Transforming your smartphone into a real camera is no longer a pipe dream! Indeed, there are now lenses for cell phones. There are macros, wide-angles and fisheyes. But most models are not universal. Our comparison guide of the best cell phone lenses will help you choose.
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Our selection
"If you are a photography enthusiast, the Luxsure lens represents the best for iPhones. It can support different types of iPhone like iPhoneX, 8 plus,…"
"A fan of macros? The Apexel Macro Lens 2-in-1 smartphone lens is for you! The universal clip makes it easy to install. In addition, it…"
"The Sirui 18-WA2 is simple at first glance, but it allows you to have very good shots on smartphone. Precision being the key word of…"
"In order to perfect your shots, do not hesitate to invest in this Yarrashop lens kit. You'll be among the best without difficulty with its…"
"The Apexel only offers a macro lens. However, the manufacturer's efforts are focused on this feature so that users can fully exploit the sensor of…"
If you are a photography enthusiast, the Luxsure lens represents the best for iPhones. It can support different types of iPhone like iPhoneX, 8 plus, etc.
27,19 £ on AmazonCompact, the lens for iPhone Luxsure is also ergonomic. It does not risk to scratch your device, because it is equipped with a small protective pad. Moreover, it is easily installed thanks to a clip of fixing. In addition, this 3-in-1 device comes with a 0.6x wide-angle lens, a 15x macro lens and a 0.28x fish-eye lens. The wide-angle lens offers a wider view.
As for the macro lens, it will suffice to position it as close as possible to the object to be photographed, between 5 and 10 cm, to obtain an exceptional rendering. As for the fisheye, it allows you to take clear and sharp shots by scanning so that the image is not blurred.
A fan of macros? The Apexel Macro Lens 2-in-1 smartphone lens is for you! The universal clip makes it easy to install. In addition, it allows to highlight all the details of the images.
16,88 £ on AmazonThe Apexel Macaro Lens 2-in-1 is suitable for many brands of smartphones. It can be clipped onto Apple, Samsung, HTC and Xiami models. The 12x and 24x macros allow for considerable image magnification. Even more so if your smartphone can zoom into the image.
Even with geometric distortion, the center of the image remains usable. This makes the Apexel Macaro Lens 2-in-1 a real microscope! You can use it to see details of 1mm micro electronic components. And for best results, add a rechargeable LED light ring. This prevents the shadow of the smartphone and the accessory on the photographed object.
The Sirui 18-WA2 is simple at first glance, but it allows you to have very good shots on smartphone. Precision being the key word of the brand, enjoy a focal length of 18 mm.
39,01 £ on AmazonExplore new imaging horizons with this Sirui 18-WA2 wide-angle lens. This concentrate of technologies will allow you to take photos and videos of very good quality. In addition, the lenses made of multi-coated glass that compose it have undergone an anti-reflection coating beforehand. Moreover, this model is universally compatible with a multitude of smartphones.
What makes this accessory so practical is the fact that it can be easily installed with a clip. In addition, it comes with a case to protect it from scratches and dust when you are not using it. Well positioned on your smartphone, it offers a viewing angle of 100 °. Finally, thanks to its 6 lenses, the optical distortion is less and around 3% at most.
In order to perfect your shots, do not hesitate to invest in this Yarrashop lens kit. You'll be among the best without difficulty with its powerful anti-distortion system integrated.
27,19 £ on AmazonMake a difference with this sleek and stylish looking device. Its beautiful black color will match your smartphone. Plus, you'll be able to install it with a simple touch of your fingers in no time. Moreover, it is quite sturdy thanks to the aluminum alloy that makes up its frame.
However, you will notice the tinting of the glasses that reduces the reflections as much as possible when you take pictures against the light. As a result, you'll get a more lifelike rendering of all your shots. From a technical point of view, this lens is suitable for various smartphones such as Samsung Galaxy, iPad, iPhone X, 8, 7, 6, 6S Plus and many others.
The Apexel only offers a macro lens. However, the manufacturer's efforts are focused on this feature so that users can fully exploit the sensor of their iPhone.
