Hands-On With Olloclip's New Telephoto/Polarizing and Macro 3-in-1 Lenses for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus

[MacRumors]

Following the October release of its redesigned "Selfie" 4-in-1 Photo Lens for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Olloclip is today introducing two new lens sets to expand the range of options available to iPhone photographers.

The new Macro 3-in-1 Lens offers three new magnification levels at 7x, 14x, and 21x, while the new Telephoto + Circular Polarizing Lens brings 2x magnification alongside a polarizing lens that minimizes reflections and reduces glare. MacRumors went hands-on with both of the new Olloclip sets over the weekend to give you a look at what kind of images the new accessories are capable of producing.

What's in the Box

Like the 4-in-1 Lens for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, the two new Olloclip lenses come with a lens attachment that's compatible with both the front and rear iPhone cameras.

The Telephoto + CPL accessory features a 2x telephoto lens attachment along with a polarizing lens that is detachable and compatible with other Olloclip lenses thanks to interchangeable filter mounts.

Box contents of both lens sets combined.​

The Macro 3-in-1 accessory comes with a 21x macro lens on one side, and a 7x/14x lens on the other side. Switching between magnifications is done by unscrewing the lens. There are also two lens hoods which serve as positioning guidelines to help you determine the optimum position for an in-focus macro shot.

Both lens sets come with three interchangeable carrying clips in green, blue, and black, lens caps, carrying pouches, a detachable wearable lanyard, and two removable inserts to adjust the fit to either the iPhone 6 or the iPhone 6 Plus.

Design

The lens accessories feature a reversible body made of a thick plastic that allows them to be fitted over the rear and front facing cameras of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, and the lenses themselves are made of high-quality aluminum and glass. As with all Olloclip photo accessories, the new lenses cannot be used with a case or a screen protector due to the tight fit, but Olloclip is working on a very nice iPhone 6 and 6 Plus case that we were able to check out at CES. It should be coming in the near future.

The lens sets are compatible with the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, with the different fit accounted for with plastic inserts. Each lens slides easily over the protruding rear-facing camera and locks into place. On the smaller iPhone 6, when the rear-facing camera is in place the opposite lens fits over the front camera, but with the larger iPhone 6 Plus, the lenses need to be tilted to the left when switching between the front and rear cameras.

Even though it's necessary to slightly adjust the lenses on the iPhone 6 Plus, getting them on the phone is super quick and takes only seconds, which means you're not likely to miss an important moment fumbling around to try to get the lenses attached.

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Article Link: Hands-On With Olloclip's New Telephoto/Polarizing and Macro 3-in-1 Lenses for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus

 

[jclo]

If you have any questions about these lenses, let us know and we'll answer to the best of our ability.

 

[stevelam]

sorry but theres no way i'll be using these without a case on my phone.

 

[jclo]

sorry but theres no way i'll be using these without a case on my phone.

Yeah, that's definitely one of the biggest downsides to these lenses. Olloclip has a really nice case in the works though, much better than the one they did for the iPhone 5s. It's pretty thin and looks like a regular iPhone case but with a way to attach the lenses. That's coming a bit later this year.

 

[Jessica Lares]

Way too many accessories in the box I think! Some nice shots.

 

[christarp]

I'm actually fairly surprised how well the macro lenses actually work. I really always thought that the main bottleneck would be the actual iphone lens built in, or maybe the sensor. It's fairly impressive though!

 

[TravelBossAcc]

Absolutely love the richer feel that these lenses add to the photo shoot. I am seriously considering buying them.

 

[Silverfist]

I really dig the 4-in-1 lens set; the 10x macro comes in very handy at work.

I'm assuming that the telephoto lens won't be compatible with the 4-in-1 clip, based on how the lenses interact? That's kind of a bummer, as I'd love the telephoto lens but aren't willing to spend another $100 to get it....

.

 

[jclo]

I really dig the 4-in-1 lens set; the 10x macro comes in very handy at work.

I'm assuming that the telephoto lens won't be compatible with the 4-in-1 clip, based on how the lenses interact? That's kind of a bummer, as I'd love the telephoto lens but aren't willing to spend another $100 to get it....

.

Not compatible, unfortunately. You have to buy them separately.

----------

I'm actually fairly surprised how well the macro lenses actually work. I really always thought that the main bottleneck would be the actual iphone lens built in, or maybe the sensor. It's fairly impressive though!

