{"id":2560,"date":"2014-07-16T09:37:28","date_gmt":"2014-07-16T15:37:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chrissniderdesign.com\/blog\/?p=2560"},"modified":"2014-07-16T09:37:28","modified_gmt":"2014-07-16T15:37:28","slug":"turn-your-iphone-into-a-pro-video-camera-for-110","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chrissniderdesign.com\/blog\/2014\/07\/16\/turn-your-iphone-into-a-pro-video-camera-for-110\/","title":{"rendered":"Turn your iPhone into a pro video camera for $110"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"budget-iphone-video-kit\"I spent the spring semester at Drake University’s Mobile Gadget Lab<\/a> working with three students to answer a simple question: how can we get better video from an iPhone, and how can we do it affordably<\/strong>?<\/p>\n

There’s a wide range of accessories out there to make your iPhone shoot better video. But even others’ “budget kits”<\/a> cost upwards of $500 each.<\/p>\n

I wanted to see how far I could bring down that price and still get quality video. So here is a kit perfect for doing interviews and stand-ups \u2013 for a little more than $100. The core kit here isn’t iPhone specific (except for the app). It will work with Android phones, too.<\/p>\n

Tripod mount<\/h4>\n

Joby GripTight Mount<\/a> ($17.24)<\/p>\n

This isn’t the sturdiest of cases, but it does its job of attaching the phone to a tripod for steady video at nearly half the price of the next-best option. If you’ve got a little more money in your budget, considers stepping up to the Glif<\/a> ($30). For a more substantial case that allows you to attach accessories (light, mics, etc.), try the Phocus<\/a> ($39.95) or the mCAM<\/a> ($75.95).<\/p>\n

Audio<\/h4>\n

IK Multimedia iRig PRE<\/a> ($32.99)
\n25-foot XLR cable<\/a> – ($14.99)
\nBehringer XM8500 Dynamic Cardioid Microphone<\/a> ($19.99)<\/p>\n

These three things will allow you to use a stick mic with your iPhone, ideal for stand-ups and interviews. The iRig is essential as it has an amplifier. Without it, voices can be pretty quiet on the iPhone.<\/p>\n

You might also want to add a lavalier microphone. The\u00a0Audio-Technica ATR-3350 Lavalier<\/a>\u00a0($18) and\u00a01\/8 inch microphone and headphone adapter<\/a>\u00a0($28.50) make a good combo.<\/p>\n

Tripod<\/h4>\n

Vista Explorer 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod<\/a> ($19.95)<\/p>\n

I’m not in love with this tripod, but it’s inexpensive and has great reviews on Amazon. I’ve had a lot of success with $20 tripods in the past (I have two that are more than 10 years old), so I tend to avoid the higher-priced one.<\/p>\n

Video App<\/h4>\n

FiLMiC Pro<\/a> ($4.99)<\/p>\n

Take a step up from the default camera app and add features such as audio monitoring, lock focus, lock exposure and smooth zooming.<\/p>\n

Total cost for this basic kit: $110.15<\/h4>\n

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