Guest Review | Originally Written in Japanese by Naoki Miyashita
The other day, I received the “LEICA SL3” after six months of preorder. I had been using the “LEICA SL2-S” since its release, but when I got the actual camera in my hands, I decided that I couldn’t go back. The LEICA SL3 was smaller than its specs suggested, and above all, it was light.
Unless you’re using a film camera, being “small” and “light” is still a good thing when it comes to digital cameras.
So, are smartphones, including the iPhone, the most compact digital device, the end goal? No, that is not the case. Looking at the popularity of the GR series and X100 series in recent years, they lack the physical experience of a camera that cannot be replaced by a smartphone.
It could be the shared experience of connecting with the subject through the viewfinder, or the sensation of being one with the delicate mechanical behavior of the shutter unit and your body working in tandem.
However, even though I understand this, the more diverse the smartphone cameras become and the richer the RAW data becomes, the more I want it. How wonderful it would be if it had a camera experience like this.
Then, the “Leica LUX Grip” made its debut.
Leica LUX Grip Overview
This is not just a grip. It is a philosophy unique to Leica and a new proposal to give the iPhone a “physical experience as a camera.”
It is not a new gadget or mass-produced part, but a module that possesses the inherent physicality of a camera.
Smartphone cameras have certainly continued to evolve, with dramatic improvements in both sensor performance and processing power. However, no matter how much the resolution improves or the dynamic range expands, if the physical action of “holding” the camera is missing, the act of taking a picture will not provide the same level of satisfaction.
The Leica LUX Grip brings back that feeling by integrating with the iPhone via MagSafe. The grip feels natural in your hand, turning the iPhone into a tool to hold. This is similar but not the same as the comfortable feel created by the exquisite rubber grip of the GR III or the body balance of the X100 series.
How it feels in your hand
Needless to say, it is different from mass-produced products that prioritize marketing over philosophy. Without philosophy, you cannot attach this grip to a smartphone via MagSafe.
Holding the Leica LUX grip improves stability when shooting, and gives you a feeling of holding it like the “Leica SL system,” and then you finally realize another big thing: the high-quality, large LCD screen of the iPhone, even the iPhone 16 Pro, offers a larger live view than the Hasselblad X2D monitor.
Combined with the Leica LUX Grip, this creates a new camera with the most advanced and lightweight live view functionality.
Leica continues to pursue this philosophy of value, the importance of “feeling the camera in your hand.” Through this philosophy, the Leica LUX Grip is not just a supplementary accessory, but a unique piece that gives the iPhone “the presence of a camera.”
Shooting Example
I was about to write that I wanted you to see some sample photos, but then I realized that the Leica LUX Grip is not a camera. The photos that follow are just photos taken with the “Leica LUX” app, but in my mind, the Leica LUX Grip is a camera. The Leica LUX Grip has changed my iPhone photography experience so much that this idea has sunk into my mind and body.
This setting reproduces the image quality of the NOCTILUX 50mm F1.2 ASPH. by using the first light and portrait mode with the Leica LUX grip. I find the Leica Chrome color setting a very pleasant match for photography and use it frequently.
iPhone with Leica Looks
Even photos taken at the same moment can change depending on the lens simulation and “Leica Looks” you choose. It’s a completely different experience from the fast-paced and casual photography experience you’ve had with the iPhone so far.
One evening, I walked a little further along the Tama River. The birds flying overhead were easily attracted by the I-SUMMILUX 120mm F2.0 ASPH. Although the angle of view and depiction were merely simulated, even Leica fans rarely have the opportunity to experience a focal length of medium telephoto or longer. This is an unprecedented pleasure that can only be experienced by combining an iPhone with a Leica LUX grip.
The LEICA I MODEL A 50mm F3.5 setting paints the scene before me in a nostalgic world, and I also like the graininess of the image.
※Click on the image to enlarge
The APO-TELYT 135mm F3.4 setting has the strongest compression effect. It allows you to bring distant scenes closer, compress them, and frame them as you like. We hope you will enjoy the luxury of being able to enjoy the pleasure of this telephoto range in an extremely lightweight lens.
Leica LUX Grip Functions and Operability
The “Leica LUX” app can be used with touch controls, but by connecting it to the Leica LUX Grip, you can get the same physical operability as with a camera. In particular, the mechanical two-stage shutter and the feel of the setting dial are uncompromising, and I felt the craftsmanship that is unique to Leica.
Follow the instructions in the app to pair the Leica LUX grip with your iPhone. You can turn the power on and off by pressing and holding the shutter button.
Function Buttons
I assigned the two function buttons to switch between P and A modes and to switch lenses, but you can also assign other functions. The ability to freely assign functions to function buttons is a nice feature that is also common to other Leica digital cameras, such as the Leica SL System.
There is also a 1/2 screw hole on the bottom of the grip, so you can attach a mini tripod, for example.
The previous examples were taken in A mode, and the next three were taken in P mode. In P mode, RAW shooting is also possible, so there is a high degree of freedom in post-shooting editing. In addition, in P mode, you can physically adjust the exposure assigned to the setting dial on the Leica LUX grip to pursue the world view.
Even from the same position, 24mm and 120mm make a big difference in composition. And all it takes is a click of the function button. After experiencing this, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to the shooting experience with the LUX app alone.
Taking pictures with the app or with the camera? The Leica LUX Grip has made all the difference in the photography experience.
Review Summary
Perhaps because I had recently upgraded to an iPhone 16 Pro, taking photos with my iPhone after receiving the Leica LUX grip was an unprecedentedly satisfying experience.
Of course, it’s not a complete replacement, but for example, if you want to go out with minimal luggage, if you have an iPhone and this Leica LUX grip, you’ll be able to quickly let go of your compact digital camera.
It is compact enough to slip easily into a coat pocket in winter or into a pocket with a little extra space in summer, and it has the revolutionary power to turn ordinary everyday moments and distant views that you would normally not reach into photographable scenes.
The Leica LUX Grip is a grip that acts as a trigger unique to this era, incorporating Leica’s philosophy as a camera, allowing photographers to move between ON and OFF more freely and proactively, something that no other manufacturer with an overwhelming share of the market has been able to achieve.
About the writer: Naoki Miyashita (TERMINAL81 FILM) |
Freelance photographer and cinematographer, from photography and video, documentaries to aerial photography. He freely spins small stories that transcend the boundaries of visual expression.
Follow Miyashita-san on X: https://x.com/naoki_miyashita
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naoki_mi /
