As you already know, your iPhone is equipped with a high-quality camera that lets you capture stunning photos without a huge amount of effort. But those photos are still a far cry from what a DSLR with a high-powered lens can produce. So here’s a compromise: an external iPhone lens. A fisheye, macro, wide-angle, or telephoto lens will allow you to take more specialized, professional-looking photos without splurging on an expensive camera.
Are iPhone lenses worth it?
While the short answer is yes, the longer answer is it totally depends.
A high-quality lens can definitely help take take your photos to the next level. Since your iPhone’s native lens is not equipped with an optical zoom, macro, or wide angle capabilities, an external lens will give you a lot more flexibility. However, while cheap lenses may be great for casual snapshots, a low-quality clip lens will add distortion and blur that will ruin your photos.
The secret to getting great shots with external optics is to use the best iPhone lens that you can afford. The more seriously you take your photography, the more the quality of your lens will matter.
These are the best lenses for your iPhone lens kit:
- Moment wide angle lens for iPhone
- Moment telephoto lens for iPhone
- Olloclip core lens set for iPhone 7 and 8
- Amir 3-in-1 iPhone clip-on lens
- Sandmarc’s Photography Edition lens for iPhone X
- CamKix Camera Lens Kit for iPhone 6/6s
- SIRUI black 60mm portrait phone lens
- DxO ONE 20.2MP Digital Connected Camera
- OOWA Pro Kit lenses
Moment Wide 18mm: The best wide lens for iPhone
If you’re looking for a lense that produces print-quality results, look no further than Moment iPhone lenses. Moment lenses are not cheap, but they are definitely worth the investment. Version 2 of Moment’s wide lens shoots at 18mm, doubling what you can fit in the frame without any distortion. The Moment wide angle lens is available for iPhone 6 to iPhone 10, but it does require a case for mounting. Moment lenses come with a microfiber carrying case and a lens cap.
Moment Tele 58mm: The best zoom lens for iPhone
Moment’s telephoto lens is optimized for dual lens devices, with superior quality glass that takes incredible shots when paired with newer iPhones. When mounted over a single lens camera, the Moment telephoto can achieve 2x optical zoom. If you’re shooting with an iPhone X or XS/XS Max, you can place the Moment telephoto lens over the iPhone telephoto lens for 4x optical zoom. Like the wide-angle lens, this telephoto lens must be used with a Moment case and is compatible with iPhone 6 and later models.
Olloclip core lens set: Great iPhone 7 camera lens kit
Ready to up your photography game without making a considerable investment in Moment lenses? Olloclip iPhone lenses have been around for a long time, and while the image quality isn’t perfect, you’ll get three great lenses for your iPhone 7 or 8 at an affordable price. The Olloclip core lens set includes a wide angle, macro, and fisheye lens for iPhone, giving you lots of versatility for experimenting.
Buy the Olloclip core lens set
Amir 3-in-1 iPhone clip-on lenses: Best iPhone lens kit on a budget
It’s easy to drop hundreds of dollars on lenses that will take your photography from meh to magnificent, but if you’re just starting out with iPhone photography,you can definitely get by with a more affordable lens system. The Amir 3-in-1 clip-on lenses include a 180-degree fisheye lens, a 25x macro lens, and a .36x wide-angle lens. Because the Amir lenses simply clip over your iPhone’s lens, they can be used with all types of smartphones. You will see a noticeable blur in many of your photos.
SANDMARC Photography Edition lens kit for iPhone XS Max
SANDMARC is well known for its GoPro camera accessories, but they are quickly becoming a contender in the iPhone lens market. If you own an iPhone XS Max and are passionate about photography, this could be the best lens system available to you right now. The kit includes a 16mm wide lens, a 60mm telephoto with 2x magnification, and a 25mm macro lens with 10x magnification. Another plus is the SANDMARC’s versatile mounting system, which allows you to use a clip or a case, depending on your personal preference.
Buy the SANDMARC Photography Edition lens
CamKix Camera Lens Kit for iPhone 6/6s: Affordable iPhone 6 lens kit
The CamKix lens kit is compatible with iPhone 6 and 6s, but not the plus model. It comes with four lenses: a 12x telephoto lens with a manual focus ring, a fisheye lens, a macro lens, and a wide-angle lens. The kit comes with a universal phone holder and a mini tripod, which is useful if you’re using the telephoto or macro with a slow-shutter app. While these lenses do produce a bit of distortion and blur, they are perfect for budget or hobby photographers who want to experiment with new equipment.
Buy the CamKix Camera Lens Kit for iPhone 6/6s
SIRUI black 60mm Portrait Phone Lens: Quality portrait lens at a good price
The SIRUI 60mm portrait lens is made with German-manufactured Schott glass and aircraft grade aluminum. It’s coated with anti-reflective material and takes sharp photos with very little distortion. This lens features a clip-on design, making it compatible with all iPhone models, and uses a 40-degree field of view for 2x magnification. It also provides a very shallow depth-of-field for a nice bokeh effect. If you’re keen on portraits or selfies, the SIRUI portrait lens is a great investment.
Buy the SIRUI 60mm portrait lens
DxO ONE 20.2MP Digital Connected Camera: A digital camera that can serve as an iPhone lens
While not exactly a lens, the DxO ONE has some great features that allow it to work as a high-quality external lens and more. The DxO ONE is a separate camera, with a separate lens and sensor. The camera plugs into your iPhone’s lightning port and uses it to frame and control shots. The camera has a micro SD card and its own internal battery. It features a 20.2-megapixel sensor and a 32mm f/1.8 lens. An integrated app allows you full control over all of your camera’s settings, which include shooting in RAW.
Buy the DxO ONE Digital Connected Camera
OOWA Pro Kit lenses: Asymmetrical iPhone lenses for clear imagery
There are two lenses in the OOWA Pro Kit. One is a 15mm wide-angle lens, which takes crisp images with very little distortion. The other is a 75mm telephoto lens that gives your iPhone an extra 2.5x zoom for faraway subjects. The accompanying case must be used to attach the lenses, and there are different versions compatible with different iPhone models, from iPhone 6 and up. The asymmetrical lens is very useful for improved sharpness and more vivid colors.
As you already know, your internal iPhone camera is pretty impressive, and an external lens makes it even better. Whether you’re just starting out as an iPhone photographer or hoping to up your phone’s current capabilities, you’ll find that an external lens gives you lots of flexibility for a much smaller investment than on a DSLR. And with a few more iPhone camera accessories, you'll quickly step up your photography game.
