Customer Reviews

Griffin Clarifi with EasyDock for iPhone 3G, 3G S (Black)

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought this for my iPhone 3G-S. I didn't realize it already takes great close-up shots. I couldn't tell a difference. I gave it to my son to use on his iPhone 3G and it made a nice improvement in close-up photos, although not quite as good as the iPhone 3G-S alone. The lens seems to lock in place, but it doesn't snap in place. It should protect your iPhone from scratches, but don't expect it to provide a lot of impact protection.

I found this case to be the perfect form factor between the floppy silicone covers and the bulkier plastic cases. I was actually surprised that it added little to my phone's thickness and feel, as the plastic cases I've seen here in Japan tend to do. The phone slides in nice and snug, and though the bottom piece doesn't "click" in place, it feels very secure. The sliding lens is a great idea, and does provide a significant improvement in close-up shots, which I use a lot to record receipts or other printed notes using evernote. The only cons are that the lens itself slides freely without a good lock at either end (not a problem when taking pics because you will quickly see if it's blocking the view), and the mid-piece is a similar gloss to the phone itself, showing scratches quite easily. These are minor issues, though, and I would highly recommend this case.

** lens slides freely, does not lock into position
** lens aligns poorly and is too small, vignetting evident
** cover extends over front bezel
** --avoid.


I love the idea. With lots of apps that can take input such as wine labels, book covers, or upc codes, the iPhone could really benefit from being able to take such pics directly. And the solution Griffin came up with is fantastic. It's not exactly high-tech imaging, but it doesn't need to be for this purpose (besides the iphone's camera is pretty lack lustre anyway).

Sadly they blew the execution. The lens flops around freely, there is no significant friction or indentation to keep it in either position. I can't imagine how they let this slip (excuse pun). The lens is also a bit too small, there is vignetting in all 4 corners. I could let this go, except that the lens does not line up with the camera very well. If there had been a bit of margin regarding the lens diameter, then this alignment issue wouldn't really matter.

Minor: The case itself is a bit bulkier than I care for / am used to. It's a small thing, but the case wraps up over the chrome bezel. There's no need to do this. As many other covers have shown you can stop shortly past the rounded edge. Having the cover extend onto the front as this one does makes it slightly more difficult to use the phone with one hand. Like I said, not a major thing, but a needless annoyance.

If Griffin can fix these few things I would think this could be a nearly perfect cover. As is.... save your money.

I was always frustrated that the iPhone camera couldn't take clear close-up pictures for things like text & barcodes. The Clarifi fixed that. It's a neat trick, and I use it regularly. Now, admittedly, the Snappr pricing service is picky about receiving barcodes -- they need to be taken in good light -- but Evernote, the online notekeeper, does real well with business cards and such taken with the iPhone + Clarifi. And Griffin makes well-designed products with good material. I like it!

I bought this case for my husband's iphone. The camera lens cover is a nice feature and works well, which is the only reason this case gets two stars from me. I figured that, at some point, my husband would drop his phone. However, I did not expect this so-called "super-protective case" (phrase lifted directly from the product description) to fail as spectacularly as it did.

I saw my husband's phone fall as he lifted his shirt up from a low folding chair. Total drop was about 18 inches onto a linoleum floor, with the phone hitting at an angle on one of the corners. A slight drop onto a surface that was not super-hard, and the screen cracked despite the "super-protective case." There is no impact protection from this case whatsoever. The little jelly case I got for my own iphone (under $2 shipped) is every bit as protective as this one.

This case will help you take closer pictures with you camera. It probably will help prevent scratches (like my jelly case). It will not protect against anything else.

The Clarifi case is another great product from the folks at Griffin, but it still has its faults.

The case does add a significant amount of bulk to the phone. It might not look that way if you see the case in person, but it adds an ounce or two as well as some girth. It's thick enough that it won't work in most docks without removing the bottom piece, which is a pain. After using the Clarifi for a couple months now, I yearn for a simple silicone case. The darn thing was so expensive though!

In addition to the above, the biggest issues for me with this case are that the lens doesn't lock and that the lens itself is prone to dust and dirt. A lens lock would have been a simple solution - my lens is now loose enough that if I am taking pictures in landscape, it randomly slides down in the middle of composition.

I keep my iPhone in my pocket, which means my phone usually falls victim to a decent amount of pocket lint. To keep the lens clean, I've started an almost-weekly routine of trying to get all the dirt and dust out with a cotton swab, which is not easy, due to the way the lens itself is constructed. A simple clear piece of plastic in the right place would keep the lens a lot cleaner.

Also, I was surprised how scratched up the glossy back of the case became after just a week of use; it's a shame that the Griffin folks didn't choose to use the rubber coating around the entire back of the case.

For its faults, the case is very nice. The lens is a clever trick that works well for macro shots, and the case protects the phone well.

This case offers little protection and the back side is prone to scratches. You have to slide the iPhone into the case and it creased the protective film that comes with it. All of the buttons are recessed because of the design of the case, making them more difficult to access. I am really disappointed with it and went back to my Incipio case.

Very disappointed in this purchased (not Amazon's fault though). According to the iPhone application "Snabiz" you have to purchase this "Griffin-Clarfi" for iPhone 3G in order for the applicaiton to work properly. Well, if you can get the little view finder with Macro lens to hold still while attempting to take a picture then good luck. Griffin should have devised a locking mechanism to keep the lens from sliding back and forth with the slightest movement. Then comes the actual ability for the picture clarity to do its thing in order for the application with its built-in "Tesseract" OCR engine software to work. Well that's a joke too-cause it doesn't work well at all! Although not Griffin or Amazon's fault either, just a point that made whole ordeal a waste of time and expence. Two stars due to best price of the Griffin only.

I was really up in the air about getting the Clarifi or a Incase Slider or possibly the Agent18 case. Overall after reading tons of reviews and looking at youtube comparisons video's I decided on the Clarifi. I am really happy with the choice, the close up lens is nice but certainly was not a factor in my purchase, I knew I wanted a Slider type Carbonate case and the Clarifi seemed to edge all the others out, based on fitting the iphone properly, lasting long and being a complete package.
The Clarifi is sleek, it adds about 1mm to all sides of the phone and it hides the Silver band perfectly giving the iphone an even more professional look. I am able to still get my phone into my DLO hipcase, so I can carry it on my belt, although I must admit its a bit tighter, but I suspect the leather will stretch out over the next few weeks and all should be well.
If you want a very low profile case that actually makes the iphone look better, the Clarifi is a good choice.

The Griffin 8245 Clarifi is an excellent iPhone case. It is sturdy, strong, lightweight, and very aesthetically pleasing. The Clarifi lense does not work miracles, but it does exactly what it's advertised to do: make small text and close up shots look clearer. The only frustration so far is when taking the case apart and putting it back together. When joining the two part case, the top section tends to dislodge the screen protector. This is not a big deal at all, as holding the screen protector down while installing the case eliminates the problem.

Bottom line: Great case - looks good, protects your phone, and provides a much needed boost to the iPhone's picture quality.