Camera flagships are more than just smartphones these days. They have huge potential, thanks to their high-end, next-gen imaging sensors and capable lenses. Heck, you can even expand their native optical reach by adding teleconverter lenses. We truly live in exciting times!
Today, we’re taking a look at the latest photography kits: the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Photography Kit and the Photography Kit Pro. Both add true manual control to the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and are focused on expanding its imaging prowess, not on adding external lenses.
Let’s start with the Pro kit. It’s all based around a quality magnetic case for the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, which has a detachable filter thread, a regular filter ring, a rotatable filter adapter ring, the photography grip pro, a red wrist strap, and two soft shutter buttons – a red and a black one.
One of the filter rings has a thread for attaching 67mm filters, like a circular polarizer (pictured below), or an ND or pro mist filter. Both filters work with the rotating camera ring on the Leica Leitzphone by Xiaomi (and the Chinese Xiaomi 17 Ultra) – you can rotate it when the case is on and control zoom and exposure.
The camera grip attaches to the Xiaomi 17 Ultra via USB-C and supports Xiaomi’s 90W HyperCharge. By default, the built-in 2,000mAh battery of the grip will charge the phone if its battery falls below 20%.
Filter rings and a USB-powered grip
You lose the MagSafe support when you’ve connected the grip to the case – there simply isn’t room to place a charger on the back of the phone.
Once you’ve attached the grip to the phone inside the case, you can lock the grip and the case with a small lever on the grip.
In terms of controls, you get a two-stage shutter (half-press to lock focus, press down to shoot), a zoom lever around the shutter, a small video button, and a dial, which can be customized to control exposure compensation, filters, ISO, shutter speed, or white balance.
The grip has a very thoughtful design with a small but convenient thumb rest implemented at the back. It helps tremendously with one-handed operation.
A most-welcome layout
You can use the Xiaomi 17 Ultra’s fastshot mode with the Photography Kit Pro – just enable Quick Launch in the phone’s settings, select Fastshot for the camera mode, and choose Quick Snap (grip). Then, you can wake up the phone and take a quick shot with a press of the shutter button. Fastshot mode is a street photography-aimed mode that snaps a photo at a predefined focal length in under a second.
The case and grip are both IP54 weather-protected against dust and water splashes. There’s also a nice grippy texture on the case itself, which helps with grip security.
The non-Pro kit is essentially a case with an integrated grip. You also get a two-pin charger and a strap.
There’s no USB connection here, and instead, you pair the kit to the Xiaomi 17 Ultra via Bluetooth. Because the grip is always present, this case lacks MagSafe-like magnets.
The grip has two buttons – a video button and a two-stage shutter button. It’s less pronounced than the circular shutter button on the Pro kit and lacks a zoom lever, but it’s still a tactile and fun way to snap photos on your phone. The non-Pro kit also supports Xiaomi’s Fastshot mode.
The case has a 270mAh built-in battery that you charge with the two-pin cable. We would’ve loved a way to charge the case through the phone, but that would’ve likely meant a thicker case.
The non-Pro version
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Photography Kit Pro comes in Black, while the Photography Kit is available in Black, White, and Purple. The Photography Kit Pro is €200, while the non-Pro is around €140, but is harder to find in most markets.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra 5G
