The Daylight Viewfinder Makes Shooting Photos In Bright Settings A Snap
by Tommy Ly
May 30, 2012
Let's face it, the sun does a great job of obscuring your iPhone's screen. Taking photos on bright days can get a little tricky when you can't tell what your camera sees. Looking to solve that problem is the Daylight Viewfinder, a Kickstarter project that has its sights set on improving how you use your iPhone's camera in bright settings.
After unsuccessfully trying to take pictures of a skiing trip on his iPhone, Paul Anderson tried to find a viewfinder attachment for it. Since he couldn't find any, he decided to make his own. With the help of an iOS developer, the Daylight Viewfinder was born:
If you can't see the video above, please click here.
The Daylight Viewfinder's companion app shrinks down the live camera view to a size that the Daylight Viewfinder then magnifies after being attached to the screen. Your out of view finger inputs are reflected in the eyepiece, so you won't have to guess where the shutter button is. If funded, the Daylight Viewfinder will be compatible with the iPhone 4, 4S, fourth generation iPod touch, and the new iPad. Could you imagine seeing someone with an iPad pressed against their face?
This project is aiming pretty high with an ambitious $44,000 goal. Depending on how soon you order, a minimum pledge of $20 will get you a Daylight Viewfinder and carrying pouch. Once that limited supply is up, the minimum goes up to $24.
If you're interested, visit the project's page on Kickstarter. As for me, I've got my own solution to shooting photos in bright sunlight: an elegant combination of using my hand as a hood over my phone and heavy squinting. Any better ideas?
