A Better iPhone Solution

So I have had the iPhone4 for several months now and I love the fact that it shoots 720p HD.  However, the BIG problem that I saw is that when I try to shoot a video I could barely hold the phone still enough to get a smooth shot.  So, I found myself shooting much more video than normal but it was coming out shaky.

I saw that Zacuto had come out with an iPhone support system that looked really cool, but was a bit out of my price range.  Then I stumbled across the OWLE Bubo I decided that I had found what I was looking for.

The OWLE is basically solid piece of machined aluminum that you iPhone will securely fit into with the use of a rubber bumper.  It adds a considerable amount of weight to the iPhone which stabilizes it tremendously!  Check out this video of a side-by-side comparison of an iPhone with the Bubo and one without:

So you can see that is stabilizes the picture and also gives you a wider shot due to the external lens.  The cool thing about the lens is that you can also add filters or other lens as you see fit.

The OWLE also comes with an external mic, which I have honestly had some problems with.  I like having it be more directional, but it tends to crackle a bit so I would probably suggest upgrading the microphone if you are serious about your sound quality.

The other thing that I don’t like is that the encasement completely covers the on-board flash, so not only is it unusable but you need to turn it off because if it does come on it shines right into the lens.  However, the rig also allows you to attach a light (or other non-powered hot shoe device) to the top of the camera.  Also you can mount any of the four corners to a tripod for added stability.

All in all I think this is a great piece of hardware to have if you want to be able to always have a camera with you without having to lug around the rest of your gear!