Canon launches pro-spec EOS R1 and EOS R5 Mark II
APS-C vs full-frame – which sensor size is best, and why it matters handheld tripod for camera
Why are we obsessed by full-frame sensors?
Fujifilm X100V and X100VI Alternatives? Best retro cameras
Submit your Macro photography to APOY 2024!
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works
Let our guide to the best zoom lenses for Micro Four Thirds help you kit out your Panasonic or Olympus camera, with picks for all budgets.
Want pin-sharp detail and astounding dynamic range in your monochome shots? Let Jon Stapley help you find the best cameras for black and white photography
Claire Gillo and the AP team pick the best instant cameras and printers on the market, including Polaroid, Fujifilm Instax, Kodak and more.
The best tripod for iPhones and other camera phones will allow you to expand the possibilities of your photo and video shooting. With flagship phone sensors having met the 200MP mark, and computational processing power in today’s flagship phones second to none, it’s no surprise that many professional content creators now depend on smartphones to get the job done. And with that, a corresponding ecosystem of excellent accessories has sprung up to help.
If you are serious about producing high-quality stills and video, one of the best investments you can make is a solid tripod. Video shooters can get locked-off shots and deliver pieces to camera without needing another person on hand, while photographers can experiment with long exposures and time-lapse. Phone tripods are a varied category, including miniature sets of legs that can be quickly deployed on a tabletop, to flexible mounts that can be wrapped around branches and poles for an unusual perspective.
Alternatively, there are also mounts that can be used to clamp a smartphone securely on a standard, full-size photo or video tripod, as well as stabilising gimbals that help create smooth footage on the move – ideal for run-and-gun vlogging – and grips that simply make your phone easier to hold for shooting. Therefore, as well as the best phone tripods, we’ve rounded up the best smartphone accessories for photography. If you’re still looking for your ideal phone for photos and videos, check out our guides to the best camera phones for photography and the best budget camera phones.
Read on as we count off the best camera phone tripods and mounts you can buy right now.
This compact kit combines the functions of a tripod and a selfie stick and includes a practical video light and microphone. The arm has a three-section collapsible design and can extend up to 30cm providing some extra distance when recording or creating a high angle of view shot. It has a 1,5 kg load-bearing capacity and folds down to 18 cm. The kit features Smallrig’s Easy Loading smartphone holder and the handle’s design let me easily switch between portrait and landscape orientations. Two cold shoe mounts on each side of the holder allow you to attach accessories. This set-up includes a bi-colour LED video light (2700-6500K) with a small softbox to eliminate harsh shadows, and a shotgun microphone with a 3.5mm to Type-C cable. Note this is a tripod with handy accessories for video however it doesn’t have any image stabilization like gimbals do. That said if you want to elevate your video content Smallrig’s Vlog Tripod Kit is a useful add-on.
Smallrig also offers an app called RECnGO that allows for multi-angle recording, video and sound editing and pro live streaming straight to TikTok Instagram or Facebook.
While smartphone tripods tend to typically be miniature tabletop things, the Joby RangePod Smart Tripod is a full-size travel tripod that comes packaged with a phone holder. So, if your smartphone photography or videography aims are a little more ambitious, this could be the right tripod for you. Constructed from aluminium, the RangePod smart tripod is durable, lightweight and solid, with 160cm maximum height and four-section legs secured via twist locks.
In testing, we found that the Joby RangePod Smart Tripod doews basically everything you could want from a tripod of this type. It’s sturdy, quick to deploy and packs down well. The phone clamp is versatile, secure and compatible with most handsets, and the padded bag is handy for travel, even if its rope straps aren’t the most comfortable in the world. This tripod may be a little larger than many smartphone shooters need, but if you’re looking for something properly stable and versatile, the RangePod offers outstanding value for money.
Read our full Joby RangePod Smart Tripod review.
To be prepared for a range of situations, the Benro Tablepod Flex Kit is a great way to cover your bases. It’s effectively two tripods in one, featuring both rigid carbon fibre legs and flexible Gorilla-pod style legs that can be manipulated to rest on uneven surfaces, or grip protruding objects like branches or poles. Both sets of legs can be used simultaneously: the flexible legs holding extra accessories like lights, while the rigid legs support the whole setup. Alternatively, you can reconfigure the kit to turn it into a selfie stick.
