Smart Choice Options for tripods, lighting and gimbals

Smart Choice

by Tracie Seed Communciations & Marketing Manager TSPRA

Many public-school communications departments don’t have the budget for photography or video equipment or the staff to use it, so they turn to the next best thing: their smartphone. Take your photos and videos to the next level with these devices. Whether you’re looking to refresh your equipment or begin a budget conversation with your supervisor, we did a little research to help you get started.

Tripod

“A tripod will help you keep your shots steady which is very important in macro photography because camera shake is very noticeable when working very up close with your subject. Obviously, a shaky camera means blurry photos and you don't want that. To further ensure crisp photos, set a timer in the camera settings.” (thesmartphonephotographer.com)

Square Jellyfish Metal Spring Tripod Mount $17

• Fits 2.25 to 3.6" wide smartphones • Fits tripod with universal screw mount • Position phone vertically/horizontally • Position phone upside down • Lightweight and compact • For smartphone users on the go

UBeesize Selfie Stick Tripod $25

• 2.25” to 3.75” wide phone holder • 10-meters Bluetooth range • Expandable up to 51 inches • Heavy-duty aluminum build • Comfortable to carry • 360° head rotation

GripTight™ ONE GP Stand $35

• For cell phones with or without a case • Universal smartphone compatibility • Flexible legs wrap around objects for stability anywhere • Legs create a handle for selfies, vlogging or hand-held video • Rubber feet provide a stable grip on any surface • Compact and lightweight for easy transport

“Lighting is very important in photography, especially when it comes to smartphone photography. Because the pixels and the sensor are so small, smartphone cameras need as much light as possible [to] produce good-quality photos. This may not be too much of a problem when taking pictures outside during the day in the sunlight. However, when the sun goes down or you’re in a low-light environment, a lot of smartphone cameras struggle to take good pictures.” (thesmartphonephotographer.com)

Whellen Selfie Ring Clip-On Light $10

• 36 LED lights in a ring • Compact and lightweight • Universal • Runs on two AAA batteries • Three levels of brightness: low, medium and strong • Great for selfies and video conferencing

UBeesize Selfie Ring Tripod Stand & Phone Holder $36

• 10" ring light • Three light colors (warm, cool white, daylight) • 11 levels brightness in each color • Adjustable & stable tripod extending from 15" to 50” • Allows for tilt and swivel motion, portrait or landscape • Able to place your smartphone inside the ring

Lume Cube Mobile Creator Lighting Kit $120

• Premium rotating smartphone mount • Panel Mini Adjustable LED Light • Lightweight and compact • Use it handheld or handsfree • Built-in cold shoe attachment points • Removeable extension grip

Gimbal Stabilizer

“A gimbal stabilizer will always be [steadier] than your hand, and they can eliminate shaky or blurry footage to help your videos look better than ever before. Gimbals use brushless motors that keep your smartphone or camera steady during action shots.” (omnicoreagency.com)

MOZA MINI-S Essential Foldable Gimbal Stabilizer $59

• Compact • Good subject tracking • One-button focus and zoom controls • 3-axis stabilization performs well • Great for beginners • Need to remove case from phone

Hohem iSteady X 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer $79

• Eliminates shake, enhance DC brushless motors • App guide • Easy low-angle shooting • Face-tracking • Easy switch from horizontal to vertical • Easily portable

DJI OM 5 Smartphone 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer $160

• Palm size with extension rod • ShotGuides automatically recognizes your environment • Face tracking • Great for first-time users • Easily transported • 3-axis stabilization, adapts to your movements