Most iPhone accessory makers design around Apple. ShiftCam Gear says it designed with Apple. The company, known for its iPhone add-on lenses and grips, has announced ProRig, a full camera system built around the iPhone, and states openly that Apple provided feedback during development and is launching the product alongside it.
“We’re introducing ProRig — a complete camera system designed around the iPhone, bringing together the rig, optics, filters, lighting and more into one seamless system,” ShiftCam wrote in an email to its previous Kickstarter backers. “And we’re especially excited that Apple has been part of this journey, providing feedback during development and launching ProRig with us.” The ProRig landing page on ShiftCam’s site carries the line “Partnering with Apple”. Apple rarely works this openly with third-party accessory brands, which makes the claim the most notable part of the announcement.
One frame, many setups
ProRig is less a single gadget than a framework that ties together the hardware ShiftCam has released over the years. The company sums it up as “Everything We Built. One System.” The rig supports ShiftCam’s iPhone case, add-on lenses and filters, handles, accessories, lights and microphones. ShiftCam says it keeps Apple’s design language and ease of use while letting the iPhone fit into a much bigger creative workflow.
One detail stands out in the design. ShiftCam moves the attachment points to the corners of the phone, which it says keeps the iPhone’s essential design intact while leaving the edges free for different ways to hold, build and shoot. The company describes three example configurations:
- Light / Everyday Setup — a lens and a handle for casual shooting
- Run-and-Gun B-Cam — more control for shooting on the move
- Full Production Mode — tripod-mounted, with a lens, filter, shotgun mic and light
“Start with what the moment needs, not everything the system can hold,” the company says. ShiftCam pitches ProRig as a modular kit you scale up or down for each shoot, not a cage you bolt on and keep on. The system is aimed at iPhone Pro models.
Kickstarter, round ten
ProRig will debut on Kickstarter on October 23. It is ShiftCam’s 10th campaign on the platform, nine years after the company started building tools for mobile creators. Pricing has not been announced. For reference, ShiftCam’s V.Series lenses for iPhone start at $199 and its X.Series telephoto lenses start at $269, and both require a ShiftCam case.
The timing makes sense. Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro series adds a variable-aperture main camera, 4Kp120 Dolby Vision recording and ProRes RAW, which takes the phone further into serious video work. A rig that handles optics, light, sound and support around that camera, with Apple’s input on the design, is a logical next step for creators who already treat their iPhone as a production camera.
