AI-powered Alice Camera with M43 hardware nears delivery with perfect timing to combat new SwitchLens competition

The Micro Four Thirds system has often been seen by its fanbase as the sweet spot between compact and powerful, and it seems as though this notion is catching on in the mobile photography space. There are now two companies making Micro Four Thirds smartphone camera accessories. SwitchLens recently announced a new Kickstarter campaign to fund its version of the Micro Four Thirds smartphone camera, while Alice Camera just revealed that it is ready to start shipping units to early backers.

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What is the Alice Camera?

The Alice Camera is a project by London-based Photogram LTD that aims to deliver more power than a smartphone camera without compromising too much on size or portability.

The experience of a phone, the quality of a DSLR. The camera for creators.

In short, The Alice Camera is sort of a headless Micro Four Thirds camera — complete with a sensor, lens mount, and image processors — that mounts to the back of your smartphone and is controlled wirelessly via a smartphone app.

The big news for today is that the Alice Camera is now ready to start shipping after a three-year stint on Indiegogo, although the expected shipping date is still listed as August 2024.

The Alice Camera features a Sony IMX294 sensor [PDF], which is limited to just 10.7 MP, falling somewhat short of the standard 16–25 MP sensors found in most modern Micro Four Thirds cameras. This is, however, the same sensor as found in the Panasonic Lumix GH5 (curr. $1,797.99 on Amazon), which should be a point of pride. Given Alice's focus on video creation, however, this is something of an ideal choice, since the sensor is at least capable of 4K output at 120 fps — although Alice tops out at 4K 30 fps.

The large pixels should also be a sight for sore eyes in low-light scenarios, as is evidenced by the sensor samples on AstroBin. Alice Camera also features all manner of computational photography and AI tricks, which have proven themselves to be fairly impressive in a handful of reviews on YouTube.

Unfortunately for those who like the tactile experience of shooting with a “real” camera, Alice only has a single button, with the rest of the features controlled by the companion app. Although production units are being prepared for shipping, the Alice Camera is still available for pre-order on Indiegogo for $764, with a planned release price of $955.

SwitchLens offers competition with a sharper sensor

SwitchLens, which we covered here, is a project similar to the Alice Camera, in that it aims to turn your smartphone into a more powerful digital camera by attaching a sensor, image processor, and Micro Four Thirds lens mount to the back of the phone.

By default, SwitchLens uses a 21 MP 1-inch typ. sensor, but that can be upgraded to a full-fledged Sony IMX472 stacked BSI Micro Four Thirds sensor [PDF] for an additional $99. According to AstroBin, this is the same sensor as the one found in the OM System OM-1 (curr. $2,199.99 on Amazon).

The upgraded M43 sensor also means SwitchLens has phase-detect autofocus, which the Alice Camera does not, thanks to its older sensor tech.

SwitchLens also targets iPhone users more specifically with MagSafe and Qi2 magnetic ring compatibility for attachment to the phone — although all those complaints of Apple MagSafe wallets falling off the backs of iPhones might be cause for concern.

Similarly to the Alice Camera, SwitchLens has no display and relies on an app for camera configuration. SwitchLens claims to already have a reliable manufacturing partner and aims to be production-ready by November 2024. Currently, SwitchLens is asking $199 for the body only pledge, which it estimates will have an MSRP of $329. That means a Micro Four Thirds sensor-equipped SwitchLens will come in at $298 — significantly cheaper than Alice Camera.

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