While this kit is one of the more expensive accessories for a smartphone, we concluded in our review that it justifies its asking price. The bendy legs are a little fiddly to use in practice, but once you get used to their quirks you effectively have a little portable studio setup on your hands. The lightweight but sturdy carbon fibre legs are easy to carry everywhere with you, for shooting at a moment’s notice.
Read our Benro Tablepod Flex Kit review.
While photographers using mirrorless cameras need to cart around big, heavier tripods, smartphone photographers can do things the easier way. The EVO 2 is one of the best mini tripods around to pair with your phone device. Capable of supporting up to a whopping 2.5kg, the mini tripod offers two different leg angles to give stability on uneven ground.
With a choice of three colour combinations, the aluminium build is lightweight yet robust and the EVO 2 even offers the ability to tilt the device a full 90 degrees, so smartphone photographers have the choice to shoot in landscape or portrait modes.
When you need a tripod to keep things steady, but are restricted to travelling light, the Pixi Mini from Manfrotto be your solution. Small enough to fit in the pocket of your jeans and highly affordable, the lightweight build of this mini tripod disguises a robust build that will stand up to standard knocks and bumps.
The Pixi Mini features a push-button mechanism that enables the small ballhead to be manoeuvred to whichever composition you need. And there’s a 1/4 thread to pair up with the phone clamp attachment to hold your smartphone in place. Weighing just 170g, this mini tripod can hold up to a whopping 1kg – in case you need to start adding to the rig with accessories such as lights.
If there’s a more versatile support for smartphone photography out there than the GorillaPod then I don’t think we will find it. This innovative tripod features malleable legs that can be flexed into positions to make use of supports you didn’t think would be possible. Wrap the lens around a tree, a fence post or even the frame of a bike – the possibilities are endless.
Built with premium ABS plastic and stainless steel and weighing 244g to keep it light and portable, the GorillaPod PRO measures just 5.5×7.5x31cm and is best described as the swiss army knife of smartphone supports. There are bigger versions of the GorillaPod available but this model hits the sweet spot on both price and design for smartphone photography.
Here’s a clever accessory that will appeal to smartphone content creators who wish to capture professional-looking time-lapses, videos and B-roll. Designed in partnership with Syrp, the device connects via the JOBY motion app and can be programmed to move, adding motion to your time-lapse creations.
A battery life of up to three hours, the Swing mount offers a linear travel distance of 38cm and can support a payload of 600g, which should cover all but the heaviest of smartphones. Other features include a built-in bubble level to ensure straight horizons, and there’s also a Ballhead 1K and GripTight phone mount accessory bubbled into the package.
An all-in-one studio set up for smartphone photography and video, this Neewer kit comes with a light stand/tripod that extends to 61″/155cm, and even though It is relatively light it holds your phone securely even when it’s fully extended. The 18″ ring light is dimmable and has a daylight white 5600 Kelvin colour temperature by default. With the additional white and orange coloured diffusers you can soften and add more warmth to your lights.
The main tube has a gooseneck design, so it’s very flexible and easy to adjust. In the middle of the ring light, there’s a standard cold shoe with a ball head adapter which is compatible with most smartphones and smaller cameras too.
Most photographers will be familiar with DJI for its range of industry-leading drones, but the brand also makes amazing accessories for smartphones. The Osmo Mobile 6 is the latest to be available to smartphone photographers. Best described as a handheld stabiliser gimbal, it folds down to a portable, travel-friendly package that can be opened up and used when the right photo moment presents itself.
Featuring a built -in extension rod to increase the distance between user and smartphone when capturing wider selfie shots, there’s a lot of tech built-in to this three-axis stabiliser – take the DJI’s Active Track 5.0 technology, which allows you to follow a subject around for smoother video footage. For all this, the Osmo Mobile 6 tips the scales at just 309g.
Now that it has been superseded by the Osmo Mobile 6, the OM 5 (note the different way DJI names its smartphone gimbals) is now a much more budget-friendly route into smartphone supports.
