Smartphones today have cameras that rival all but the highest quality DSLRs. With a little practice, even an amateur photographer will be able to take professional-grade pictures with just their camera.
It gets even easier when you think of the many detachable portable phone lenses. Many of them simply attach to your phone and fit in your pocket, so you can take them anywhere without having to resort to a dedicated camera bag.
We’ve researched the market and collected the best camera attachments for phones to help you play Instagram.
Olloclip ( Amazon. )
Olloclip was one of the first manufacturers of iPhone camera accessories. The company produces clips for a wide variety of phones, from iPhone 8 to X.
While earlier models are no longer in production, the smart shopper can still dig out lens caps for the iPhone 6. The most recent iteration is for the iPhone X and includes a 15x macro lens, a Fish-Eye lens, and a Super-Wide lens.
Olloclip also manufactures other accessories such as pens and cases. If you’re looking to get into photography without the hassle, Olloclip is a great place to start if you’re an iPhone user.
Moment ( buy from the moment )
If you are a serious photographer, then Moment is the company for you. Moment is focused on high quality mobile photography equipment and their prices reflect that.
While Olloclip can sell a complete set of lenses for about $ 90, a single lens from Moment can cost over $ 120. Moment sells everything a photographer could need, from an 18mm wide-angle lens to a 62mm UV filter.
Moment also sells counterweight hangers and lighting accessories. Apart from photography equipment, the Moment Pro Camera app is one of the most versatile and powerful camera apps available for iPhone users.
It changes the basic functions of your phone’s camera and provides full manual control over ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and more.
Aoki Aura ( Amazon. )
If Olloclip is a simple solution for taking photos from your phone, then the Aukey Ora series is the budget version. For just $ 19.99, users get a two-in-one lens kit that includes a 140-degree wide-angle lens and a 10x macro lens. The lenses attach easily to your phone, making it easy to swap between the two types.
The downside is that the Aukey Ora only works with iPhone 6, 7 and 8, Samsung phones, and “other Android smartphones.” To find out if it works with your device, you might have to dig a little. The only thing that no one can argue about is quality. The Aukey has excellent photographic performance at such a low price.
Sony QX10 & QX100 ( Amazon. )
Sony has long been known for its quality cameras, but the QX10 and QX100 definitely fall into the “experimental” category. Sold as smartphone cameras, they actually use the phone itself as a viewfinder.
The lens communicates with the phone and gives the user complete control. While you can purchase clips to attach the lens to your phone, this isn’t always the most elegant solution.
On the other hand, the specs of these cameras are impressive. The QX10 offers a 10x zoom while the QX100 has a significantly higher spec with a 20MP sensor and 1.8 aperture for low light shooting. These are not the cheapest solutions, but if you love Sony cameras and want a portable solution, the QX10 and QX100 may be for you.
Advice for Android users
If you search for phone camera lenses, most of the results will be for iPhone. Android cameras are powerful, but Apple has done a fantastic job of promoting its phone lineup as the best camera of any phone.
As a result, many manufacturers are targeting their hardware for iPhone users. With a little digging, however, you should be able to find a lens that fits your phone’s camera if you have a regular Android device.
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