By Graham K. Rogers

When I bought the olloclip lenses set for my iPhone, I was most interested in the macro lens. I teach at an engineering school and while some of my students are interested in photography, the photographs of equipment that appears in their reports could usually be bettered. Close-ups particularly are often poor.

Although the olloclip lens kit was just what I thought it would be and I am really happy with it, my own skills with the macro lens needed tightening up. With a fairly narrow focus range (around 2 - 3 cms) I often found that trying to hold the iPhone in the right position would bring about some camera shake.

The obvious solution was a tripod, but I was not all that enamoured of the solutions that I found online initially. Many of them enclosed the iPhone in a case or semi-surround structure which would not allow use of the extra lenses I had. They were therefore no solution at all for me, despite many positive comments online.

I finally found the Glif tripod attachment and ordered it right away. Its simple construction was just right for my needs and I ordered it online right away. I was able to use the iPhone on the tripod I have for my DSLR camera and it did exactly the job I expected.

I later bought a pocket tripod locally and this is perfect for the iPhone. Again I knew just what I wanted, but had to wait until I found the right one. I have used it for macro photography and for other types of image recording: time lapse and stop motion video work well with this.

The relatively tight fit of the iPhone in the Glif allowed me to take photographs with the device angled fairly steeply, but there were limits. When I used the iPhone in portrait mode, there was less support for the bottom edge. While the iPhone never slipped out of the Glif frame, I was not willing to try too hard.

What I should have done was to by the complete package from Studio Neat which includes an extra support called the Serif and a Ligature: a ring that screw into the base of the Glif and enables it to be secured tightly. While the Glif itself was $20, the whole package costs $30. Fortunately, Studio Neat have the Serif and a Ligature for sale separately in a +Pack for $12. Mine arrived this week.

As well as the $12.00 for the hardware there was a fee of $10.21 for mailing. The mailing costs for the Glif alone had been $8.79 and the difference I expect is because the Ligature is metal, adding slightly to the weight. Mailing costs from the UK may also have changed.

The Serif fits over the iPhone and locks into a cut-out on the underside of the Glif. This secures the device and it does now mean that I can turn it upside down if I want with (relative) peace of mind.

With the Serif locking the iPhone, the Ligature can be screwed into the Glif -- it uses the same threads as would be used to attach it to a tripod. This is where the fun starts.

Images on the Studio Neat site show the Glif attached to a key-ring to avoid loss. Extending this idea, it might also be used to secure an iPhone in the pocket with the Serif attached as well. Having lost two phones to pickpockets here, I am at pains to keep it out of anyone's reach.

With the iPhone secured so well, a line could be attached and the device suspended for some unusual photography: the site shows an iPhone attached to floating ballons. [There is also a useful video on the process of making the Glif.]

As I mentioned in the earlier review I wrote on the Glif, the simplicity of the design is part of the key to having it work exactly as needed. The parts fit perfectly and there is no excess.

The Glif is an investment for better photography -- still and video. The two additional parts I now have are investments in security and peace of mind. I should have bought these in the first place.

Note: Unrelated to any of this, an article appeared on Tuesday morning on iMore, by Leanna Lofte, announcing an iPhone photo contest with the subject being avatars. The prize: an Olloclip Lens System, Glif tripod mount, and $50 iTunes gift card.

Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs.