Conclusion

The concept that Miggo came up with for the Pictar makes a lot of sense. Many people are using their iPhone to take the bulk of their photos these days, and many of those people will miss the tactility that only a “real” camera provides.

Unfortunately however, the execution of the idea proves to be lacking - especially when you consider that Miggo is asking quite a high price for the grip.

You might find that using the grip is fun for a while, but it certainly doesn’t merit $100 (or more if you need the Plus version). It looks and feels cheap, while the small buttons and dials are not exactly reminiscent of the DSLR it claims to transform your phone into on the box.

The Pictar app is well-featured, and makes for a good way to control certain aspects of your iPhone’s camera, such as shutter speed, ISO and white balance - all things you can’t control in the iPhone’s native camera app. However, the fact that you can only use the grip in conjunction with the app is a major let down for anybody who wants to use other apps to shoot, including the ever-popular Instagram. Raw format shooting is also not available through the app, which will be a disappointment to the enthusiast the grip is apparently targeted at.

Not being able to properly use the iPhone as, well, a phone, when you’ve got it sitting in the grip is also extremely disappointing. That coupled with the fact that the grip only covers a section of the phone, leaving the rest of it open to damage, leaves you to ponder if it will end up being left neglected in a drawer after a couple of uses.

The bold claim that this grip will “DSLR your iPhone” falls short for the very fact that, of course, it does absolutely nothing to change the quality of the lens, sensor or anything about what actually makes the image itself.

This grip would perhaps be very popular if sold at airports for £20/$20, making for a fun impulse purchase just before a trip away. If you’re intending to use your iPhone solely as a camera for an extended period, having proper buttons and dials might be appreciated. As it is, it’s hard to recommend the Miggo Pictar at its current price and design.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	2.5
Features	3
Ease-of-use	2.5
Value for money	2

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