I've tested a lot of the available lenses for each iteration of the iPhone and I've consistently thought Olloclip has the best macro lenses on the market. Quality and image sharpness can't be beat.

 

[2457282]

In principle I think this is great. I think this could be a very nice accessory. But the point of taking pictures with the iPhone has always been as a replacement for the point and shoot cameras (at least to me). If you are going to carry all this gear around and then set of for the actual picture, I would think that a DSLR camera would be the better option. I do recognize that there is a significant dollar difference between the two options, but if you are going to take the time to put on these accessories and set up for and frame the picture, all in hopes of getting something really good, ta DSLR will always beat the iPhone in quality, noise, depth, etc.

 

[rcooked]

I have both the Olloclip and Moment lenses. My main concern with Olloclip is they are specific to the phones and might need replaced with new phones.

Moment requires just a new plate - which fits just fine behind the Apple leather case on my 6+ with no adhesive.

 

[teslo]

In principle I think this is great. I think this could be a very nice accessory. But the point of taking pictures with the iPhone has always been as a replacement for the point and shoot cameras (at least to me). If you are going to carry all this gear around and then set of for the actual picture, I would think that a DSLR camera would be the better option. I do recognize that there is a significant dollar difference between the two options, but if you are going to take the time to put on these accessories and set up for and frame the picture, all in hopes of getting something really good, ta DSLR will always beat the iPhone in quality, noise, depth, etc.

sounds like you haven't used octoclips? i have one for my i5S, and while it's not ideal for every situation and requires slightly more planning than just whipping out your cellphone, it's definitely not at all like carrying a dslr/accessories around. the dollar amount isn't the only factor, it's all about having a 'fairly competent' lens in your breast pocket - to attach to a 'camera' the size of a deck of cards (not that i assume you don't realize this). all that 'gear' isn't necessary for each shoot, and really only occupies 2 sq inches of space when assembled and carried in that pouch (well, mine at least - there isn't quite as much included with the one i use).

i personally love these things - i shot a music video with an iStabilizer (clamped to their instruments) using the octoclip fisheye lens - people are seriously blown away when they find out how i did it. cost for semi-pro looking music video: $65 (lenses), $2 for 8mm iOS app, $0 for iMovie.

 

[lazyrighteye]

i personally love these things - i shot a music video with an iStabilizer (clamped to their instruments) using the octoclip fisheye lens - people are seriously blown away when they find out how i did it. cost for semi-pro looking music video: $65 (lenses), $2 for 8mm iOS app, $0 for iMovie.

Link to footage?

 

[teslo]

Link to footage?

aha.. it's tempting, but i keep all my accounts/personal life unlinked (as possible). i'd recommend youtubing some examples (mine is the 2-in-1 fisheye/wide angle/macro octoclip for the i5). you'll see it's not astounding, but like i said, competent: just a fun option for people who like to get creative.

cheers

 

[mattymo]

i read "what's in the box" in brad pitt from Se7en voice.

 

[Jessica Lares]

In principle I think this is great. I think this could be a very nice accessory. But the point of taking pictures with the iPhone has always been as a replacement for the point and shoot cameras (at least to me). If you are going to carry all this gear around and then set of for the actual picture, I would think that a DSLR camera would be the better option. I do recognize that there is a significant dollar difference between the two options, but if you are going to take the time to put on these accessories and set up for and frame the picture, all in hopes of getting something really good, ta DSLR will always beat the iPhone in quality, noise, depth, etc.

They make lenses like these for point-and-shoots too. I have used them, and they're even more awkward. Used to have a tele on my Canon and it literally toppled the thing over because it weighed more.

It got me some good results though. Still ended up selling it.

I have been playing with the idea of getting a DSLR since I got out of high school. There are just better things in life that are better worth dropping that kind of money on. I don't take as many pictures these days either.

 

[Ak907Freerider]

Now if Apple would let you have full manual control this might be interesting, till then this is just slapping cheap glass onto cheap glass. iPhone is for taking selfies not for anything serious. Canon actually killed their point and shoot line, others are following suit. iPhone Is the replacement and yet is garbage full auto camera. Until that changes this will just be a joke.

 

[Habakuk]

The reviewers forgot to switch to video. I'd like to know how those lenses work together with the improved digital stabilizer of iPhone 6.