Offering a three-axis stabilising gimbal to allow capture of smooth video footage or sharp long exposure stills, the OM 5 features an innovative magnetic design, enabling the smartphone to be clipped in and out of the gimbal at lightning speed – important if you are racing to capture a special movement.
Despite a 215mm extension rod that turns the gimbal into a selfie stick, the OM 5 folds down to just 174.7×74.6×37mm – perfect for those who are travelling and have limited space for equipment. Thanks to a USB-C charging port, it takes just 1.5 hours to charge to full and offers an operating time of 6.4 hours.
Read our DJI OM 5 Smartphone Gimbal review
The Insta 360 Flow Pro is an AI tracking smart gimbal available for both Android and iPhone. But iPhone users may be more tempted to opt in as the Flow Pro is the first gimbal to include Apple’s latest subject tracking technology, DockKit. It also allows you to shoot using your iPhone’s native camera app, and over 200 third party iOS camera apps.
You can activate it by simply raising your hand with your fingers open and the 360 Flow Pro automatically starts recording and tracking. It offers 3-axis image stabilisation and features 360 Infinite Pan Tracking, so the top of the gimbal rotates without limit. However when moving on a horizontal axis its range of motion is more limited than other gimbals.
The Deep Track 3.0 technology promises unmatched AI subject tracking, Person Re-identification and All Angle Tracking help you keep track of your moving subject, especially if there are similar subjects in the frame. It also offers a specific Animal, Slow motion and Zoom subject tracking. A handy tracking ring light shows when tracking is activated.
With a built in selfie stick (20cm / 8.5in) and tripod that folds into the handle the 360 Flow Pro is quite versatile. Folded down it retracts to a convenient 79.6×162.1x36mm size that easily fits into a jacket pocket, and weighs 366g (13oz). There is a built in cold shoe for connecting external microphone. The Insta 360 Flow Pro is NFC compatible, so you can pair with only a tap, it also allows for auto-reconnection so you can be app and running in a cinch.
Sporting a 2900 mAh battery it can last up to 10 hours and if your phone happened to run out of battery you can use it as a power bank.
If you are looking for a bells and whistles accessory for your smartphone photography, this could well be it. The Smooth 5s is a three-axis smartphone gimbal that takes things to a new level.
Not only does it keep a smartphone steady when shooting stills and video, but it also features a powerful built-in 650 Lux luminance LED light to illuminate subjects close to the gimbal. Along with the built in light, the 5S can also accommodate two more additional lights, essentially enabling creators to film single-crewed.
Other features include an integrated joystick to help you manoeuvre the smartphone at your leisure, and dials and mode buttons to quickly access different features. The 5S has a number of built-in creative modes so you can get creative; including a panorama option that will move the camera automatically to shoot multiple frames before merging them together.
Smartphone gimbals don’t need to be big or bulky. The Q4 is one of the smallest packages on the market. Tipping the scales at just 370g and measuring just 181x107x56mm, this is a gimbal you can fold down and carry around in your jacket pocket. Despite being small, the Q4 offers a max operating time of 15 hours – more than enough for most photographers who are heading into the city to capture some fun content.
The design is far more simplified than the more pro Zhiyun Smooth 5S but the Q4 does boast a 215mm extension rod to shoot from a wider angle and a multi-functional control wheel enables quick operation and switching between modes.
Read more about the Zhiyun Smooth Q4.
JOBY is better known for its range of mini tripods, but did you know the brand also makes a gimbal for smartphones too? Priced at the entry-level point of the market, the JOBY gimbal comes with a mini tripod, carry bag and features a telescopic handle that extends out to 7 inches to help provide wider-angle compositions.
The battery lasts up to 10 hours and you can even charge up your smartphone from the gimbal using the included cable, allowing you to continue with your smartphone photography. Weighing 428g, more features can be unlocked by accessing the free Smart Stabilizer app, including focus tracking options.
Anyone who takes a lot of pictures on their phone — which, let’s face it, is most of us — can probably admit that the experience of phone shooting is not brilliant. The slim devices just aren’t designed to be comfortably held in a picture-taking position, and are incredibly easy to drop while you’re trying to get the right angle for a shot. So, ShiftCam has come up with the clever SnapGrip, a magnetic grip that secures itself to your iPhone (or Android device, via an adapter) and provides a much more secure hold. But it’s not just a grip — with Bluetooth connectivity, the SnapGrip also provides a physical shutter button, as well as a built-in 3200mAh powerbank that can charge your phone while you’re using it.
