Over the years, I've tested several iPhone camera accessories that promise to improve the smartphone photography experience. To be honest, few, if any, have done so. They were either cumbersome to transport, needed to be charged constantly, or simply didn't add any value to the creative experience and I quickly lost interest. So when the Fjorden camera grip popped up on my radar, I was a little skeptical…but curious enough to give it a try.
I've been using the Fjorden grip for about six months, since late summer 2024, and surprisingly, it stayed connected to my iPhone 15 Pro Max more or less constantly during that time. That alone is testament to its enduring appeal.
The original marketing promised to turn your iPhone into a “proper” camera, which was a stretch, although they have since changed their message to “Shoot like a pro with your iPhone.” That said, the clever design has made me behave differently and, as the hype promised, shoot with my iPhone more seriously, with more thoughtfulness and creative intent. That alone makes it a worthwhile investment, and my iPhone photography over this period has evolved for the better.
Improving the iPhone camera experience
Ultimately, the Fjorden Grip is simply designed to give you a better grip on your iPhone along with physical controls for the shutter, zoom, exposure, focus, and more. It does just that and does it exceptionally well.
It's lightweight and relatively discreet even when stored, attached to an iPhone in the back pocket of a pair of jeans. I've kept it connected to my iPhone more or less constantly, which says a lot.
The grip is good enough for my relatively large hands and easy to hold. The two-stage shutter button is infinitely superior to the iPhone 15 Pro's native camera controls, and while the iPhone 16 has the new, pretty good camera button, the Fjorden grip still improves the “photography experience,” especially when fired only once. delivered.
However, it should be noted that the ergonomics are considerably better in the horizontal orientation when taking landscape photos. Taking vertical photos, popular on most social media platforms, creates a more clunky ergonomic experience. The grip can be rotated for upright use by twisting around the center attachment “latch,” but this will disconnect the MagSafe connection and compromise stability. It feels flimsy and precarious when used this way. I used to just turn the iPhone over and grab it, which was fine but required both hands.
Fjord price and availability
The Fjorden Basic package costs $159.99 / £139.99 on the Fjorden website and includes the camera grip and adhesive adapter. The Fjorden Plus package adds a MagSafe case and costs $179.99/£169.99. Pay $199.99 / £199.99 for the Pro package and a foldable case and wrist strap are also included, while the Ultimate package ($239.99 / £229.99) also includes a MagSafe adapter. Australian availability and pricing to be confirmed.
Useful for one-handed shooting, the Pro package includes a handy wrist strap. While not an innovative accessory worth writing about, this increasingly useful strap is great for street photography, especially now that photo-stealing thieves are becoming more common. I also frequently find myself photographing in slightly precarious locations, such as leaning over the deck of a boat, where the strap is a useful protection against accidental falls.
However, it is worth mentioning that the fabric used to attach the wristband could and should be stronger. I've already worn out the “loop” on one side and the second loop looks frayed and will soon break. Overall, this seems like a small and relatively superficial point to focus on, but it's an important one nonetheless. It surprises me that when everything else is so well considered and put together, the package falls short on what is perhaps the easiest thing to do well.
In addition to the strap, the Pro Bundle includes the MagSafe camera case to attach the grip to the iPhone, an adhesive adapter if you want to use your own case, and a carrying case. Other packages in the Fjorden range include the Ultimate package, which adds a magnetic adapter for the Fjorden Grip with thumb rest, tripod and cold shoe mount.
The Fjorden grip is powered by a CR2032 battery, which Fjorden says will last about a year. After five months of fairly heavy use, my device is at 80%, so that seems to be an accurate statement. The grip connects to an iPhone via Bluetooth, which significantly drains the iPhone's battery during intense shooting. This is annoying and you will have to carry a battery if you plan on shooting a lot. Bluetooth connectivity means the grip will also work great as a remote shutter release.
Camera apps for experienced photographers
The grip works with the Fjorden Camera app and third-party apps like Camera Pro (I haven't tried it) and will soon be fully integrated with the Leica LUX Pro app. Fjorden and Leica have partnered and are now called “Fjorden, a Leica Camera Company” . It may not be long before it also gets Leica's iconic “red dot” (and a price increase).
The accompanying free Fjorden Camera app lets you shoot in full auto mode, manual mode, or portrait mode, and it's very good. It's now only available when you buy the grip, which is a shame as even without the grip, it's a good “pro-spec” smartphone camera app. When used with the handle, it takes center stage.
Together, the Fjorden Grip and the camera app give you complete control over your iPhone's camera. The scroll wheel allows you to easily control exposure, shutter speed, ISO, a set of seven emulations or film styles, focus and white balance. It's up to you exactly how you prefer to configure these parameters and you can customize this in the settings. Exposure control, fine focus, and film emulation are the three I used the most and prioritized them on the scroll wheel.
Naturally, the partnership with Leica means there will also be integration with the Leica LUX pro app, although at the time of writing it is not fully integrated. I tried a beta version with some integration and it looks good with some lovely Leica style “looks”. The downside is that there is a monthly subscription with the Leica LUX Pro, which, after the cost of the grip, may not suit everyone. However, I understand that there will be Fjorden + LUX Pro packages in the near future that might offer a better incentive.
Either way, the Fjorden app is more than good and a pleasure to use. There is currently no Android version.
Verdict
Despite some small drawbacks, I love this grip. It's practically been in my back pocket, connected to my iPhone 15 Pro Max, since I bought one about six months ago. He's been around the world, literally, and taken quite a beating. As my sample photos show, there is some cosmetic wear, but with the exception of the loop that attaches the hand strap to the iPhone, it is still in good condition.
What I really love, though, is how the grip has made me change my artistic behavior when using my iPhone. I now take photographs with more intention, carefully considering composition and light in a way I once reserved for my “proper” camera. In this sense, the device lives up to its marketing expectations.
Not only are the controls ergonomically sound, but they also allow me to easily control my exposure value (EV), focus precisely, and modify other parameters, giving me more creative control over image creation. What's not to like!