blog so why am I writing about insurance?!?

Well, it's because of the iPhone 6s+. I love the phone, I love the size, I love every millimeter of it. The downside: the MeFOTO 360 that I was using for the iPhone 5s doesn't fit the bigger phone anymore. (I reviewed the 360 here.)

So, I looked for a tripod clam for the iPhone 6s+. One of the downsides of living in the Philippines is that not all brands are available here, or, the brand may be here but not all of the models they are selling are available. I am a big fan of MeFOTO, and they have tripods here, but the clamp that will fit the 6s+ is not available.

So I looked for something else, some other brand.

It turns out, at that time, there wasn't any other brands that were familiar to me that carry clamps big enough for the 6s+. There are other brands, mostly unknown, that one can use to clamp the phone, but I didn't trust them. They seem flimsy and I feel they will break at the first instant that I use them... (Well, I am exaggerating: they'll break after three uses...)

And this is where the insurance idea enters...

So, you spent several hundred dollars (several 10-thousand pesos) on a phone then you will spend less than $10 U.S. dollars (about 500 Philippine pesos) on a clamp?!? That doesn't make sense to me...

So I didn't give in. I didn't buy the cheap clamps. What I did was buy the MeFOTO Sidekick 360+ on Amazon. And I didn't look back.

This time around, I got the white version to differentiate it from the Sidekick 360. The finish of the 360+, the white one, is different from the orange one. Whereas the orange 360 has a metallic, rough finish, the white 360+ has a glossy finish. But the quality of the clamp is still very good. Construction is superb, the knobs turn easily.

You can still configure the clamp and use it as a phone stand, either in a portrait orientation for reading ebooks or in a landscape orientation when you're watching movies.

But, this is, for me, where the 360+ shines the most (and is also true for the 360): when it is used for iPhone photography. The base of the 360+ is ArcaSwiss compatible and you can simply attach it to a tripod that has the same head. You don't need adapters anymore if you want to use your tripod and your phone to take pictures or to shoot videos.

And yes, you can now be included in the photos when you want to shoot "groupies". And your selfies will also be improved because, instead of using the lower-quality front camera, you will be able to use the much, much better rear camera of the phone. Just don't forget to set the camera on timer mode.

So, is the MeFOTO Sidekick 360+ worth it? Definitely. With this accessory, I won't have to worry that the clamp will suddenly break down while I'm using it. As much as possible, I don't want my phone's date with concrete a possibility.

The MeFOTO Sidekick 360+ is Highly Recommended!

I just wish MeFOTO will start selling them here...

Photos shot with an iPhone 6+ using the iOS apps Visco and Hipstamatic.

The MeFOTO SideKick360 Review

I love the color orange. And I love my iPhone. So when the chance to combine the two comes up, I almost always jump on it...

Enter the orange MeFOTO SideKick360...

This nifty device is a phone stand/tripod adapter. With this clamp you will be able to do  a lot of things with your phone, like shooting time lapse, long exposure photos, and group photos, of course. And with a reversible tripod and a proper lens attachment, you will be able to make macro photos with your iPhone!

The SideKick360 can be used with any tripod or monopod. You can either use the quarter-inch screw to tie the clamp down, or you can just use the arca-swiss plate-compatible foot of the accessory.

But the SideKick360 is not limited to photography. This clamp can also serve as a stand for your iPhone - you will be able to watch movies, have a FaceTime video call, or just a regular hands-free call.

And yes, this accessory is not limited to the iPhone. If your phone has a maximum width of 2.8 inches, then it will fit.

Though I feel that the so-called phablets are a no-go... And yes, it's not for the iPhone 6+...

On the construction aspect, this MeFOTO product is well-made and is composed of high-quality materials. The screws tighten and loosen smoothly and the screw holes are precisely made. Also, the metal used for this clamp is the same as that of a MacBook Pro! How nifty is that?!?

And it is orange!

This beautifully-oranged thing is very useful both for the iPhone's everyday use and for iPhoneography.

Here's hoping it will be available in the Philippines!

It is Highly Recommended!

Photos shot with an iPhone 5s using the iOS app Hipstamatic:

The iPhone 5s, Kyoto, Japan and the Olloclip Lenses

The wife, @reina_reyes, and I went to Kyoto, Japan last October. Of course I brought my DSLR. However, when it came time to actually do street photography, I suddenly had an awkward feeling: every time I raise my camera to my face, the people who I want to photograph, the people who I want to capture in their natural state, will suddenly look at me and either of two things will happen - they smile at me or they turn around and walk away. Either way, I failed to capture the moment because the DSLR was very, very obvious.

And the sad thing was, I didn't bring my Canon G15.

But hope was to be found in the form of the iPhone 5s. I know that this phone has a great camera for a phone but, that time, I would be dependent solely on it.

What made the iPhone great was it's inconspicuous nature: everybody, well, almost, has a smartphone - I wasn't any different from most people - so, I was able to capture people as they were. And that was what I wanted!

And the phone, as to be expected, performed admirably. All I needed to vary my shots were my two olloclip lenses: the telephoto and the fish eye lenses. With these, I was able to get the shots that I wanted.

Panos were great, something that I could not do in-camera, with the G15...

And even in really low light, the iPhone 5s performed admirably! 

Now, I am not saying that you should give up your point-and-shoot for a smartphone, far from it - I actually am interested in getting the new Canon G7x and its 1-inch sensor - but if you have absolutely no choice, then the iPhone is a really, really great alternative.

Photos shot with the iPhone 5s and post-processed "in-camera" using the following apps:


 

My reviews of the Olloclip 4-in-1 and Telephoto+CPL lenses for the iPhone 5s can be found here and here respectively.