Mojave Aster, Xylorhiza tortifolia
About 18 months ago I bought the Olloclip 3-in-1 lens, and sometimes I actually remember to use it. It clips on the corner of your iPhone, offering macro, wide angle and fisheye lenses. I also bought the 2X Telephoto with polarizing filter, and a case which has the corner flip up so you can slip the lens on. It all fits in one pocket with the phone (at least the iPhone 5S, I haven't tried that with the 6+ yet).
The lenses run about $70, making the 3-in-1 under $25 per lens, and they come with lens covers and soft bags so you can put them in your pockets.. I was able to pick up the telephoto with the flip-up hard case for $99. There are also versions designed for several Android phones.
You can't expect DSLR-quality from a $25-70 lens, but having the ability to extend the usable range of your cell phone's camera can offer you perspectives and images not possible any other way.
Many of the lenses are unsharp, especially towards the corners. A fisheye in general distorts a scene. This one is blurry around the edge of the circle, and the image circle extends past the edge of the sensor. This is actually a good decision, since that maximizes the len's use of the rectangular sensor. The phone has trouble focusing with the macro on, even when using the Olloclip app, and the depth of field is very shallow, so small movements in the phone or subject make it even harder, so you may end up taking several photos to get a sharp one with the focus where you want it.. But again, to be able to extend the phone's capabilities at all and quickly capture shots not practical any other way, I find the macro and fisheye lenses particularly useful. One of these days I'll post a thorough review to my blog with lots of sample images.
I recently bought the equivalent lenses for the iPhone 6+, and they seem to be a step up in sharpness with less distortion. Other manufacturers are entering this market, so that competition will continue to drive quality up while holding prices to a reasonable level.
It is said that the best camera for the job is the one that's in your hand, and as the quality of mobile phone cameras increases, more and more often the camera in your hand ends up being your phone. Just as interchangeable lenses add value to a DSLR system, add-on lenses are becoming an increasingly useful accessory for extending the usefulness of your mobile phone's camera.
Mojave Aster, Xylorhiza tortifolia
About 18 months ago I bought the Olloclip 3-in-1 lens, and sometimes I actually remember to use it. It clips on the corner of your iPhone, offering macro, wide angle and fisheye lenses. I also bought the 2X Telephoto with polarizing filter, and a case which has the corner flip up so you can slip the lens on. It all fits in one pocket with the phone (at least the iPhone 5S, I haven't tried that with the 6+ yet).
The lenses run about $70, making the 3-in-1 under $25 per lens, and they come with lens covers and soft bags so you can put them in your pockets.. I was able to pick up the telephoto with the flip-up hard case for $99. There are also versions designed for several Android phones.
You can't expect DSLR-quality from a $25-70 lens, but having the ability to extend the usable range of your cell phone's camera can offer you perspectives and images not possible any other way.
Many of the lenses are unsharp, especially towards the corners. A fisheye in general distorts a scene. This one is blurry around the edge of the circle, and the image circle extends past the edge of the sensor. This is actually a good decision, since that maximizes the len's use of the rectangular sensor. The phone has trouble focusing with the macro on, even when using the Olloclip app, and the depth of field is very shallow, so small movements in the phone or subject make it even harder, so you may end up taking several photos to get a sharp one with the focus where you want it.. But again, to be able to extend the phone's capabilities at all and quickly capture shots not practical any other way, I find the macro and fisheye lenses particularly useful. One of these days I'll post a thorough review to my blog with lots of sample images.
I recently bought the equivalent lenses for the iPhone 6+, and they seem to be a step up in sharpness with less distortion. Other manufacturers are entering this market, so that competition will continue to drive quality up while holding prices to a reasonable level.
It is said that the best camera for the job is the one that's in your hand, and as the quality of mobile phone cameras increases, more and more often the camera in your hand ends up being your phone. Just as interchangeable lenses add value to a DSLR system, add-on lenses are becoming an increasingly useful accessory for extending the usefulness of your mobile phone's camera.