iFlash - External Flash for the iPhone

iflash

When the iPhone’s initial specs were released by Apple, tons of users complained about its lack of a camera flash. Using a USB connector, 4 white LED’s, and a tact switch, I built a removable flash unit.

More after the jump.



flashnight

The LED’s are ~8000mcd 3mm white LEDs (T3 IIRC). You can get a set of 50 from ebay for less than $20. I had a bunch of them sitting around the house when I was struck with this idea.

carcharge

The connector is from a broken car charger. I was afraid that the car charger’s connector would only include pins for the + and - points on the iPod, and I was right. Luckily I was able to pull the pin in the + position out and stick it in the 3.3V out spot.

brightlight

So bright!

button

You turn the flash on by holding a small tact switch I installed in the hole where the cord used to be. Just hold down on the button and snap your picture - it’s that simple.

And of course some before/after shots from the iPhone’s camera itself:

beforeafter1 beforeafter2 beforeafter3

Of course, in a completely dark room, it lights up beautifully. Here’s my hall closet, which was originally solid black:

closet

I posted a brief how-to over at the forums, enjoy :)

-Joe

78 Responses to “iFlash - External Flash for the iPhone”

  1. Michael Says:

    Genius! Very useful. Can i have one?

  2. tech news blog » DIY iFlash for the iPhone Says:

    […] word of a crazy cool hack– using LEDs and a broken iPod car charger, he’s created what he has dubbed the iFlash– an external flash device for the iPhone’s […]

  3. BlogTrage » DIY iFlash for the iPhone Says:

    […] word of a crazy cool hack– using LCDs and a broken iPod car charger, he’s created what he has dubbed the iFlash– an external flash device for the iPhone’s […]

  4. feed me apple snacks » DIY iFlash for the iPhone Says:

    […] word of a crazy cool hack– using LCDs and a broken iPod car charger, he’s created what he has dubbed the iFlash– an external flash device for the iPhone’s […]

  5. Nmancer’s TekLog » Blog Archive » DIY iFlash For The iPhone Camera Says:

    […] word of a crazy cool hack– using LEDs and a broken iPod car charger, he’s created what he has dubbed the iFlash– an external flash device for the iPhone’s […]

  6. Alex Says:

    Do the dock cables that come with the 5th gen iPod have the required pins?

    there were 4 wires, none of them seem to provide +3.3v. and the entire thing is messed with hot glue :\

  7. Alex Says:

    I’m working on a version of this, i grabbed up 3 cheap iTalks ($10 a piece) since it came with a button already that seems to turn on/off but it seems it’s a tact switch as well.

    any ideas for maybe a toggle switch, that’s the same size as the tact switch config? (the case won’t hold some complex switch.

    I have a metal prong switch that’s tiny that fits in the hole where the headphone jack was but ehh, that’s kinda fugly :\ i wanna use the button. it is after all there.

    any ideas?

  8. Blog - iPod iPhone informacje … » iFlash - domowej roboty lampa błyskowa do iPhone Says:

    […] Pewien fan iPhiPhone one znany np. z stworzenia programu Ringtonator stworzył własnej roboty lampe błyskową do iPhone. Została zrobiona z czterech diód LED i wtyczki np. od ładowarki samochodowej. Trzeba przyzać, że zdjęcia w ciemnych pomieszczeniach wychodzą dużo lepiej Pełny opis i przykłady zdjęć na stronie stwórcy https://iphonexe.com/blog/?p=22 […]

  9. admin Says:

    Alex: what you want is a submini slide switch (I think this is the name). You can get them in various sizes, some as small as your fingernail and not very thick.

  10. Relentless Media » Flash for the iPhone camera Says:

    […] I’m sure we’ll see a cheapo “retail” version of this iPhone light amongst the metric tons of iPhone accessories, but for now here’s how to build your own - [via] Link. […]

  11. Roninuta Says:

    What brand of LED was used? You said 8000mcd right?

  12. Make: Blog » Flash for the iPhone camera Says:

    […] I’m sure we’ll see a cheapo “retail” version of this iPhone light amongst the metric tons of iPhone accessories, but for now here’s how to build your own […]

  13. Joe Says:

    Very well done… professional looking too… brilliant… you could use on a standard ipod as a torch too, brilliant….

  14. Jim Says:

    I built one a couple about a year ago for my hacked CVS one time use camcorder. its nice to see others using the end connector. http://homer8babs.googlepages.com/pictures http://homer8babs.googlepages.com/Dscf0017.jpg/Dscf0017-full.jpg http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=3157695 http://homer8babs.googlepages.com

  15. Snapshot Says:

    Clean up your freakin’ desk you slob :) Intuitive work.

  16. DIY-iFlash: Licht für die iPhone-Kamera at iPhone-Ticker :: Alles zum iPhone Says:

    […] von Joe auf iPhoneExe veröffentlichte Projekt, die im iPhone integrierte Kamera mit einer eigenen Lichtquelle zu versorgen hat uns so gut […]

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  18. iPhone- und iPod-Links vom Feiertag und heute bis jetzt… | iNews.de Says:

    […] Licht für die iPhone-Kamera    … via iPhone-Ticker.de […]

  19. B. Nolan McCoy Says:

    I can’t believe that there isn’t an accessory manufactuer that isn’t already doing this. I’d buy one (or two) if they were for sale.

