The Relonch camera aims to turn your iPhone into smart, polished-aluminium body with a real f/2 50mm prime lens. It’s at prototype stage and was being demonstrated at Photokina for the first time. In the foreground of the above picture you see the mock-up of the camera which has a dock at the back to receive your iPhone 5S. Behind is the device that actually works, a jury-rigged camera with an unspecified prime lens shrouded in gaffer tape.
It works, though, as witness the picture of me (below) taken with the Heath Robinson device. The Relonch, which was on display at Photokina, is scheduled for production next year and will cost around $500. The company is looking for backers.
I have my doubts about the market for such a device. The Sony QX10 is probably a more viable way of harnessing your phone to a superior lens. It is more versatile in that it will work with many sizes and shapes of phone. The Relonch, on the other hand, is device specific. Imagine having paid $500 for a Relonch only to find it a bit of junk when your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus arrives in a couple of weeks’ time.
another of these ideas that look good at the time but falls down on being linked to one phone. Remember all those iPhone docks on Kickstarter. Some of them were for iPhone 4 and still haven’t arrived. This is a good idea but won’t work