Mixed Images made with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, LeicaLuxApp and Fjorden Grip
Last November 2024 I decided to do an experiment. I started the challenge to take ALL my images just with the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The specs of the iPhone are outstanding; Apple did a great job on that wonderful piece of hardware. They combined nice lenses in a extreme compact setup with high resolution sensors. Already with the standard Apple Photo software great images are possible. Additional I tested several third-party Photo apps as ProCamera and LeicaLux. Both apps are extreme useful and full of interesting features that allows the photographer to take control.
As a matter of fact, I can tell you, with the last piece of software, I felt in love. I have never been a fan of Leica. I rated their product offering always as hyped and out of any ratio expensive. Compared to the strong performance of other brands at less than ¼ price tag, Leica cameras and lenses are fully overrated. Same if we compare innovation in photography.
What happened? With the LeicaLuxApp, Leica developed a game changer. They ported what I love on my Fujifilm X-Pro 3 so much, the easiness to produce professional images without hours in front of my computer playing with Lightroom or even Photoshop. My credo in photography since my early days with analog film cameras is the expectation to be able to set up my camera that I produce the image I want without additional retouching. One of these parameters is the choice of the best fitting film emulsion to the subject of photography task and situation. All this has been offered by the Fujifilm X-Pro 3 with their in-camera development of the RAW images.
Just the same possibilities Leica is offering in their LeicaLuxApp for the iPhone.
There are good photo apps on the market, including already the original Apple photo app. The LeicaLuxApp is different and will have many supporters within real professional photographers and ambitioned amateurs that are tired of carrying their have equipment always with them. Now the iPhone is an alternative for many situations.
My advice, download the LeicaLuxApp and use the trial period. Attention! It might be you will continue to use it and invest the monthly 7,99€. Don´t blame it on me in that case…
This outstanding experience can even be still improved.
What is the most disturbing thing to you while taking images with a smartphone?
To me it’s the very uncomfortable, even cramped, holding of the smartphone. I am always afraid that I drop the very expensive iPhone.
I found a solution! The Fjorden Grip. It´s a grip that offers a two-step release button as we know from DSLR Cameras. Step one focus and set the exposure and step two take the image. As with many professional cameras these functions can even be modified to different patterns. Additionally, a wheel to scroll the diaphragm settings and a leveler that allows to select the different Leica Lens simulations has been provided in the Grip. Moreover, they integrated an additional free programmable function button.
The Fjorden Grip is offering the same gripping experience as my Fujifilm X-PRO3. In so many articles on this blog I described how important haptic and feeling well is for my creativity. I am sure, I am not alone with this phenomenon. Focus on the essential in the photography with setting the right parameters to capture a scene or street situation must not be misled by struggling to operate or simply hold a tool. I noticed that many Photographers believe that the standard grip of the X-PRO3 is too small for big hands, compared with the large grip of a traditional DSLRs as a Nikon D4. Not for me. But there is also an original grip from Leica that is bigger and might be better for those people. One issue I got with the Leica and one of the mounting forms of the Fjorden Grip, the MagSafe mounting. A nice thing for wireless charging but is not firm enough for a Camera Grip, at least to my taste. Mounting the Fjorden Grip with the metal adaption plate on any iPhone case is a strong fit but ugly and heavy. To me the best solution is to use the Fjorden iPhone case prepared to mount the Fjorden Grip. The case is robust to protect the iPhone and the screen; additional the Grip is very strong attached. This is to me the perfect setup.
If you get the opportunity, give it a try it´s so much fun.