- Leica has revealed a new Magsafe camera taking for iPhones
- The Lux handle has physical controls like a trigger and parameters
- It costs $ 329 / £ 260 (around $ 515 in) and comes with other limitations
As a photographer and former Techradar cameras editor, my main criticism of the best cameras has always been their handling – they are still not fun to shoot. Leica has now joined an increasing number of camera intake accessories that aim to solve this problem, but some unhappy disadvantages have worked the appeal of the new Lux Gip.
At first glance, the lux handle looks like an excellent addition to any iPhone Magsafe (which includes any model from the iPhone 12). It manages to appear both elegant and functional, with a tube -shaped design which can naturally be returned according to the shooters on the right and on the left. It is so well designed that I can even forgive that Leica calls it “the perfect symbiosis between Leica and the iPhone”.
Like the best cameras without mirror, there is a mechanical version of the shutter in two steps (almost certainly better than the imperfect camera control of the iPhone 16), among other commands. These include a setting of the parameters, plus two customizable function buttons for those who like to shoot in manual. As much as I like the idea of the Apple camera control button, physical controls make more sense of something like the lux handle than a glass slab 8 mm thick.
But then come these frustrating drawbacks. First, and above all, the Lux handle is only compatible with the own Lux application of Leica. This is true, you cannot use it with the apple camera application (or one of the other best camera applications), unlike alternatives such as the Shiftcam program or the Fjorden handle. Leica now has Fjorden, so you would have thought that she would follow suit with her compatibility, but strangely, this was not the case.
It would not be so bad, but the Leica Lux application offers only basic features before requiring a subscription. Okay, you get a one-year pro subscription to the application when you buy the lux handle, but beyond that, it needs heavy monthly costs to unlock the full feature you would need during the ‘Purchase of such a dear handle.
Finally, there is the price. A telephone accessory that costs $ 329 / £ 260 (around $ 515 in) should unlock longer or unlimited access to an application that costs $ 6.99 / £ 6.99 / $ 9.99 per per month? I understand that it is Leica, and the application has fascinating features (such as the classic objectives of classic Leica). However, it all looks like unnecessary obstacles to what is otherwise a convincing accessory.
There is still something here
The handle of Leica Lux could be unleashed by frustrating drawbacks, but I think Leica is on something here – and there is a chance that it can always open the brand to a whole new audience if it changes a little.
I was fascinated by the idea that smartphones reproducing the look of classic camera lenses since portrait modes started to ripen at today’s levels. Of course, it is a dangerous territory for most of the camera giants, who always want to sell us real cameras and objectives, but Leica is easily in a better position to experiment.
Like Ferrari, the German brand operates in a world which is almost entirely detached from the realities of the market that others must negotiate. Leica cameras buyers are also in another Venn diagram of anyone who would buy the Lux handle, which is why artificial barriers such as the compatibility of limited third -party applications and expensive subscriptions of applications are a little useless.
I am sure that Leica could take a camera taking like this with a lower price and a multi-year application subscription which gives people who would never buy a noctile objective 50 mm f / 1.2 a taste of its magic vintage on their iPhone. Exclusive is part of the Leica brand, and I may have underestimated the development costs of the handle and the Lux application, but if they could be pushed in a more affordable direction, I could always See in the future of my iPhone.
