What mobile accessories are good for travel photography?
Photo: Ippei Naoi / Moment via Getty Images There's no denying the convenience of using a smartphone camera for travel photography. While dedicated cameras offer advantages regarding quality and flexibility, lugging around an often clunky extra device isn't always ideal. You'll likely have your phone with you anyway, so you might as well pack a few accessories to help you get the most out of it for documenting your travels. Grip Photo: ShiftCam Smartphone grips provide a more camera-like experience for holding your phone, making them more comfortable while putting your hand in a more natural position for taking photos. Made by brands like ShiftCam, Ulanzi and even Leica, some rely on magnets to connect to your phone, while others are more complete cases. Beyond making your phone easier to hold, most smartphone grips also solve additional problems you may come across when using your phone for travel photography. They typically provide a dedicated shutter button, making it faster and easier to take photos. Many offer a built-in battery, giving your phone more power for your adventures. The full case designs also give your phone a bit more protection. Power bank Image: Anker If you aren't using a grip with a built-in battery, you'll want to make sure you have a portable power bank. After all, using your camera frequently can burn through the battery fast. There are endless options available, with many that are compatible with wireless charging. However, that method won't charge your phone as fast or as efficiently. Instead, you may want to keep a cord on you (or, even better, choose a power bank with one built-in) for those times you need power fast. Lenses Anamorphic lenses can be a fun way to create a new perspective. Photo: Dale Baskin Most phones offer two or three different cameras with unique fields of view (what you'll see of the scene). Those don't always do what you need or want, though. Adding a lens to your smartphone can unlock new possibilities. Smartphone lenses come in many styles, including macro, telephoto, ultra-wide-angle and anamorphic. They can be useful for getting a fresh perspective or giving you more creative control. Be aware that if you opt for cheap smartphone lenses, you'll be throttling your phone's quality quite a bit. Sandmarc, Moment, Beastgrip, PolarPro and SmallRig are some brands that make quality options worth investing in. Microfiber cloth Image: Spudz Your phone goes through a lot throughout the day. Smartphone cameras seem to attract smudges, which will impact your photo quality. While you could use your shirt to wipe off the camera, that's not always effective and can risk scratching the lens. Instead, keep a microfiber cloth handy to keep your phone's cameras sparkly clean when it's time to take photos. Tripod or mount Photo: Peak Design A tripod or some sort of mount will be a handy addition if you like to be in your photos or take photos in dark conditions. You could opt for a full-size tripod for maximum height, or a tabletop one if you don't want to deal with something so large. Peak Design even makes one that essentially sits flat against the back of your phone, so you can leave it attached without thinking much about it. There are also suction cup mounts or other accessories that allow you to put your phone in places that a tripod may not work, but still let you go hands-free. Bluetooth remote Photo: Moment On top of a tripod or mount, a Bluetooth remote will make your life easier for group photos or selfies. That way, you won't need to rush in front of the phone after setting the timer, or keep going back and forth to take more images. Some watches can function as remotes as well, so you may not need to buy a dedicated device, either. Final thoughts on smartphone travel accessories If you're sticking with your smartphone for travel photography, you likely don't want to bring a bunch of extra stuff along. However, a few key accessories can help you get more out of your phone, while still saving you space and weight compared to a dedicated camera and the accessories that you'd need for that.
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| Photo: Ippei Naoi / Moment via Getty Images |
There's no denying the convenience of using a smartphone camera for travel photography. While dedicated cameras offer advantages regarding quality and flexibility, lugging around an often clunky extra device isn't always ideal. You'll likely have your phone with you anyway, so you might as well pack a few accessories to help you get the most out of it for documenting your travels.
Grip
 |
| Photo: ShiftCam |
Smartphone grips provide a more camera-like experience for holding your phone, making them more comfortable while putting your hand in a more natural position for taking photos. Made by brands like ShiftCam, Ulanzi and even Leica, some rely on magnets to connect to your phone, while others are more complete cases.
Beyond making your phone easier to hold, most smartphone grips also solve additional problems you may come across when using your phone for travel photography. They typically provide a dedicated shutter button, making it faster and easier to take photos. Many offer a built-in battery, giving your phone more power for your adventures. The full case designs also give your phone a bit more protection.
Power bank
 |
| Image: Anker |
If you aren't using a grip with a built-in battery, you'll want to make sure you have a portable power bank. After all, using your camera frequently can burn through the battery fast. There are endless options available, with many that are compatible with wireless charging. However, that method won't charge your phone as fast or as efficiently. Instead, you may want to keep a cord on you (or, even better, choose a power bank with one built-in) for those times you need power fast.
Lenses
 |
|
Anamorphic lenses can be a fun way to create a new perspective. Photo: Dale Baskin |
Most phones offer two or three different cameras with unique fields of view (what you'll see of the scene). Those don't always do what you need or want, though. Adding a lens to your smartphone can unlock new possibilities. Smartphone lenses come in many styles, including macro, telephoto, ultra-wide-angle and anamorphic. They can be useful for getting a fresh perspective or giving you more creative control.
Be aware that if you opt for cheap smartphone lenses, you'll be throttling your phone's quality quite a bit. Sandmarc, Moment, Beastgrip, PolarPro and SmallRig are some brands that make quality options worth investing in.
Microfiber cloth
 |
| Image: Spudz |
Your phone goes through a lot throughout the day. Smartphone cameras seem to attract smudges, which will impact your photo quality. While you could use your shirt to wipe off the camera, that's not always effective and can risk scratching the lens. Instead, keep a microfiber cloth handy to keep your phone's cameras sparkly clean when it's time to take photos.
Tripod or mount
 |
| Photo: Peak Design |
A tripod or some sort of mount will be a handy addition if you like to be in your photos or take photos in dark conditions. You could opt for a full-size tripod for maximum height, or a tabletop one if you don't want to deal with something so large. Peak Design even makes one that essentially sits flat against the back of your phone, so you can leave it attached without thinking much about it. There are also suction cup mounts or other accessories that allow you to put your phone in places that a tripod may not work, but still let you go hands-free.
Bluetooth remote
 |
| Photo: Moment |
On top of a tripod or mount, a Bluetooth remote will make your life easier for group photos or selfies. That way, you won't need to rush in front of the phone after setting the timer, or keep going back and forth to take more images. Some watches can function as remotes as well, so you may not need to buy a dedicated device, either.
Final thoughts on smartphone travel accessories
If you're sticking with your smartphone for travel photography, you likely don't want to bring a bunch of extra stuff along. However, a few key accessories can help you get more out of your phone, while still saving you space and weight compared to a dedicated camera and the accessories that you'd need for that.
