Griffin Clarifi review

The camera on the iPhone is something of a disappointment and Griffin has attempted to rectify the lack of a decent focus with a hard case integrating a magnifying glass.

The Clarifi case is intended for business users with a rather quirky selling point – an improved lens that will allow you to take high detail photos of business cards. Using an app called Evernote you can then transfer the photo data into contact information for your phonebook.

Although many high-end devices such as the HTC Touch Pro come with business card recognition software preinstalled, the quality of the picture is as important as the software itself. Without a decent shot, the software won't be able to identify the key parts of information.

If you want to revert to taking normal shots without using the clarity lens, you can slide is across and take photos as if you were using a normal case. The lens is smooth to slide, although there is a small chance that it'll become loose after heavy use.

Photos themselves are noticeably better. To get clear photos without a clarity lens, you have to hold the phone about 10 inches away to get a clear shot. With the lens, you can get ultra-clear shots from a couple of inches away. You can see some examples with and without the lens to the right.

Lens aside, the Clarifi is a sturdy case that clips on easily to the iPhone. There are holes in the relevant parts to ensure it's easy to access all the buttons including the volume keys and the dock connector at the bottom. However, your iPhone won't actually fit into a dock with the case on, but you can remove the bottom third of the case thanks to Griffin's innovative thinking.

The Griffin Clarifi is a great choice if you're looking for a strong case for your iPhone with a screen protector. The clarity lens is a surprising success if you often need to take photos of text or closeups.