Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
I have always said that the iPhone 4 and the 4S had tremendous potential as mobile cameras and would benefit from a lens system. There have been solutions for sure but none as elegant and effective as Olloclip's trifecta of lenses.
For $80 the Olloclip lens is the complete solution for iPhone phographers who want to extend the range and functionality of the phone's camera function. Designed around the strenghts and limitations of the iPhone's built in camera, the Olloclip is a simple yet powerful accessory that can help one take truly stunning photos in a number of conditions.
In their own words,"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. Download a copy of our "What's included with your olloclip" insert that ships with every olloclip.
We found the Olloclip Quick Connect lens fun and easy to use. We were a bit worried that the lens on the bare glass of the iPhone 4S would somehow scratch the surface but these lenses are designed to be tough yet are well enough engineered that they fasten securely without much of a problem. Once on, it is a matter of firing up the iPhone's camera app or any of your favourite photo apps (and there are tons) such as Hipstamatic, Camera+, Photosynth, Paper Camera and others.
Having real glass lenses is a much better solution than software effects that try to emulate what real lenses bending real light could do. Stay tuned for our own slideshow of Olloclip photos coming soon.
Rating: 5 out of 5