Pictar Grip finally gives iPhone the feel of a proper camera

While unthinkable advancements have been made in smartphone cameras, there’s no getting away from the occasional awkwardness of using them. A new grip accessory has just hit Kickstarter with a plan to change all that.

The Pictar Grip from Miggo allows users to slide in their handset and experience the feel and functionality of a more traditional DSLR camera.

Aside from offering a far more ergonomic and steady grip, the device offers a shutter release button and an exposure compensation wheel, meaning less screen prodding and swiping while lining up a shot.

There’s also a zoom ring/selfie button and a customisable smart wheel that can be tuned to the features of a camera app. Polishing off the ensemble is a cold shoe mount, where photographers can add accessories of their choosing.

The Pictar’s semi-open body also allows iPhone users to continue with an array of custom lens attachments.

Now, if you’re wondering how the case communicates with the iPhone, it uses high-frequency dual tone sound to speak to a dedicated app.

On its Kickstarter page, the company explains: “Each of the physical controls found on Pictar drive a specific function or setting and does so using high-frequency dual tone sounds.

“Each physical control is assigned a specific tone, and with each turn of a dial, press of a button or turn of a wheel, Pictar emits a sound that – when detected by the app – generates a corresponding action. The high-frequency dual tone (18,500 – 20,000 khz) is inaudible to the human ear and significantly increases battery life when compared to Bluetooth connectivity.”