Introducing the Pictar!

It’s been estimated by analytics research bods that in 2014, around 1.8 billion digital images were uploaded to various social media sites every day.

In the UK alone, 24% of all images are now shot with Apple iPhones. Add to this, the fact that the third most important factor considered when buying a mobile phone is the ‘quality of the camera’, we start to get a picture of just how important mobile photography has become.

We’ve seen a host of products coming through alongside the rise of the iPhone (and other mobile/smartphone camera devices) in the shape of clever cases, vast numbers of lens attachments, stabilisation devices for video, tripods, sliders and much, much more! So, I guess it’s a case of natural evolution, that more robust and capable products will continue to assist the masses with developing their affinity with photography – using the camera that is always in their pocket!

Enter the Pictar, then. A sort of iPhone case-come-grip, which contains no less than 5 dials, all offering a greater level of control for shooting pictures with iPhones than can be achieved with the device itself. There’s a multi-functional shutter button which offers maximised focus, allowing you to capture your image when you feel like it – a half press of the button will lock the focus and exposure, while a full press will release the shot, saving the time of looking back at captured images to see if they are as they should be. Also, the Exposure Compensation Wheel gives you full control over the amount of light in an image as well as allowing you to be as experimental as you want.

The external smart wheel allows you to control a range of different elements, from the type of mode (sports, landscape, portrait etc.) to other functions such as shutter speeds, flash modes and white balance settings. There’s a tripod mount located at the bottom of the PICTAR, (good for shooting landscapes or video) while the cold shoe mount, sat at the top of the device, allows the use of a variety of LED lighting products or indeed microphones.

Pictar’s basic pack also offers a padded case and detachable wrist strap and an optional neck strap for better carrying ability.

Pictar is available in two models to suit the ever-changing iPhone upgrades. Pictar One, is made for iPhones 4-6S and comes in at £89.99, while the Pictar One Plus for iPhone models 6 Plus and 6S Plus comes in at £99.99

PhotoBite will be putting the Pictar through its paces, so keep an eye on The Measure and a link will be posted here once we get our hands on a sample!