35,99 £ on AmazonThis 100mm macro lens by Apexel is made of anti-glare glass. It is therefore not sensitive to reflections. Thanks to this marvel, Apexel transforms your iPhone into an SLR camera, the perfect tool for photography requiring considerable magnification.
It is used to capture flowers and insects or to highlight a detail on an object. In addition, it is a perfect tool for indoor use. In any case, the photos are high resolution for a focal length of 40 to 70 mm. In addition, the design is one of its strong points. Not to mention the metal clip.
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The best smartphone lens in 2021
The best entry-level smartphone lens
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| THE BEST | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | POLYVALENT | ALTERNATIVE | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
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| OUR SELECTION |
Luxsure - Professional HD Lens for iPhone
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Apexel Macro Lens 2-in-1
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Sirui 18-WA2
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Yarrashop - Lens kit for smartphone
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Apexel - Clip-on HD macro lens
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If you are a photography enthusiast, the Luxsure lens represents the best for iPhones. It can support different types of iPhone like iPhoneX, 8 plus, etc.
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A fan of macros? The Apexel Macro Lens 2-in-1 smartphone lens is for you! The universal clip makes it easy to install. In addition, it allows to highlight all the details of the images.
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The Sirui 18-WA2 is simple at first glance, but it allows you to have very good shots on smartphone. Precision being the key word of the brand, enjoy a focal length of 18 mm.
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In order to perfect your shots, do not hesitate to invest in this Yarrashop lens kit. You'll be among the best without difficulty with its powerful anti-distortion system integrated.
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The Apexel only offers a macro lens. However, the manufacturer's efforts are focused on this feature so that users can fully exploit the sensor of their iPhone.
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Performances
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Compatibility
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iPhone X, 8, 8 plus, 7, 7 plus, 6, 6 plus, 5, 5S, 4, Android smartphones, Samsung, Huawei, etc
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Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus / S6 Edge / S6 / S5 / S4 / S3 / A7 / A5, Galaxy note 5/4/3/2, Blackberry Bold touch, Sony Xperia, Motorola Droid, etc.
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Samsung, iPhone, Huawei and all other smartphones
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Samsung Galaxy, iPad, iPhone X, 8, 7, 6, 6S Plus, Blackberry, Sony Xperia, Nexus, ViVo,Xiaomi, etc.
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iPhone X, iPhone 8, 8 Plus, iPhone 7, 7 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6 Plus
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Fisheye lens
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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230°
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Fixing
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Clip
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Universal clip
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Clip
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Universal clip
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Pinch
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Carrying case
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Whether you want to buy a smartphone or a camera, optical quality is one of the most important variables. Optical quality, here, highlights the quality of the lenses used in front of the sensor. If these are low-end, the image will be the same, despite a high definition resolution. This situation, phone manufacturers like Samsung and Apple are well aware of.
Once the focal length issue is resolved, it is the aperture that needs to be focused on. In any model, and even for phones, this lens aperture is mentioned by an f with a number added to it. For a simpler interpretation, just think that the lower the value, the more light the sensor will collect, resulting in a better quality image. At the same time, you'll be able to take pictures in darker areas without having to use your flash.
Before being recorded, a photo taken on the phone goes through several stages. Thanks to vigorous, high-quality algorithms, the data taken and then emitted by the sensor is translated into a JPEG image. But this processing is not so simple. On the one hand, the image is first compacted into pixels. On the other hand, the algos separate it from certain components of the smartphone, which, as far as you know, emit electrical noise that can alter the process. The isolation of these components then becomes paramount.
This parameter differs from one brand to another. Of course, it is an added value for a device. Nevertheless, there is no guarantee that a 20MP sensor will have a sharper image compared to a 10MP model. The clarity and the absence of digital noise are mainly due to the quality of the components of the camera, regardless of its brand.
Make the most of your smartphone's built-in camera with the smartphone lens. Attached to the base camera area of your cell phone, the smartphone lens allows you to change the focal length of your smartphone's classic lens. Indeed, it allows you to take better shots farther or closer than what you can do with your cell phone.
This accessory is therefore very useful because when you zoom in with a smartphone, the pixels of poor image quality become clearly visible. The first thing to do before installing your lens is to clean your phone camera well if you want to get a nice image. You will also need to clean your lens afterwards. Next, you need to choose the right lens for the type of picture you want to take.
