There are hundreds of iPhone accessories available on the market. Most of which are cases, screen protectors, portable speakers and docks and clip on camera lenses. I’ve seen these clip on camera lens before, but I never really thought of them as any good. I find myself asking why would any one use such an add-on? They are often too bulky and the lens would protrude outwards making your iPhone look … odd and ugly!
Believe it or not, avid users of these clip-on photos lenes have produced some stunning photos using their iPhone … photos you thought not possible, such as macro shots, fish-eye and even photos with reduced glare (using a polarized lens). No software was used to manipulate the photos. The photos were taken directly using the iPhone plus the photos lenes add-on. Surely this is not possible … I’m still skeptical.
To prove me wrong, Olloclip decides to send me a sample to try. The version I received was the Olloclip 3-In-One Photo Lens for iPhone 5
Here’s a little about the product taken from Olloclip’s website …
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What is Olloclip? he olloclip is a quick-connect lens solution for the iPhone 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 olloclip comes with Fisheye, Wide-Angle & Macro lenses, lens caps for both ends, a microfiber lens cleaning cloth that is also a bag that you can put the olloclip in to keep it safe, a small users guide that you will not need because it is so easy to use, and last but not least some cards to hand out to people that ask you about the olloclip while you are out using it. We guarantee you will need these! |
I’ll be testing the Olloclip by taking various photos using my friend’s iPhone 5 (yes, I don’t have one!). If the photos taken by Olloclip are as good as they say they are … then we would really like to see them for ourselves. According to Olloclip, they’ve have won lots of praises from numerous websites, including the Register and Wired Magazine. Let’s see if they can a recommendation from us too 😉
Features and Specifications
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Macro Lens Designed for extreme close-ups when you’re photographing small objects at close distances, the olloclip macro lens magnifies your image roughly 10 times. It allows you to focus your iPhone within 12 to 15 mm of what you’re photographing, so you can fill the frame with your subject and capture it in amazing detail. This makes it ideal for capturing the smallest nuances in flowers, leaves, colorful insects and anything else that you want to explore and share in a way not possible with the human eye. Once you start experimenting, you’ll find that every subject has interesting detail that can make for fascinating close-up photos.
Fish Eye With its hemispherical shape, similar to the eye of a fish, the olloclip fisheye lens captures a wide, panoramic view — an approximately 180-degree field of view. This ultra wide lens is designed for shooting very wide angles and is especially useful for photographing extremely wide panoramas of landscapes and the sky, and for close-up subjects in crowds, interiors, and architectural settings.
Wide-Angle The olloclip wide-angle lens is designed for those occasions when you need that extra field of view, approximately double that of the normal iPhone. It allows more of the scene to be included in the photograph, which is useful when you’re taking pictures of architecture, interiors and landscapes—particularly in settings where you can’t move farther from the scene to photograph it. |
A Closer Look
The clip-on unit is pretty compact and light-weight. The build quality is excellent … strong and sturdy. You feel it can be clip it on and off numerous times on your iPhone, without having to worry whether it would fall apart.
The package comes with Fisheye, Wide-Angle & Macro lenses. There are lens caps for both ends, a microfiber lens cleaning cloth that acts as a bag that you can put the Olloclip in.
The QuickFlip Case
The QuickFlip case is an additional accessory which you need to buy separately. Grrr…. Can’t I just use my current iPhone case or cover? The answer is NO. The reason is because, if you have an ordinary cover or case for your iPhone, you will not be able to use the Olloclip. It needs the corner of the iPhone (where the camera lens is located) to be bare and uncovered. The QuickFlip case is designed with the Olloclip in mind, and has a special “flippable” cover at the corner where the camera lens is located.
The QuickFlip case also includes a Pro-Photo Adapter which slides easily onto the case for mounting the phone to a tripod or other photo/video accessories. And yes, there’s even a Cold Shoe Mount for video lights*, microphones, or other attachments. There’s also a special adaptor making the case compatible with the iPod Touch 5th Generation.
The Photos Taken
Now for some REAL photos taken using an iPhone 5 with the Olloclip attached. The first two photos were taken using the macro lens, the third photo is the original plant (no lens, just iPhone). Next, the 4th photo was taken with the wide-angle lens (compared to the 5th photo, no lens, just iPhone). The 6th Photos is taken with the fish eye lens … and finally the last two photos compares the x2 zoom lens versus no lens, just iPhone.
Verdict and Conclusion
OK Olloclip … you’re right, and I’m wrong. The photos taken with the lenses were amazing. I was very, very surprised with how good the Olloclip was, to be honest. The macro shots were superb, and the fish eye shots … I just loved it. Wide-angle shots were average though.
Using the other clip-on unit, which gives you telephoto (x2 zoom) and polarizing lenses … the photos taken were ok, but nothing to shout about. Still, it’s more than you can get with just using your standard iPhone’s camera. Olloclip has an app which you can download from Apple’s App Store … don’t bother, there’s no need. Using your standard iPhone camera is fine. You can try it out for free of course.
The Olloclip is extremely easy to use … just clip it on to your iPhone and start taking photos. You don’t ned a maters degree for that! You can start using the Olloclip with the fish eye lens, and if you want to take wide-angle shots, just flip the Olloclip around re-attach it and that’s it. For macro shots, you need to twist the the lens until it comes off …
I can see why websites have been raving on about the Olloclip. It is truely an awesome little product. The photos taken using the macro, fish eye and wide-angle lenses were great, and what’s amazing is that no software was used to manipulate the photos.
You can get the Olloclip 3-In-One Photo Lens for aorund $69.99 and come in 3 colors. Red/Black, White/Black and Black/Black. The Telephoto (x2 zoom) + Circular Polarizing lens system costs $99.99, which I think is a bit little pricey and not really worth it. And finally, the Quick-Flip Case + Pro-Photo Adapter, which I think you do need if you’re going to be out and about, will set you back $49.99.
Pros:
- Can produce some amazing photos
- Macro, Fish Eye and Wide-Angle lenses … all in one
- Easy to use
- Excellent build quality
Cons:
- Price. The complete set will cost you $220!
Final words.
As far as accessories goes, the Olloclip is right up there with the rest of the big boys in terms of exclusiveness. It’s very niche, very high-end and very expensive. But having said that, the Olloclip is fun and easy to use, and the photos taken are just amazing. If you’ve got many to burn, then the Olloclip is a great little accessory for the elite and pro iPhone user.
SCORE
8/10
