Factron iPhone case packs interchangeable camera lenses, built-in excess
By Donald Melanson 
posted Jul 6th 2009 6:13PM
posted Jul 6th 2009 6:13PM
The Factron folks have been doing their custom case thing with various Apple products for some time now, but they've truly outdone themselves with their new iPhone case, which not only boasts some stylish, rangefinder camera-esque looks, but a complete set of interchangeable (presumably functional) lenses. Those include fish eye, wide-angle, and close-up lenses, which range in price from $15 to $55, while the case itself will set you back a full $200. Quite a bit to pay for a case, to be sure, but a veritable bargain compared to the $800 that some of the group's previous cases have fetched. Hit up the gallery below for a closer look.
[Via Engadget Polska]
[Via Engadget Polska]
NONONO!
try getting it through airport security.
i love the iPhone nevertheless
Finally...the future is here. Manufacturers design smaller, faster gadgets so that we can put them in bigger, uglier cases.
Folks, i present to you. The paper weight.
Or, the most awesome'es EZ bake oven for your iPhone 3GS...
Ahhh
Steampunk
awesome
wrong economy for this…
Wrong planet too.
lol yeh. the design makes it look like an alien device trying to get radio or satellite signals
The word cornucopia gets used far too much on this site.
Why not just buy a complete camera for that price?
...to replace the complete useless camera iPhone has...
I'm just going to assume you haven't seen any pictures taken with the 3GS, since nobody who has would be stupid enough to call it useless.
@Zak
Not useless, but for $200 you can get a camera that will beat the crap out of it, and probably be smaller than all those lenses put together.
Well no shit, but a $200 point and shoot doesn't make phone calls, does it? Besides, that's not even the point. The point is stupid people calling the iPhone camera "useless" when it clearly isn't.
@ Zak
Of course it's not useless. It's a perfectly usable picture-taking device. The problem arses when people start to think that their cell phone is a viable replacement for a decent camera, which is apparently what Factron believes iPhone owners think (though hopefully they're wrong). Interchangeable lenses! Do they think people are nuts enough to carry around a bag full of lenses to use on their iPhone?! What is this, some sort of DSLR alternative for dummies?! For the money you'd spend on the iPhone case and the lenses, wouldn't it make just *slightly* more sense to buy a nice point-and-shoot, and save yourself the wasted time of swapping those oversized lenses at all? Hmm, easier to use, better image quality, more compact, no lenses to lose, *and* you won't look like a complete moron! Tough decision, isn't it?
*arises
Sorry, Freudian slip. :P
@Zak
I have a 3GS and I can say its picture quality is absolutely shitty unless you are in a very well lit area. These addons for it are ridiculous. Especially with its lack of a flash. My last phone that had a 2mp camera and a flash took much better pictures. I love my Iphone 3GS but the fact is the camera is still sucky and the upgrade hasn't done much. Doesn't really matter how many mega pixels you have if the camera sucks in anything other then a perfectly lit area. Displayed on anything larger then the initial iphone res the pictures look grainy and hideous.
@Zak: The iPhone camera sucks. The Touch Pro camera sucks. The Dream, G1, and Pre camera sucks. They all f*cking suck. There is no replacement for a big sensor used in a point and shoot, or better yet a 4/3 or DSLR. SE phones have come closest to getting an awesome sensor into a phone. My old W810i took fantastic pictures that rivaled the iPhone 3GS in bright conditions due to its large lens, but sucked balls in the dark. That thing is over 4 years old.
And I have seen pictures that have come from an iPhone 3GS under good outdoor lighting.
Average at best. 3.0MP sensor used in the iPhone has been available in many phones for years. Been there done that. The only thing that was good about it was that it took the picture very quickly.
As for quality, meh.
OK, Zak, it's not useless, just a couple years behind the quality I see from Nokia, HTC or SE phones.
Not to mention ZERO settings whatsoever.
Well come on people, I'm not saying this case is a good idea either, it's stupid. However there is one valid argument here, and that is being able to carry one device vs. two. Obviously if you want to take good pictures you use a real camera. That's what I do, that's what I'd expect anybody with some common sense to do.
My issue is with calling the iPhone camera useless. No it's not as good as a $200 standalone camera, obviously. But it is a pretty good camera for being on a phone. Note that I am talking specifically about the new camera in the 3GS, not the one on previous iPhones, which was really terrible. It's easily good enough to take the kind of quick pictures you would want to take with your phone.
Choco, I get the feeling you're not using the touch-to-expose feature. You can have the camera re-expose based on the target area and it works very well for underlit areas. Again, yes, it's not as good as a standalone camera, but it's perfectly acceptable for a phone. You can get decent pictures in nowhere near perfectly lit conditions if you do it right.
Ruben, of course if you're going to compare it to an actual camera it's going to be meh. ANY phone camera will be meh compared to ANY point and shoot, never mind a four thirds or a DSLR. Come on, don't be dense about this.
And apple cheese slicer, the other phones are using larger cameras in larger enclosures. Have you seen how thin the iPhone is? Take another look. As far as zero settings, sounds like you weren't aware of the autofocus, autoexposure and touch-to-expose/focus feature. It can do video too, so I'm not sure what other features you'd really want besides a flash. Not even close to useless. I still maintain you haven't seen any examples of pictures taken with a 3GS.
@Zak
I was going to come on here and slap your idiotic opinion into the 23rd row, but I see it's already been done. Maybe you should just stop typing and save yourself future embarrassment.
Nevermind. Too late.
Zak and Paul a Chapel are the worst.
WOW.. Zak is a true hardcore fanboy. Hmmmmm ... I wonder???!?
How come Apple copied Palm and Blackberry with the cut n paste on the IPhone?
*sits down and waiting for Zak's reaction.
Zak:
I fear that eloquency is somewhat lost on you, so I'll translate what everyone who has replied to you so far has written:
"You're wrong, shut the fuck up"
@ GAD GET:
Totally agree with ya ! Sueless, pointless, midnelss solution (or supposed to be a solution, I guess) !!!
But foretting about the damn lens thing, I kinda liked the case design, specially the RANGE-FINDER like design and material, but no all of it ! The corners are kinda SETI ANTENNA and guess it gets stuck in my coates pocket or back pack all the time !!! Needs an specially designed bag for itself ! Ir maybe a metal suitcase :-P
The iPhone camera's suck. True story. I carry my SD700is around when I want to take pictures. My old Samsung/Verizon phone had a crappy flash and still took better pictures...
I'm pretty sure that this would kill your reception. Wasn't that the main reason apple switched from the aluminum back originally? Also, for $200 I would expect a brushed or polished finish. This looks like it was just pulled out of a milling machine and slapped together.
very disappointing.
Yeah, My guess is someone thought it looked cool. I'm an engineer/machinist and when I do complex contours like that, it looks like that untill we buff it smooth. My boss usually says it looks cool and we shouldn't buff it, but buffing lets you smooth out any scratches, so it's far easier to handle if you can remove mistakes. Plus, smooth contoured metal looks pretty sweet.
Oh well. It's a nice design mechanically, but it's a silly product.
-Taylor
That looks like something Skynet will use once it becomes aware in 2011.
You're doing it wrong...
Answer- the phrase you hear most often.
That might be the ugliest accessory I've ever seen for anything....
that thing looks like it would destroy your pocket. i wouldn't pay $20 for that let alone $200...
it makes the iphone look a thousand times uglier.
I think it's brilliant. It's more form than function, but brilliant nonetheless.
I'll have to see it in person to say for certainty, but I don't think that will fit comfortably in my jeans pocket.
Yup, pretty much hideous. Although judging by their website, the other cases they make aren't too far off.
iphone people must have a lot of money to burn... paying $200 to fit lens onto a POS phone camera.
Will...
NOT go in/out of pocket easily, even with the lens removed.
NOT make it easy to flick, swipe, etc the screen with the close depth of the front of the case
NOT make it easy to swap lens since I have to carry a bag of them all with me.
NOT keep case unscratched. Too much metal inside with no rubber, etc.
NOT likely keep phone from getting cracked
NOT be friendly to wallet when case and lens cost more then phone itself cost me.
Might as well get a slim point and shot. Easier to take along, better performance, about same cost and space token compared to case and lens.
WHY? Am I missing something here???
I don't think so... that's just about the stupidest thing that i've ever seen for anything...
brendon small approves
Maybe AOL Tech needs an iPhone blog...
