Yup. The brand new OWLE Bubo might be the coolest camera grip ever… but not for the reasons you would think. A couple weeks ago, we received one of the first units off the production line. Since then, we’ve been putting it through its paces… and we’ve got the video to prove it.
If all that wasn’t enough, the guys at OWLE just posted a YouTube video of their latest setup. They’ve managed to get a telephoto lens on the OWLE (complete with some Depth of Field softness), and an external condenser mic into the 30pin adaptor. Â Neat! UPDATE: Their video has been removed… and now, so has the Owle. Bummer.
17 Responses
Awesome! That thing is the dope show! Any idea when the cheeper one is coming out?
Looks like something a reporter on Star Trek or Battlestar Galactica would be holding. In a good way.
whoa. HHH brings us another cool product… and i’m so totally gonna do the monopod-as-boom-out-the-car-shot.
Jerry,
Don’t do it! (do it.)
-Taz
P.S. If you do it, which you shouldn’t, I recommend driving 3 miles an hour next to a row of fluffy pillows. You know… just in case.
I can see this going far!
Great review. Held my interest all the way through and I don’t even have an iPhone.
I’ve already ordered mine but I’d like to see your review— but I can’t since I’m reading this page on my iPhone.
Keep up the good work!
Hi KB,
You can see the review (or any video on HHH) on your iPhone by clicking the "Play iPhone Friendly Version" button.
Glad you’re enjoying the site. Have fun with your Owle! And let us know what you think.
Best,
Taz
Thanks, Taz. Missed that link.
Question: did you do any post adjustments to the video you shot with your iPhone? It looks amazing.
Hey KB,
Nope… now adjustments. I went from iPhone to Vimeo (and youtube). I think the wide angle lens really helps. :)
Best,
-Taz
One cool upside is the increased light gathering that the wide angle lens should give you on the iphone.
Two Words for the future:
Interchangeable lenses.
Make a standard Video camera sized mini mount thread and it could me amacro lens, a zoom lens, a fisheye lens, or even provide the ability to get some form of manual focus functionality to make use of a funky DOF with a macro lens, or something along those lines. Genius all the same.
Hi Jon,
I totally agree! The OWLE guys have been experimenting with other lenses, so they must agree as well. :)
Best,
-T
Most excellent. With a frame like the Owle, there’s no end to what you can bolt on.
A big drawback I see is the color fringing. I’m not sure if they’ve simply used inferior optics for the tele, or if it’s the iPhone that’s the problem. To my eye, it looks like an optics issue (solvable, as opposed to an iPhone problem that can’t be altered).
Your thoughts?
Hi,
Thanks for a great review, I’m definitely getting one of these..
When it’s in the OWLE, is it still possible to add a connection from an external battery pack? For extended shooting..
Thanks again
Adding an external battery should not be a problem as long as you get one that connects via a 30-pin connector cable. You can’t use an battery case (like the Power Slider from Encase) since it would not fit in the Bubo. But something like the Hypermac Nano Battery might work nicely… but it will add extra weight, and you’ll likely want to attach it to the Bubo, so it’s not hanging off to the side.
Also, make sure you get the Bubo that’s compatible with your phone. The new iPhone 4 has a slightly different shape, and won’t work with older microphones. Best thing to do is contact them via their website.
I love the owle bubo. What I think is that even for geeks (Like me) it’s a little difficult to find diferent lenses online.
If you know lenses or the rings that convert the screw on the owle let me know. I’ve been looking for this info and havent found it.