What are the best smartphone accessories for shooting travel videos?
Photo: JulyProkopiv / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images Travel season is here for many. Whether you're looking to start a travel blog or simply want to document your trips, you may be trying to figure out what gear you'll need. While dedicated cameras have advantages for vlogging and video creation, smartphones are much more convenient. After all, you'll likely have it on you at all times anyway, and it takes up much less room in a bag. While phones are highly capable these days, picking up some accessories can help you get the most out of your device when recording video. There is also plenty of overlap with what smartphone accessories are best for travel photography, such as lenses, power banks and lens cloths, so be sure to give that a look, too. Bluetooth mic Photo: DJI Bluetooth microphones are an excellent accessory for anyone shooting video. They are often more critical than fancy cameras, since viewers will forgive bad image quality but not bad sound. There are now many options for compact Bluetooth mics that play well with phones, including from DJI, Rode, Sennheiser and Hollyland. These come in the form of shotgun mics, lavalier mics and more. Be sure to check compatibility with your device before purchasing, though, as not all will work across iPhone or Android systems. Gimbal Image: Insta360 Shaky video is also a big turnoff for many viewers. While your phone has some level of stabilization to smooth out video while you're moving, it's generally somewhat limited, especially if you want to use higher recording quality options. Gimbals will give you much better stabilization while also making it easier to hold your camera. Plus, many gimbals double as a tripod or stand, making them even more worthwhile, especially if you want to record hands-free at times. DJI, Insta360 and Hohem are brands worth considering. SSD Photo: Samsung Videos consume a lot of storage space on your phone very quickly, especially if you use the highest quality settings. You'll want to invest in an SSD to keep your phone from filling up. Some phones and apps will even allow you to record directly to an SSD, so you don't need to remember to transfer files. Brands like Samsung, PNY, Lexar, Seagate and Planck all offer reliable yet tiny SSDs that work well with phones. Add-on filters Photo: Moment Whether using your phone's built-in lenses or detachable smartphone lenses, having the option to use filters will open more filming opportunities and give you more creative control. Two popular choices are neutral density (ND) filters and polarizers. ND filters reduce the amount of light entering your camera, allowing you to blur movement or backgrounds even in bright conditions. Polarizers help cut down on glare on shiny or reflective surfaces. Sandmarc, Moment, Beastgrip, PolarPro and SmallRig all make quality filters and filter mounts. Cage Photo: Beastgrip Phone filmmaking cages offer multiple benefits. First, they typically provide grips off to the side of your phone, making it easier to hold while filming while ensuring no fingers get in front of the camera. Second, larger ones often provide attachment points for accessories such as filters, mics, SSDs, lights and more. That way, you don't have to fumble with holding all your accessories together. As you might expect by now, Moment, Beastgrip, PolarPro and SmallRig are brands worth looking at for cages and grips. LED light Photo: Lume Cube Finally, a compact light may be useful to keep on hand, especially if you plan on filming in conditions other than bright ones. Some function as ring lights that clip directly onto your phone, like Westcott's offering. Others, from brands like Lume Cube, Joby and Sandmarc, will require a cage or mount. All options are easy to use with a phone and are tiny, so they won't take up much room in your bag. Acessories for smartphone photography
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| Photo: JulyProkopiv / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images |
Travel season is here for many. Whether you're looking to start a travel blog or simply want to document your trips, you may be trying to figure out what gear you'll need. While dedicated cameras have advantages for vlogging and video creation, smartphones are much more convenient. After all, you'll likely have it on you at all times anyway, and it takes up much less room in a bag.
While phones are highly capable these days, picking up some accessories can help you get the most out of your device when recording video. There is also plenty of overlap with what smartphone accessories are best for travel photography, such as lenses, power banks and lens cloths, so be sure to give that a look, too.
Bluetooth mic
 |
| Photo: DJI |
Bluetooth microphones are an excellent accessory for anyone shooting video. They are often more critical than fancy cameras, since viewers will forgive bad image quality but not bad sound. There are now many options for compact Bluetooth mics that play well with phones, including from DJI, Rode, Sennheiser and Hollyland. These come in the form of shotgun mics, lavalier mics and more. Be sure to check compatibility with your device before purchasing, though, as not all will work across iPhone or Android systems.
Gimbal
 |
| Image: Insta360 |
Shaky video is also a big turnoff for many viewers. While your phone has some level of stabilization to smooth out video while you're moving, it's generally somewhat limited, especially if you want to use higher recording quality options. Gimbals will give you much better stabilization while also making it easier to hold your camera. Plus, many gimbals double as a tripod or stand, making them even more worthwhile, especially if you want to record hands-free at times. DJI, Insta360 and Hohem are brands worth considering.
SSD
 |
| Photo: Samsung |
Videos consume a lot of storage space on your phone very quickly, especially if you use the highest quality settings. You'll want to invest in an SSD to keep your phone from filling up. Some phones and apps will even allow you to record directly to an SSD, so you don't need to remember to transfer files. Brands like Samsung, PNY, Lexar, Seagate and Planck all offer reliable yet tiny SSDs that work well with phones.
Add-on filters
 |
| Photo: Moment |
Whether using your phone's built-in lenses or detachable smartphone lenses, having the option to use filters will open more filming opportunities and give you more creative control. Two popular choices are neutral density (ND) filters and polarizers. ND filters reduce the amount of light entering your camera, allowing you to blur movement or backgrounds even in bright conditions. Polarizers help cut down on glare on shiny or reflective surfaces. Sandmarc, Moment, Beastgrip, PolarPro and SmallRig all make quality filters and filter mounts.
Cage
 |
| Photo: Beastgrip |
Phone filmmaking cages offer multiple benefits. First, they typically provide grips off to the side of your phone, making it easier to hold while filming while ensuring no fingers get in front of the camera. Second, larger ones often provide attachment points for accessories such as filters, mics, SSDs, lights and more. That way, you don't have to fumble with holding all your accessories together. As you might expect by now, Moment, Beastgrip, PolarPro and SmallRig are brands worth looking at for cages and grips.
LED light
 |
| Photo: Lume Cube |
Finally, a compact light may be useful to keep on hand, especially if you plan on filming in conditions other than bright ones. Some function as ring lights that clip directly onto your phone, like Westcott's offering. Others, from brands like Lume Cube, Joby and Sandmarc, will require a cage or mount. All options are easy to use with a phone and are tiny, so they won't take up much room in your bag.
