A Chinese company called Aputure, which specializes in accessories for DSLRs, recently released Gigtube LCD, an accessory which they claim is compatible with all the DSLRs from Canon and Nikon.
The Gigtube LCD can be used handheld or attached to your DSLR’s hot shoe. Its 2.5” LCD screen can be lifted up and rotated so you can see exactly what the camera LCD shows but in almost any position. The device is tethered to the DSLR through a 6-foot long remote wire. It is operated by batteries which are expected to last for around 3 hours. The Aputure Gigtube LCD is not available in the U.S. yet – the company is looking for distributors at this time.
Similar to Promote Control (see our post here) the big question once again is why they developed dedicated hardware which will drive up the cost of the device. Instead they could have released this on the iPhone as a software-only accessory, or an accessory that requires a hardware add-on for you iPhone. The price for the device is not set, but they could have sold it for quite less on the iPhone, since the complicated hardware would not have been required. Swiveling on the camera’s hot shoe? Include a plastic case for your iPhone that can be mounted to the hot shoe. Tethering? Try wireless bluetooth first – only if you cannot get it to work, develop an iPhone hardware add-on.
Accessories like these are destined to end up on the iPhone. I’m absolutely convinced that the iPhone / iPod Touch will become the platform of choice for all kinds of photo and video accessories. If not for the professional market, then at least for the serious hobbyists.
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