RADAR TEST BENCH TEST

WINNER

APPROVED AWARD

Olloclip Filmer’s Kit BenQ GS1 LIVESTREAM YOUR LIFE FROM YOUR IPHONE. NOT QUITE THE STREAMING SILVER BULLET FOR PORTABLE PROJECTORS.

OLLOCLIP’S BEEN ENHANCING iPhone photography (or BENQ HAS TAKEN the first step to making a portable projector that’ll iPhonography) since the iPhone 4 was launched back in 2013, and its let you watch movies and shows without the need for an external player accessories have evolved as the premium Apple handsets have become — and it’s done so by essentially whacking an Android smartphone thinner, bigger and better. , designed to accommodate both the under the hood. Although this should theoretically give it access to iPhone 7/8 and 7/8 Plus, Olloclip has launched a limited edition Filmer’s dozens of existing streaming apps (like say, , or Now) Kit that brings all its flagship lens kits into one neat carry case — from the Google Play Store, the number of apps currently on offer is designed by Incase — along with an articulating grip, producing an surprisingly limited. Instead of letting you access the Play Store and all-in-one filming kit that can be safely and securely lugged about select the apps you want, the GS1 defaults to Kodi (with its so-called and fits into any backpack. ‘10-foot media interface’) as its primary media playback software. The kit includes a telephoto, ultra-wide, super-wide, fisheye and Kodi is a powerful free media centre app that has the capacity to macro lens, the last accessible by unscrewing the fisheye. What organise everything from a local media library to free streaming service completes the package is the all-important Pivot. This articulating grip plugins — we’ve championed it more than once in TechLife, so it’s not a adds stability when filming, but despite being strong, the spring-loaded bad place to start. The GS1 also includes a handful of other Android grip occasionally made the phone wobble a bit, and you need to be apps pre-installed, including a few of the OS’s best file organisation apps reasonably precise about placement of the phone to avoid the grip alongside media players VLC and MX Player. For all those hoping to pressing down on the volume buttons. The good news is that the Pivot watch Netflix, the GS1 is at least compatible with the Wi-Fi Alliance’s rotates 255°, giving smartphone users the freedom to shoot from a Miracast technology, as well as Apple’s AirPlay. This might not be the variety of angles. There’s also bit of wiggle room with the lens frames, direct streaming we we’re hoping for, but it will let you send streams but that tiny space makes it easy to swap the lenses without having to from your Android or iOS smartphone to the device — and it’s a feature remove the clip itself. set that’s in-line with our favourite current mini-projector offerings. The lenses aren’t too bad when it comes to results, but you will find The 14.6 x 14 x 6.5cm dimensions of the GS1 makes it slightly bigger fuzziness around the edges of the images taken with the telephoto than some competitors, but it’s still perfectly portable and affords and some distortion when using the fisheye and super-wide. As for the more space for the 30- to 100-inch short-throw projection display, macro, you’ll need to be super up close and personal to get a great shot. which runs at 720p resolution. The picture quality is impressive, If you’re happy with about 98% of the frame looking sharp, that’s well with a dynamic 100,000:1 contrast ratio, HDR colour gamut and and good, but it would be fair to say that the lenses in the Filmer’s Kit 300 Lumen peak brightness, backed up by a three-hour battery life, aren’t the showstoppers that Olloclip usually produces. It’s great value so you can even use it sans powerpoint. The GS1 is more expensive for money, however, and the addition of the Pivot makes all the than many competitors, but it definitely integrates enough of difference to iPhonography, making it a great space- and weight-saving the right technologies to justify a higher price point. package to take on your next vacation. [ SHARMISHTA SARKAR ] [ JOEL BURGESS ]

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OLLOCLIP FILMER’S KIT BENQ GS1 $330 $999 www.olloclip.com www.benq.com.au

CRITICAL SPECS CRITICAL SPECS Compatible with iPhone 7/8 and 7/8 Plus; includes Olloclip Core Short throw 30-100 inch image @ 1,280 x 720p resolution; Bluetooth 4.0 lens set (120° superwide angle, near 180° fisheye and 15X macro), and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity; HDR (1.07bn colours); LED lamp with Olloclip Active lens set (telephoto 2x optical zoom, 155° ultra-wide 20-30,000-hour lifespan; 60Hz 3D compatibility; 3-hour battery life; angle) and Olloclip Pivot articulating mobile video grip 14.6 x 13.9 x 6.6cm; 970g.

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