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While these smartphones and accessories won't replace your main camera rig, they'll help you shoot some stunning images and videos without weighing you down. By Greg Scoblete
Inch by incremental inch, smartphones are becoming more capable cameras and each step of the way, the universe of supporting photo accessories has grown in functionality, novelty and utility. We're not suggesting you cast aside your beloved digital SLR (perish the thought), but we do think these smartphones and accessories make great gear bag companions.
Hitcase Pro
It helps to think of the Hitcase Pro as something of a Batsuit. Once your mildmannered iPhone slips on this ABS/polycarbonate- based suit of armor, it becomes a rugged maniac, capable of diving up to 33 feet underwater, repelling dust and dirt, and surviving otherwise fatal shocks and falls thanks to its silicone-girded interior, all while preserving access to the touchscreen and the full functionality of the phone. But Hitcase does more than merely protect the iPhone from harm, it augments the lens thanks to its wide-angle attachment (which is built just as sturdily into the case). The Hitcase Pro lens allows for a three times greater field of view than the existing iPhone 5 lens. Its railside mounting system lets you secure your phone on eight different GoPro-compatible mounts so you can capture point-of-view footage across handlebars, helmets and more. It also works with a free Vidometer app that will overlay your speed, elevation, compass heading, G-force (!) and GPS coordinates on any video you take, as if to goad you into risking your life. Buyer beware.
PRICE: $129
INFO: www.hitcase.com
Nokia Lumia 1020
Windows Phone may be the underdog among mobile operating systems, but the camera on Nokia's Lumia 1020 is second to none. The Lumia 1020 boasts a 41-megapixel image sensor with a fixed focal length, f/2.2, Carl Zeiss Tessar lens that includes optical image stabilization. The lens can focus down on subjects up to 5.9 inches away. The Lumia 1020 is loaded with camera-friendly features including a real mechanical shutter, Xenon flash and the ability to capture two images at once: one high-resolution photo for your archives and printing needs, plus a low-res version that's easier to e-mail and post to...