Real invention is scarce these days, especially when seeing the major brands playing it safe and releasing the same thing over and over again. It’s refreshing to see some really new stuff every once in a while–and the ladibird iPhone case definitely qualifies. The device is a bit like a Ricoh GXR module in that it houses a large sensor and a prime lens, and uses the iPhone 5 as its camera body. But what it does to your iPhone is simply spectacular: it transforms it into a serious portraiture camera!
The ladibird has been successfully crowdfunded over at Indiegogo, and is now preparing for mass production. Once development is finished, you’ll be able to buy an iPhone case that holds a large sensor as well as a 50mm f1.8 prime lens that’ll let you take pictures both in low light and with strong subject isolation and beautiful bokeh. As for the size of the sensor, and whether the lens is a real 50mm or just a full-frame equivalent, that information is not available yet.
When the ladibird hits the market, it will be available for US-$ 315 according to the Indiegogo page. While that may be a lot of cash for an iPhone case, it’s really not that expensive considering what you’d pay for a real DSLR or mirrorless camera with an equivalent lens. Currently, the ladibird is expected to reach mass production during 2014. We really hope that we’ll get to see it by the end of the year, as this is definitely one of the most intriguing announcements as of late.