Choices for camera lens protectors?

I haven't seen anything but also going back and forth between case free and case since launch. I never once thought about a protector. Send durable enough

Keep in mind that the camera lens is sapphire so far less likely to scratch than the display.

http://www.witrigs.com/camera-lens-metal-protective-ring-for-iphone-6-silver

It's a sapphire lens cover...one of the hardest things known to man that a camera lens can be made out of...

got a replacement phone at the apple store a few days ago and when the guy took the replacement out of the box, he kept tossing it on the counter back-side down over and over and i was thinking, 'oh man, that ring and/or lens is going to get all kinds of messed up.' but it seems to be fine. it's so tiny that i think it would be hard to tell if it was really scratched up (the ring i mean - the lens is very unlikely to get scratched). and it's probably fairly durable. there's really such a tiny amount of surface area that would come into contact with anything. that said, i have my phone in a case (spigen neo hybrid) that prevents the lens and ring coming into contact with anything.

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J.C said:

Keep in mind that the camera lens is sapphire so far less likely to scratch than the display.

http://www.witrigs.com/camera-lens-metal-protective-ring-for-iphone-6-silver

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i'd be really interested in a review of this and seeing real pics.

There are tons of these ring protectors on eBay. Would love to see some real photos and reviews.

ducatiti said:

True, but the anodized ring would look ugly to ME when scratched up.

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I see. I still can't imagine the ring getting scratched though. Unless intentionally trying to scratch it. Just not enough surface area.

ducatiti said:

True, but the anodized ring would look ugly to ME when scratched up.

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I don't have a ring on my 5c so its not an issue

richwoodrocket said:

It's a sapphire lens cover...one of the hardest things known to man that a camera lens can be made out of...

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I'm not so much worried about the lens getting scratched but rather it getting dirty with dust and fingerprints etc. Anyone who's serious about their photography will appreciate that it's necessary to keep camera equipment nice and clean to ensure the picture quality isn't affected. Until I find a suitable case with built-in lens cover (like the Griffin Survivor for iPhone 5) then it looks like I'll be needing to use those microfibre lens cloths more often than I'd like.

Pat too said:

I'm not so much worried about the lens getting scratched but rather it getting dirty with dust and fingerprints etc. Anyone who's serious about their photography will appreciate that it's necessary to keep camera equipment nice and clean to ensure the picture quality isn't affected. Until I find a suitable case with built-in lens cover (like the Griffin Survivor for iPhone 5) then it looks like I'll be needing to use those microfibre lens cloths more often than I'd like.

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The state of the front element of a lens has (almost) no impact on image quality.

Anyone who is serious about photography will use a real camera, not a phone.

Meister said:

The state of the front element of a lens has (almost) no impact on image quality.

Anyone who is serious about photography will use a real camera, not a phone.

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"Almost" no impact on image quality?! So if I smeared Vaseline on my SLR camera lens, then there will be "almost" no soft focus/blur effect in my pictures? I might as well dump my collection of Cokin filters then...

Photography is all about capturing the moment, using whatever tools are at hand or suited to the situation. In the right hands, the camera on a phone is no less of a real camera than an SLR or medium format kit. Proffessional photographers have used, and taken great photos with compact/point and shoot cameras ever since these devices came out. Nowadays, they're doing the same with the cameras on their phones too.

Meister said:

The state of the front element of a lens has (almost) no impact on image quality.

Anyone who is serious about photography will use a real camera, not a phone.

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Agreed. If I'm the least bit concerned about quality, I bring a real camera. One that gives me the control to handle scenes come what may. And one that gives we raw output with significant latitude to squeeze every ounce of quality. And one that allows me to make significant enlargements from keepers. And a scratched or dusty front element has literally zero negative impact on imagery.

FieldingMellish said:

If I'm the least bit concerned about quality, I bring a real camera. One that gives me the control to handle scenes come what may. And one that gives we raw output with significant latitude to squeeze every ounce of quality. And one that allows me to make significant enlargements from keepers. And a scratched or dusty front element has literally zero negative impact on imagery.

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Squeeze every ounce of quality? You'd certainly be needing to do a lot of squeezing if your lens is dusty and scratched!

I am happy to impart knowledge to correct common misperceptions. Check out this man's humorous means of getting the point across.

http://petapixel.com/2011/06/16/how-dust-and-damage-on-lenses-affect-image-quality/

Pat too said:

"Almost" no impact on image quality?! So if I smeared Vaseline on my SLR camera lens, then there will be "almost" no soft focus/blur effect in my pictures? I might as well dump my collection of Cokin filters then...

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I thought this thread was about scratches, not vaseline.
Scratches (on the front element) have no impact on image quality.
Never heard of anyone using filters with an iPhone camera.

Following up on my post, I got one of those rings. Doesn't look bad, and definitely gives me more peace of mind when setting down the phone.

Paco II said:

There are tons of these ring protectors on eBay. Would love to see some real photos and reviews.

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Very cool. How does it attach? Any chance the protector itself could scratch the aluminum camera ring? Where did you get yours?

It has a sticky back. Sticks right over existing ring. Seems unlikely to have any negative effect on it. Picked the cheapest one on eBay that was sold in the US.

You might discover that a fat ring like that will vignette your pics. Or that the cheap coke bottle glass they use will degrade your images by reducing contrast and increasing flare.

does the cover have it's own glass, or is it just designed to cover the aluminum ring?

Basically what you're getting is an inexpensive extended aluminum ring that sticks out further than the glass. There is no additional glass. Its going to help when putting the phone down on a flattish surface to prevent the glass from touching that surface.

ajm222 said:

does the cover have it's own glass, or is it just designed to cover the aluminum ring?

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