[ad_1]
If you’ve been looking at Alice Camera recently and thought, “That’s pretty cool, but what’s with all the AI?” then this might be just for you. SwitchLens looks quite similar in appearance to Alice. It’s a Micro Four Thirds sensor (with a caveat) that bolts onto your smartphone. But without the AI.
Like Alice Camera, SwitchLens is compatible with both iOS and Android. One massive benefit it offers over Alice is that it features a microSD card slot, supporting massive 1.5TB microSD cards (although 1TB cards are way cheaper).
SwitchLens – Micro Four Thirds sensor for your smartphone
Developed by Sneaki Design and currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, SwitchLens aims to provide high-quality imaging by using larger sensors than your smartphone and interchangeable lenses traditionally found in dedicated cameras. But there’s a caveat here, as mentioned above.
While the SwitchLens contains a Micro Four Thirds mount, the default sensor that comes with it is a Sony Type-1 (1-inch) sensor. If you want the Micro Four Thirds sensor, it’s an upgrade that you have to pay extra for as an add-on after you’ve backed the campaign.
Both sensors are around 21 megapixels, but obviously, the smaller Sony Type-1 sensor is much smaller. This means the regular 2x Micro Four Thirds crop will be cropped down even further. A Type-1 sensor is a 3x crop, give or take.
It seems a bit shady to not make this obvious in the pledge listings with the prices, where it doesn’t mention sensor size. However, if you notice and upgrade to the MFT sensor, it claims to be the Sony IMX472. This is the same as the sensor found in the Olympus OM-1 (2022 version), which was very well received.
SwitchLens Sensor Specs
Sony Type-1 SensorM43 Sensor
SensorSony IMX283 Type-1Sony IMX472 Type-4/3
Resolution20.75mp21.46mp
Pixel dimensions5592 x 37105280 x 3956
ISO100-12800, expandable to 50-25600100-12800, expandable to 50-25600
White Balance2600-8600K2600-8600K
Shutter Speed1/8000sec – 10sec1/8000sec – 10sec
Despite sharing the same sensor as the OM-1, I probably wouldn’t expect to get the same quality of images. However, they’re almost certainly going to be better than what you’d get with your tiny smartphone sensor and lens. You also get more shooting options because you can mount Micro Four Thirds lenses to it.
With Alice Camera now scheduled to finally ship to backers, it’s nice to see another competitor in this space. This has been tried before by Sony and Olympus, but now it looks like it might actually be taking off. I still think I’d stick to my actual Micro Four Thirds cameras for the most part. But this could make for a great little walkabout camera. And as it connects to your phone over WiFi, you can easily mount it somewhere and control it remotely, too.
Price and Availability
SwitchLens is currently running on Kickstarter, with pledges starting at $199. Do bear in mind, however, that this is for the 1-inch sensor version. You’ll have to pay more for the Micro Four Thirds sensor option as an addon on checkout. The company says cameras will ship in November 2024.
Disclaimer: We only share crowdfunded projects we believe are legitimate. However, most of those projects are not in a delivery state. Make sure you look into the project and make an informed purchasing decision. While some projects may offer amazing rewards, others unfortunately may not deliver on their promises.
[ad_2]
