The OWLE team is back at it again, and they never fail to impress. Just a week ago, they announced the availability of the OWLE Bubo, their first product, which turns the iPhone into formidable video camera. Now, Harold Smith and Graham Mcbain have gone a step further. They’ve figured out how to access the 30 pin connector, the connector on the bottom of your iPhone that you use to charge it with, for more then just charging. What Harold and Graham have come up with today, could make video on the iPhone near broadcast-quality.
The idea of the OWLE Bubo is to take your camcorder accessories and let you use them with your iPhone to optimize the iPhone’s video experience. OWLE today posted a video to its YouTube channel (embedded above), explaining what they have achieved. They show a hack of the iPhone that allows it to use audio and video equipment that professionals use for movies.
The latest prototype that OWLE has developed, which is different than what they start shipping tomorrow, allows you to use lenses with depth of field and telephoto effects, XLR microphones (both wired and wireless microphones), stereo microphones and more. Basically, it allows you to plug in any professional audio equipment that filmmakers use, on your iPhone. The mics are plugged in through the 30 pin, and the telephoto lens was cobbled together.
To develop this working prototype, Harold and Graham took apart numerous other products that had the chips they needed to create what they feel is missing from current products. To be clear, none of these workarounds have been authorized or otherwise approved by Apple, but to see the quality and the possibilities with the iPhone 3GS really makes you think — what if Apple did approve this?
Cool, but epic distortion. Check out the pillars in the back.
Should be very interesting though.
Why people want to buy OWLE?
Buy OWLE you must.
“Why people want to buy OWLE?”
Journalists. From independents with no cash to network folk where the reporter/producer wants that weird (cheap) third angle. It stabilizes with a good grip, can optically zoom and has the potential for really good audio; all things that can turn a simple iPhone into an usable ENG rig. Not great but much better than missing the shot. Bonus to the GS for being able to edit the video.
I can see a lot of reporters (and their padawans) that have iPhones buying one.
With better optics (see Judson Collier’s comment) you might be able to push it even further. All in all IMO it has some serious appeal. Points for both idea and execution. I wonder when the OWLE ripoffs will start.
Now if they could please make one for the N900 that would be even better. =)
I think that it would be more interesting to have a cheap but separate camera unit that uses the iPhone for processing and storage. Sort of like a glorified webcam. The iPhone’s camera is not very good.
It’s still not very effective, though. . . over $100 when you can get an HD minicam that has better video for close to the same price . . . (used NewEgg for prices, of course.
$119 for a Creative HD )
This is really cool
This is really cool. I’m planning on going to China next year to document the making of our animated series. I’d be more than happy to have this instead of carrying around a bunch of camcorders and photo equipment.
This looks cool, but it also looks like the same size as the Canon HD Vixia HF200 that I use. The Canon will do 1920×1080 and I have a mini pro quality Sennheiser mic attached. I guess I just don’t get it – how is the handling?
Hmm, Very impressive, can’t wait to hear what apple would say about this thing.
Here are some real buboes. Strange choice of name…
http://en.wikip.../Bubonic_plague
It would be interesting to see this working with a live streaming service like Qik.
I wouldn’t put my credit card info into their unsecure shopping cart
mechanically savvy maybe, web savvy…not so much
Their shopping cart check is using frame, the main check out frame is on SSL. since you’re such a web-savy, you should have realized that.
Very cool project but I’m not sure I would buy this setup to shoot video. Given the size of all the attachments vs. the quality of the video I would much rather by small camcorder that shoots HD.
Very sweet!
I’m sorry, but this looks like absolute hell. For $100, go buy an old used canon digicam that does video. Better yet, go buy an old sony handcam.
$100 for this thing, plus how much for an iPhone? No, thanks. What is the benefit of this anyhow?
Oh Please.
Get a HD quality video cam for $999 at Best Buy. IT has a real lens, real audio, real zoom, real digital storage. You don’t lug around various bits of disparate equipment.
By the way, when you get a call on you PHONE, you miss the action, don’t you? Can you see yourself holding that OWL looking rig up next to your face? GEEK OUT
The iPhone is not and never will be a video solution.
This is Jesus phone video masturbation.
Nothing else
Tell us what you really think! I was trying to come up with a way to say the same thing but why bother, you said is perfectly.
Cool
We just posted a full video review of the OWLE on Hand Held Hollywood, along with some sample footage.
You can find it here: http://bit.ly/1esHtD
Hope you like it!
I think the price is right on. Having a device that allows you to capture high quality audio/video and upload it directly to YouTube from virtually anywhere is powerful. Even if it isn’t HD.
I like.
there is much more to work-out.