Case uses angled lens to convert iPhone to 'Action Camera'

“Convert your iPhone to a rugged helmet camera.” We’ve heard this before. But this week, announced at the CES trade show in Las Vegas, G-Form has unveiled a product that’s different.

The company touts its G90 case will “truly allow smartphones to replace sports action cameras” like the GoPro.

This is accomplished with a special lens that allows smartphones or the iPod touch to take images at a 90-degree angle. The lens changes the way you can mount an iPhone or similar device so that it can now sit flat on the side of a helmet, bike handlebars, a kayak hull, or anywhere else.

The hard plastic case is waterproof and has a “skeletal back” to protect a phone inside.

“Low-profile, aerodynamic and sleek” are words the company uses to describe the case. It changes the lens direction and also widens the field of view to capture 140 degrees of a scene.

Said an R&D director from the brand, “Many people have tried to use smartphones or iPods as sports cameras with cases and mounting systems, and it just doesn’t work due to the awkward, non-aerodynamic shape of the devices in normal video orientation and the narrow field of view.”

He continued, “The G90 case literally transforms a smartphone or iPod into a true sports action camera.”

The case will be available in June for a variety of devices, including the Samsung S4, Apple iPhone 5, iPod touch, and more. Price is $TBA.

—Stephen Regenold