iPhone Photography Gear
I switched to iPhone photography because I love to travel light. I simply didn't want to carry all those heavy and bulky accessories when I photograph on my travels.
iPhone Tripods and Tripod Mounts
The iPhone does not have a standard mounting like all DSLRs and even some compact cameras have. Second, the size and especially the thickness of the iPhone change for each new iPhone. So if you don't take this into account, you'll have to buy a new iPhone tripod mount whenever you buy a new iPhone.
I'm often asked why would you want to use a tripod with an iPhone? The answer is: For the same reasons you would use a tripod with a DSLR or compact camera: To avoid camera shake and get sharp photos during long exposures like capturing water flow, a waterfall or even iPhone night photography.
I use two different tripods, an AmazonBasics Travel Tripod and a Joby Gorillapod, both with a Joby GripTight Mount. Here are two shots of the tripods "in action".
AmazonBasics Travel Tripod at Hraunfossar Waterfall in Iceland
Joby Gorillapod at the Setagaya Japense Garden in Vienna.
And here are three long exposures I took with the above tripods using the different iPhone tripod mounts.
Long Exposure of Hraunfossar waterfall in Iceland
London at night as seen from the Shard
40 second exposure of the London Eye spinning at night
iPhone Tripod Mounts
A good tripod mount for an iPhone should work with any case you've attached to your iPhone and with any new iPhone model. It does not make sense to buy a new tripod mount for each new model. As rule number one, do not buy iPhone tripod mounts that require to use a special case. Aside from buying a new case for each new iPhone, you may be unable to attach lenses, flashlights and other iPhone photo accessories.
I also recommend to avoid slide-on tripod mounts. As the thickness of the iPhone changes almost with each new version, a slide-on mount may not hold a new thinner version properly.
My best experience with iPhone tripod mounts is using what I call a "claw-based" system. For the past years, I've been using the Joby Griptight iPhone mount and I'm currently testing the new "pro" version of it. I also occasionally use the Shoulderpod S1. But my recommendation is to go for the classic GripTight.
Joby Griptight
Really fast mounting but requires a tripod with ball head for portrait format photos. Works with many iPhone cases and fits to all standard tripods. Small, Slim and light (that's why I keep loosing them ;) Available in two sizes for small (6/6s) and large (plus) phones
For iPhone 6/6s:
Joby Griptight Pro
Mounting takes more time with this one (screw!) and it's more bulky. But you can skip the ballhead on your tripod as you can turn your iPhone with the GripTight Pro into landscape and portrait. This fits all model and works with the iPhone 6/6S and plus models.
I'm currently testing it.
Review coming soon!
Shoulderpod S1
Slowest mounting. Ideal if you only use a tripod occasionally and also want to comfortable way to secure your iPhone to your arm wrist. The Shoulderpod S1 comes with a wrist strap and doubles as an iPhone grip. Works almost all iPhone sizes from "normal" to "plus". .
iPhone Tripods
I use two different tripods for my iPhone photography. The first one is the AmazonBasics Travel Tripod. I used this tripod for the past three years on trips from Iceland to Italy and from Spain to the Ukraine. It never failed and it's small and light. It also has a small ballhead so you can use it with all of the three tripod mounts I mentioned above.
The second "always-with-me" tripod is the Joby GripTight Gorillpod. It's a flexible tripod that you can wrap around things like a handrail. It's available together with the GripTight mount. Just make sure you buy the correct size for your smartphone!