Ay carumba! That case looks down right dangerous!! no want....
oh great steampunk iphone.
this thing is loco!
EXTERMINATE!
Maybe one day a company will make useless camera addons for a phone that actually has a non-sucky camera
At least if you'd desire to have a higher end camera / video recorder....
Omnia HD 8MP / 720p is available
........and comes with "large" viewable screen
no goofy ass'd contraption like this POS
Seriously? Who thought this was a good idea?
Let's get real, phone cameras are not intended to replace a dedicated camera.
How is this even close to a practicle idea?
How much did Engadget get paid to run this story?
Is this a joke?
For $20 you can get a much better looking version of this on eBay that let's you zoom up to 20x. That is if you just have to use your iPhone as a camera. I think this is for those that refuse to own a real camera simply because Apple doesn't make one.
Completely impractical for most, but I wonder if journalists and field news reporters would actually consider this case due to its ability to add lenses. The 3GS is already being talked about as a viable means for journalists to do on-the-spot reporting and uploading in areas and situations where a shoulder cam is impractical.
Only Zak thinks that's a good idea. A "real" journalist would be shot for sending in crappy photos from an iPhone.
haha, you can't be serious, practically all quality smartphones have better cameras than the iPhone and comparable uploading capabilities.
I love the vintage vibe, but those ridiculous corners gotta go.
thats intense
Does anybody seriously think this is a good idea? $200, changing out lenses on a shitty phone camera, not to mention carrying around a bunch of crap, for a result that's 100x worse than a $150 point and shoot? The more I see this stuff the more I don't want to be associated with anybody who carries an iphone, lest I be brainwashed into becoming a complete moron.
@marc
I 100% agree on the sheer dungissity of this case, camera augmentation +100mp, monstrosity. It is the sort of thing that should be illegal to have photographs of, but I own an iPhone, kinda own 3, and I agree mostly on the brainwashed aspect, but not just morons buy Apple. Some fine decent folk buy an Apple product now and again. You don't have to worry it isn't the purchasing or owning of an Apple product that makes a moronic d bag. That trait was already in those types. The Apple products just much like a gang give that type a family that falsely bestows the strength to fill the the punch bowl of the world with their Apple flavored koolaide. You can sleep well tonight knowing there are Apple product owners that you are safe associating with.
Oh and for $200+ this thing should come with a remotely operated pan and tilt tripod, and accompanying iPhone app that lets me send the pictures taken directly to my computer over wifi or bluetooth.
clearly a win.
let's see :
Easily fits in pocket or small handbag
Inexpensive
Dramatically improves camera; you can finally photograph the face on mars with your phone!
sturdy, it's built by Germans so you know it's good
no questions asked 100% 4 generation lifetime guarantee
fully expandable
Wow, it's like that other iphone lens. Except 20 times the price.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10813~r.99999999
I'd really like to buy one of these, I like the idea, but I'd really like to find something with a more awkward form factor.
Haha this look WAAAAAYYY better. http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/clarifi
Plus, its 30.99$. Factron iPhone case, FAIL.
I think this will be enough for me to compliment my Canon EOS 5DII D-SLR. I want a camera with great image quality, I've considered the micro 4/3 cameras but they aren't small enough. What could be a better solution? The iPhone has the best camera in any mobile phone with the built in tap to focus in the 3GS and video capabilities, now with interchangeable lenses. Most important of all, it fits into my pocket -- the best smarphone, iPod, internet communication device, and now interchangeable lens system .
looks like the BORG assimilated it,,
I need something like this for my Flip Mino
still missing a Flash..
Build a game controller case mod for the iPhone. I mean really touch screen controlls suck
Nice case, not $200 nice.
Try getting reception with that. The whole black plate will be shielding the RF and you'll be lucky to get 1 bar.
This reminds me of the old Engadget iPhone logo of the rotary phone with an iPod on it. I miss that graphic, bring it back!
Wow... Frankenstein's iPhone.
Wow, this should do wonders for the iPhones overheating problems. Maybe they could make it work as a massive heatsink while they are at it.
Am I the only one thinking that i is pretty?
Wow, what a waste. Can someone get us a FLASH?!!!
FRANKENSTEIN !! It's ALIVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MUWAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAA !!!