And finally, you need to make sure that your lens is properly positioned to avoid shadows. Like any other accessory, the smartphone lens requires maintenance and cleaning. It should not be neglected if you want to increase its longevity, moreover, it is not complicated. You do not need to bring a special product to do this. A cloth soaked in mild nail polish remover will do the trick. What you need to do is wipe the cloth soaked in mild nail polish remover over your lens without getting the cloth wet.
Also, make sure that the edges are well scrubbed. To check if it is well cleaned, you can take a before and after picture and you will see that the two pictures are not the same.
light reflections, the smartphone macro lens magnifies the objects it captures. Using this lens allows you to get a detailed shot. In other words, it easily detects objects at a certain distance. Its use allows you to obtain sharp and high quality images without the need for retouching.
On the other hand, the smartphone macro lens has a beautiful design. And when you are not using it, you can put it in a pouch to keep it safe from dust. However, the macro lens you are interested in may not be suitable for your smartphone0. Sometimes, the smartphone macro lens may cause black shadows to appear on the screen. Also, you cannot capture an object at minus 30mm.
The optical zoom allows you to get closer to the image to be captured. Its effect is quite different than a digital zoom for a smartphone. The optical zoom maintains the quality of the image by enlarging it with these lenses as simply zooming in with your phone can affect the quality of the images.
The optical zoom for smartphone provides quality images with a larger size. But you should note that it can have poor light sensitivity. In fact, if you take a picture without natural daylight, it will not be as good. In addition, it is difficult to frame perfectly and adjust the sharpness. On the other hand, the smartphone optical zoom is not for expert users.
These 2 lenses for smartphones have each their utility to embellish the quality of your images taken with a smartphone. Opt for a macro lens to get a detailed shot on your cell phone. If you want to take a picture from a certain distance, an optical zoom lens will better suit your needs.
A 2 in 1 device
After the multifunctional furniture, it is the phone's turn to be multifunctional. Indeed, the integration of the camera in its options facilitates the task to many people. Today, you can become a professional photographer simply by using your phone. Image quality, resolution, all the features are there. Not to mention the current trend of selfies, which can only be taken with a smartphone.
Goodbye clutter
A conventional camera weighs about 1.5 kg. Apart from the protective cover, it takes up a certain amount of space in the travel bag. The phone lens allows you to go on vacation lightly (yes, they weigh only 30 g on average). Thus, it fits perfectly with the slim phone, which is the current trend.
Minimum risk
Apart from the waterproof versions, most of the cameras found in shopping malls are sensitive in many ways. Thus, unless there are special events, we hesitate to use it, for fear that it will be damaged by a shock, dust, or by the drops of summer rain. Instead, a phone does the trick. It is doubly cheaper, more practical and, above all, easy to repair if necessary.
Store your lenses in a lens case
Whether they go everywhere with you or sit in a drawer at home, your lenses are always exposed to dust. As this dust accumulates, it can affect their operation. It is therefore necessary to store your lenses in a cover. Moreover, the latter will also protect them against scratches.
Do not use the digital zoom
Even if a smartphone lens allows you to improve the performance of your camera, it is still wise not to use the digital zoom. Indeed, the latter is known to destroy the quality of photos. The best option is to move around if you want to get a closer picture of the subject.
Get a special lens cap to attach the lens
The problem with clip-on lenses is that they are not very stable and you sometimes have trouble aligning them properly with your smartphone lens. To remedy this, consider getting a special shell on which to attach the lens. Some cases even include a system for hanging it around the neck.
Avoid fisheye lenses to make a professional video
With their spherical, black-rimmed rendering, fisheye lenses are not at all ideal for shooting professional video. This distorted effect is more for video or fun photos. For professional video, the lenses to go for are wide-angles and telephoto lenses.
Think of the support
As you've already decided to invest in smartphone lenses, why not also buy other essential accessories for professional photography, including the mount? This is a tabletop tripod with a special head to attach your smartphone. Thanks to this stand, you will benefit from a better optical stabilization.
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