Get a grip on your smartphone video
by John D McHugh @johndphoto
Mobile Journalism (MoJo) is all about working with minimal equipment. At Verifeye Media, we are constantly testing and evaluating equipment that can increase the quality of MoJo reporting, while reducing the amount of gear carried.
The greatest problem facing anyone who wants to shoot video or photographs with a smartphone is stability. Quite simply, the iPhone was designed as a phone, and the ergonomics reflect this. So, in order to use it as a camera, some adaptation is required.
There is a veritable plethora of handles, grips, rigs, and cases available that offer a range of solutions (and prices) but the simplest option is to introduce a handle that sits comfortably in your hand.
My preferred configuration is a hack that I call my MoJo stick. In my constant search for simplicity, the Mojo stick is made from two easily available and cost effective items.
The first is the ShoulderPod S1 kit, available direct from the manufacturers and recently, from the Apple Store.
This kit includes a very clever screw down clamp for your camera, with a wrist strap and a small counter weight. This counter weight is intended to be used as a handle, but I find it too small for my hands, so I have added a foam covered handle, available on Amazon.
I used to use a plastic pistol grip, but after one too many Airport security encounters, I switched to the foam handle.
The longer handle allows me to take a two handed grip, much as you would if shooting a pistol. I tuck my elbows in tight to my ribcage, and viola, my camera is suddenly much more stable.
For those shots requiring more stability, the counter weight can be quickly removed from the bottom of the MoJo stick, and replaced by a tripod mount.
The one disappointment with the ShoulderPod is that it doesn’t have ¼ 20 thread or a coldshoe mount on top, but the founder of the company assures me that he is looking at this issue.
In the meantime, I’ve utilized this hack created by Giulio Sciorio.
With a coldshoe on my MoJo stick, I can now add various other pieces of equipment, such as a shotgun microphone, radio microphone, or light. (I will post on this soon).
The well worn adage says that the best camera is the one in your hand. This is true, but how comfortably it sits in your hand has a lot of influence over the final results.
As always, I’m not claiming that this is either the only, or even the best, solution; it’s just my solution. I find it incredibly comfortable to use, and it’s small and lightweight enough to always be in my bag or coat pocket, ready to use, whenever I need it, wherever I am. And so, it embodies the true ethos of MoJo.
In the interest of clarity, neither John D McHugh nor Verifeye Media has received any financial benefit or inducement to promote these products. We have paid full price for all the parts of the MoJo stick.
