http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 7:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 11:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 7th 2009 12:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/
Steampunk]]>Jul 7th 2009 7:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/
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.]]>Jul 6th 2009 6:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/
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?]]>Jul 6th 2009 6:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/
Sorry, Freudian slip. :P]]>Jul 6th 2009 7:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/
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. ]]>Jul 6th 2009 7:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/
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.]]>Jul 6th 2009 7:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Not to mention ZERO settings whatsoever.
]]>Jul 6th 2009 7:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/
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.]]>Jul 6th 2009 7:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/
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.]]>Jul 6th 2009 7:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 7:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 9:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/
How come Apple copied Palm and Blackberry with the cut n paste on the IPhone?






*sits down and waiting for Zak's reaction.]]>Jul 7th 2009 2:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/
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"]]>Jul 7th 2009 10:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/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]]>Jul 7th 2009 2:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 7th 2009 2:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/
very disappointing.]]>Jul 6th 2009 6:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Oh well. It's a nice design mechanically, but it's a silly product.
-Taylor]]>Jul 6th 2009 6:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 7:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 7:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/
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???]]>Jul 6th 2009 6:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/factron-iphone-case-packs-interchangeable-camera-lenses-built-i/Jul 6th 2009 6:56PM