 

[teslo]

Now if Apple would let you have full manual control this might be interesting, till then this is just slapping cheap glass onto cheap glass. iPhone is for taking selfies not for anything serious. Canon actually killed their point and shoot line, others are following suit. iPhone Is the replacement and yet is garbage full auto camera. Until that changes this will just be a joke.

any photographer/filmmaker without rigid self-imposed ideologies can use pretty much any visual medium to create something worthwhile.

who 'says' the iPhone was a replacement for anything? rather than any authority or collective group claiming that, the iPhone just - exists - in large numbers, and ate into the point and shoot market as pretty much expected.. serious photographers get actual cameras. i don't understand how you can look at many of the countless beautiful shots people get with their smartphones, and claim that it's all junk and cheap.

 

[SaraMac95014]

Now if Apple would let you have full manual control this might be interesting, till then this is just slapping cheap glass onto cheap glass. iPhone is for taking selfies not for anything serious. Canon actually killed their point and shoot line, others are following suit. iPhone Is the replacement and yet is garbage full auto camera. Until that changes this will just be a joke.

+1
I'm always skeptical of product reviews on websites that carry ads for those products.
The fact that a case is "in the works" really makes this company seem like it got caught with its trousers down.

 

[Ak907Freerider]

any photographer/filmmaker without rigid self-imposed ideologies can use pretty much any visual medium to create something worthwhile.

who 'says' the iPhone was a replacement for anything? rather than any authority or collective group claiming that, the iPhone just - exists - in large numbers, and ate into the point and shoot market as pretty much expected.. serious photographers get actual cameras. i don't understand how you can look at many of the countless beautiful shots people get with their smartphones, and claim that it's all junk and cheap.

I just look at it the same way I see a ipad with the case with a built in keyboard. Yes it works, but why? It to me defeats the whole purpose of the beauty of the design of the ipad. I know lots of amazing photos are taken by iPhones, but this is just extra stuff that defeats the form and ease of use of the iPhone. I don't see the use of this.

 

[teslo]

I just look at it the same way I see a ipad with the case with a built in keyboard. Yes it works, but why? It to me defeats the whole purpose of the beauty of the design of the ipad. I know lots of amazing photos are taken by iPhones, but this is just extra stuff that defeats the form and ease of use of the iPhone. I don't see the use of this.

oh, ok. hardware purist. you used any of these iPhone lenses for any time period? they're really only a 2 second add-on if the want arises (no soldering irons required).

ps: the pic is of 'all available accessories combined' into one pic. misleading as far as complexity of package.

 

[Ak907Freerider]

oh, ok. hardware purist. you used any of these iPhone lenses for any time period? they're really only a 2 second add-on if the want arises (no soldering irons required).

ps: the pic is of 'all available accessories combined' into one pic. misleading as far as complexity of package.

I'm sure it's very simple to clip on. Point is I carry enough with a phone wallet and keys. I don't need to carry a whole lens kit to take a photo. If I wanted to take a photo with any special lens I would bring a dslr to take a photo. The iPhone is way to limited as a camera to capture what I would want. It's good for basic pics that's why you have no manual control now if it did then I could see how you could utilize these lenses.

 

[Antares]

If I have to carry extra lenses around, I would rather just carry a point and shoot camera which does all of these things but better. Of course, that's more expensive...but worth it.

Canon actually killed their point and shoot line, others are following suit.

When did they do that? Go to their site....they still sell, make and update their "point and Shoot" camera lines.

 

[teslo]

I'm sure it's very simple to clip on. Point is I carry enough with a phone wallet and keys. I don't need to carry a whole lens kit to take a photo. If I wanted to take a photo with any special lens I would bring a dslr to take a photo. The iPhone is way to limited as a camera to capture what I would want. It's good for basic pics that's why you have no manual control now if it did then I could see how you could utilize these lenses.

there are plenty of apps that allow for very decent emulation of manual control. again, it sounds like you're a purist more than anything. which is fine. people with the wherewithal can utilize accessories and apps in ways that i feel you might be ignoring altogether. of COURSE a dslr is better - and point and shoots are easier. but neither occupy about 2 sq inches in a corner of your pocket. and neither produce results exactly like apps and accessories do. both can be very worthwhile in the right hands.

this is all too similar to 'i don't see the use for tablets. why not just use a PC?'