  20. News » Blog Archive » iFlash For Your iPhone Camera Says:

    […]  iFlash - External Flash for the iPhone [iPhoneExe] […]

  21. omar Says:

    Are you gonna sell these on ebay? If not then you should

  22. iPhoneKing » iFlash - a detachable camera flash Says:

    […] Original post, with tons of pics. […]

  23. manuel Says:

    Can you sell this on ebay please????? there are some of us that are not pretty good modding but will love to have this

  24. Zombie kid Says:

    I like turtles

  25. Ali Akbar Says:

    Dude i am India. i Am kinda gettin use this I-Phone! its nice but really wanna know how to get these parts like the LED’s and the taqct switch.. And wat r the other think u invented for the I-Phone’s Purpose ??[:D] reallly,Do tell me!!

  26. iPhone Flash Mod — iPhoneskinning.com Says:

    […] when enough light is around but once it starts getting dark, the pictures get grainy really fast. iPhoneexe posted up a mod awhile back that utilizes LED’s, a tact switch and a dock connector to give […]

  27. Jacob Oravitz Says:

    Can someone make me one and sell it to me if so please email me at [email protected]

  28. iPhone downloads site Says:

    iPhone downloads site…

    I like this particular post and am browsing through your past ones. Great job!…

  29. .:. Blog Hugo Martins .:. Tecnologia, Informática, Papéis de Parede, Wallpaper, Lost, Heroes, Photoshop, Humor » As 43 mentiras sobre o Iphone 3G Says:

    […] A câmera só tem 2 megapixels, e não tem flash; Os megapixels não da pra mudar mas para o flash já inventaram uma solução […]

  30. [자작 소개] iFlash - 아이폰 카메라용 플래시/라이트 | 모바일로 여는 세상 - anytime, anywhere Says:

    […] 출처 : iphonexe 블로그의 글 iFlash - External Flash for the iPhone […]

  31. Macromedia Flash 8 Pro Says:

    Macromedia Flash 8 Pro…

    When the iPhone’s initial specs were released by Apple tons of users complained about its lack of a camera flash. Using a USB connector 4 white LED’s and a tact switch I built a removable flash unit.More after the jump.The LED’s are…..

  32. guyver Says:

    ok…that is a ghetto flash. might as well use a flashlight. iphone users…just wait for the next iphone with a powerful flash…if apple includes it.

  33. guyver Says:

    that is a ghetto flash. might as well use a flashlight. iphone users..just wait for the third iphone with a powrful flash, if apple includes it.

  34. Eric Says:

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  37. Paul Sumner Says:

    Hey Joe, not sure if your reading this but I have bought some parts to build a few of these, would you object to me selling them on ebay? We may be able to come to some arrangement.

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  39. Josh Says:

    The only thing I’m worried about is that we don’t know the maximum current pin 18 can handle before something inside the iPhone overloads. 10ohms is very VERY little resistance, and a diode with no resistance might as well be a short circuit. I like the idea a lot, but unless you know the maximum current capacity of pin 18, I think you’re asking for trouble.

  40. nasar Says:

    hi there,

    i’m from singapore, was wondering if have you started shipment? i would like to know how much will it cost for me in total* if i were to buy one from you?

    let me know,

    *shipping cost + item..

    thank you, nasar

  41. Glyn Says:

    Brilliant. Apple take note, this is what the people want from the next iphone.

  42. SilentMac Design » Blog Archive » Being Published Says:

    […] plug but it is difficult for obvious reasons :P. My contribution to the book came in the form of a blog post I wrote about iFlash - a useful little device I hacked together one day that serves as an external […]

  43. Tyler Says:

    Go to barns and noble look for stuff like mac for dummies or windows (whatever flavor) for dummies and then look for iPhone hacks it’s a thick white book (paper back) and it’s in the back of the book (past index) and the same exact thing and it’s a guide with the pinout! This guy say this was his doing but unless he wrote the book (which he didn’t) he’s lying his butt off.

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  46. chris Says:

    Is anybody selling any of these? Where can i get them?

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  53. Morten Skogly Says:

    Love it! I have to try this!

    I think it would be great if the LEDs where on a longer cable, so you could hold it in one hand and the phone in the other perhaps. I made a macro lens for my phone yesterday ( http://pappmaskin.no/2009/09/diyhow-to-make-your-own-iphone-macro-lens/ ) but I find it hard to light the object I’m taking a picture of. Just one led on a longer cord would give me a lot of plexibility in ways to light things in cool ways, or perhaps even several leds on separate cables to put light sources on lets say four sides of an object.

    Nice work, I’m bookmarking this for later.

  54. scott Says:

    is it just me or does the iphone come up short on loads of things , jesus, a flash for craps sake !. think i might revert to my nokia

  55. Jay Says:

    Do you sell these?

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