Compatibility is best with larger phones like the latest flagships, though we also tested it with older iPhones and it worked well enough. With secure magnetic attachment, it instantly makes your phone so much easier to operate, especially one-handed, making it ergonomically feel more like a ‘proper’ camera. The connectivity is fast and reliable, and while the incorporated charger isn’t the fastest, it’s still useful to have.
Read our full ShiftCam SnapGrip review.
If you already have a decent amount of photography kit but find yourself increasingly using your smartphone for serious shooting, this clever gadget from Benro could allow you to use it for a bargain. It’s a smartphone clamp attached to a mounting plate that’s compatible with standard Arca Swiss tripod heads – essentially, it lets you use your phone on one of the standard best tripods for photography – which you may already have.
Additional accessories such as LED lights can also be affixed to the top of the clamp via the cold shoe. If you already own a perfectly good Gitzo for your camera, this device is a cost-effective adaptor that will allow you to use it with your smartphone, too. In our review, we found it to be beautifully made and highly effective for its intended function – with the quick-release functionality making it possible to quickly swap between phone and camera if so desired.
Read our full Benro ArcaSmart 70 review.
As the saying goes; let there be light, and the solution to this is to invest in a Beamo Mini length for your smartphone photography. Designed to minimise flaws and produce flattering skin tones, the lights feature not one but two cold shoe mounts so they can be added to smartphone rigs and they even have a magnetic backing.
The great thing about these flights is their robust build; in fact they are both waterproof and rugged so you should have no qualms about using them in harsh weather conditions. At full power, the light offers 1000 lumens and power can be ramped up in five steps. JOBY offers these clever lights as single items, two-light kits and bundled with its mini tripods.
Mini tripods – best for long exposures and video
Just as when using a mirrorless camera to capture long exposures, there are times when a tripod is equally advantageous to shooting with a smartphone. Now, because they weigh much less than bigger cameras, mini tripods are an excellent solution to provide stability and keep your smartphone still, while remaining small, portable and convenient.
Along with being important when shooting long exposures, mini tripods can be used to hold the camera while capturing selfies or group pictures. And they are essential for capturing time lapse video footage where it’s critical the smartphone stays still.
Stabilisers – why would you need one?
A stabiliser (or “gimbals” as they are also known) are powerful and very useful accessories that bring a host of big benefits to smartphone users shooting stills or video. Most come with built-in extension rods to capture wider fields of view or shoot stills from an aerial viewpoint.
However, it’s moving video footage that really benefits from a gimbal as most offer a three-axis system to correct for any pitch, tilt or yaw, enabling you to move around while still capturing smooth footage. Most gimbals also pair up with a companion app to unlock further features and functions such as follow focus and tracking.
Lights – what are they for?
Any smartphone photographer who has shot in low light conditions will tell you that darkness can compromise image quality. The solution is to invest in a light, but with smartphone photography, you want to keep your kit lightweight and convenient. The trick is to source small, power LED lights that can illuminate your subject with flattering light without creating a heavy payload.
Text by Matty Graham, with contributions from Jon Stapley.
Follow AP on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , YouTube and TikTok .
Matty is a professional photographer and videographer based in Lincolnshire and previously edited a number of photography magazines. Specialising in landscape imagery and video in the automotive sector, Matty’s work can be seen at mattygraham.com.
Let our guide to the best zoom lenses for Micro Four Thirds help you kit out your Panasonic or Olympus camera, with picks for all budgets.
Want pin-sharp detail and astounding dynamic range in your monochome shots? Let Jon Stapley help you find the best cameras for black and white photography
Claire Gillo and the AP team pick the best instant cameras and printers on the market, including Polaroid, Fujifilm Instax, Kodak and more.
© 2024 Kelsey Media Ltd . kelsey.co.uk
Looking to improve your photography? Amateur Photographer is the magazine for you, subscribe today and pay just £26 for your first 13 issues!
final rest tripod No thanks, I’m not interested!