AP Camera Systems has launched the indie, a photo/video accessory for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. It provides image control and optimized camera operation features.

Manufactured in the USA from CAD drawings guiding CNC machines, each indie is produced from a solid block of aerospace grade aluminum. This allows the indie to securely carry the iPhone in a tailored compartment behind a magnetically closed sliding door, according to the folks at AP Camera Systems.The indie offers complete access to the touch screen, home button, headphone/microphone jack, top mic, dock connector port, bottom microphone and speaker, and both the front and rear facing cameras.

With the iPhone accessory's "on center" design, wherever you point your arm your lens will follow, which simplifies things like hand held news shots, fast moving action or self-recording while video blogging.

The indie sports a standard 37mm accessory lens mount, but also boasts 15mm rails or rods. Common in professional film making and popular among HDSLR users, rails provide the means to install matte boxes (and the use of graduated filters), shoulder mounts, custom handle rigs, flags and more. This is in addition to the cold shoe mount centered directly above the lens and eight industry standard ¼-20 threads arrayed over the top, down the left side and across the bottom of each indie.

Included with each indie is a matching black handle milled from solid aerospace grade aluminum. With a ¼-20 thread on the bottom, it can double as a height extender. The indie plus handle combination weigh 2.75 pounds. Finish and color choices for the indie are black with either an anodized or powder coat finish; all doors will be anodized black.

The indie is available for pre-order for US$199.95 (plus shipping and handling) by customers in the U.S. at http://aeronauticpictures.com/camera-systems/ . International orders will follow shortly. Shipments will begin in 6-8 weeks from date of pre-order.