The camera lens on the iPhone 4/4S does a fine job for a mobile device. But as a photographer who’s used to having options I sometimes want a wider angle or tighter close-up shots. This is why I decided to try the Olloclip – a 3-in-1 lens that includes a fisheye, wide angle, and macro lens. But you don’t need to be a photographer to enjoy this cool little lens from the invention team Patrick O’Neill and Chong Pak. You just need around $70. You can buy the Olloclip 3-in-1 Lens for iPhone 4 & iPhone 4S at Amazon.com
Here’s how they describe it on their website–
The olloclip is a quick-connect lens solution for the iPhone 4/4S that includes fisheye,wide-angle and macro lenses in one small, convenient package that easily fits in your pocket. Nestled in the palm of your hand, the olloclip connects to the iPhone within seconds so you’ll be sure to capture the image you want…if you don’t see the picture you’re looking for just flip it over to switch lenses.
The Fisheye lens captures approximately a 180 Degree field-of-view and produces some striking images. The Wide-Angle lens is great for when you need that extra field of view, approximately double that of the normal iPhone.The Macro lens applies roughly a 10X multiplier and allows you to focus the iPhone within 12-15mm of the subject. The Macro lens is cleverly concealed within the olloclip and can be accessed by unscrewing the Wide-Angle lens that is normally attached to it.
The olloclip ships with a carrying bag made from a microfiber material that doubles as a lens cleaner and conveniently holds the supplied-lens caps or the Wide-Angle lens when removed for Macro shots.
Unfortunately it does cover your flash, however, that’s not a problem for some people. Personally I am not a fan of the flash anyway. And yes, you can take video with this lens attached – it simply slides onto your iPhone over your camera.
PROS:
- Small, portable and lightweight.
- Very easy to use, just slide it onto your iPhone 4/4S over the camera lens.
- No noticeable degradation in image quality.
- Well made, well designed.
CONS:
- The $69 price may be off-putting for some.
- Very easy to get your fingerprints on the lens, but that’s what the included microfiber cloth bag is for.
- Covers the flash – that might bother some users.
One other thing to be aware of is that when using the Fisheye lens you will see vignetting or an offset shift which will vary from phone to phone. However, in video mode the iPhone 4′s crop-factor does away with the shift.
This lens is a lot of fun. I haven’t tried any of the other comparable aftermarket lenses for comparison, but I am pretty happy with this one so far. The easy-on/easy-off/easy-flip design is a plus for ease of use. The microfiber pouch is a nice touch and helps keep your glass clean. I don’t go anywhere without my Olloclip now. You can order the Olloclip on AMAZON or check your local Apple Store like I did and pick one up. If you love taking photos with your iPhone and want to add some new perspectives, I recommend you pick one up too.
This is what a wide-angle view looks like. Despite the expected distortion, you get some wide coverage.
I think the macro lens is my favorite of the three.
Wide angle lens - view of the back seat in a mid-size SUV.
Wide angle lens used here. The closer you are to your subject, the more distortion you get. An inherent trait with a wide angle lens.
The Fisheye lens is fun to use, especially for tight spaces like this play tunnel.
There is vignetting though when using the Fisheye lens. If it bothers you, just crop it out using the iPhone's "edit" function. Or use any photo editor you want.
Macro! Yes, this is from a fortune cookie.
The macro lens is used here for the back of the little iPod Shuffle.
A macro shot of the Apple key or Command key on a Mac keyboard.
Macro shot of a cardboard box. You can really start to see those fibers.
by Armin
no comments