Olloclip Releases New Clip-On iPhone Photo Lens with Refined 4-in-1 Capability

[MacRumors]

Olloclip has released a new version of its quick-connect photo lens for the iPhone, which has been redesigned to now include four refined optic modes. The lens includes dual-sided functionality with a fisheye lens and a 15x macro lens with a 12mm focus distance on one side and a wide angle lens and a 10x macro lens with an 18mm focus distance on the other side.

The four new quick-change lenses are similar to those available with larger DSLR cameras, yet fit easily in a pocket and palm of the hand. Simple, elegant and unobtrusive, the olloclip 4-IN-1 lens connects to the iPhone within seconds. With the fisheye and wide-angle lenses on opposite sides, selecting a lens is as simple as flipping the lens over. The macro lenses are cleverly revealed by unscrewing either the fisheye or wide-angle lens.

The lens also works with all apps, including the official Olloclip app [Direct Link] in both photo and video mode, and is designed from a new aircraft-grade aluminum material that houses a new version of the coated, precision-grounded optics. The Olloclip 4-in-1 lens is compatible with the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, and iPhone 5s, along with the iPod touch 4th and 5th generation, and is now on sale for $69.99 through Olloclip's online store.

Article Link: Olloclip Releases New Clip-On iPhone Photo Lens with Refined 4-in-1 Capability

 

[iThinkIt]

i see you..

 

[darcyf]

I am more and more impressed with the camera on my 5s with each passing day. It handles manipulation in Snapseed beautifully - so much so that sometimes doesn't even need it, the unprocessed image is that good.

I never considered the camera on my old 4 to be worth the cost or effort of carrying around a lens kit, but the 5s has me looking at the Olloclip and marvelling at the possibilities.

 

[tmarks11]

I like their telephoto lens better. I would like to see something with more than 2x optical zoom, however.

That is where the run-of-the-mill point-and-shoot camera runs rings around iphone: optical zoom. Yes, the pinch-to-zoom works on the iphone, but this digital zoom in the end can kill your picture quality.

 

[nervousMONSTER]

I like their telephoto lens better. I would like to see something with more than 2x optical zoom, however.

That is where the run-of-the-mill point-and-shoot camera runs rings around iphone: optical zoom. Yes, the pinch-to-zoom works on the iphone, but this digital zoom in the end can kill your picture quality.

I don't use zoom. I usually want the most light possible to hit the sensor and therefore never zoom in even with a good point and shoot. I think most people would take better photos if they got comfortable with moving to frame a shot.

I'm talking urban, street, landscape or macro photography here not wild animals or sports. I imagine with those the balance tilts towards wanting more zoom and caring less about speed but then you're going to want crazy multipliers beyond what an point and shoot camera can give you.

I also would never use digital zoom on any camera... that's what cropping is for. A bonus is getting to frame the shot at your leisure.

 

[2457282]

I am more and more impressed with the camera on my 5s with each passing day. It handles manipulation in Snapseed beautifully - so much so that sometimes doesn't even need it, the unprocessed image is that good.

I never considered the camera on my old 4 to be worth the cost or effort of carrying around a lens kit, but the 5s has me looking at the Olloclip and marvelling at the possibilities.

I agree. I can see that the combo of the 5s and future iphones plus a lens kit like this would meet almost any need i have and that most leisure photographers would have. Until they figure out how to substantially increase the size of the sensor, it will never fill the needs of a pro with a DSLR, but for the masses the need for a separate camera is becoming moot.

 

[xdhd350]

Agreed. There is a saying in professional circles that says, "zoom with your feet". As was mentioned, more light hitting the sensor is especially important on cameras like the iPhone has.

I do like the idea of having macro capability as I often want to shoot closer to subject than the phone will allow for. I tried several of these at NAB this year. Another good solution is the iPro lens kit from Schneider Optics.

 

[BC2009]

I am a novice at photography, so can somebody clarify this for me....

If all I really want is optical zoom, does this Olliclip really give that to me?

It seems that it provides Macro lenses for focusing things up-close (like flowers or insects or what-not) and then it provides wide-angle and fish-eye lenses which are not things I really need either.

Is some combination of Macro + Wide Angle just give you like a 10x or 15x optical zoom?

I want to zoom in and focus things that are far away -- not focus things that are up close.

Isn't the kind of lens that I want called "telephoto"?

 

[kwikdeth]

how does this stay attached to the camera?

 

[blue22]

how does this stay attached to the camera?

It snuggly overlays into place on the corner side of the phone where the rear camera is located, hence the "clip" in the "Olloclip" name.

 

[BrentD]

I am a novice at photography, so can somebody clarify this for me....

If all I really want is optical zoom, does this Olliclip really give that to me?

It seems that it provides Macro lenses for focusing things up-close (like flowers or insects or what-not) and then it provides wide-angle and fish-eye lenses which are not things I really need either.

Is some combination of Macro + Wide Angle just give you like a 10x or 15x optical zoom?

I want to zoom in and focus things that are far away -- not focus things that are up close.

Isn't the kind of lens that I want called "telephoto"?

This is not what you're looking for. The 10x and 15x capabilities of the Olloclip are for close-up macro shots a short distance from the subject. If you try and focus on anything further away than the distances mentioned in the article you'll just get a blurry mess.

 

[acearchie]

I am a novice at photography, so can somebody clarify this for me....

If all I really want is optical zoom, does this Olliclip really give that to me?


I want to zoom in and focus things that are far away -- not focus things that are up close.

Isn't the kind of lens that I want called "telephoto"?

You are unlikely to find an third party product which will allow you to zoom but Olloclip do make a telephoto lens. It's only 2x but some would argue that's twice as good as what you get as stock!

Incidentally, yes it is called a telephoto and searching 'iphone telephoto lens' might give you some other options you might be interested in.

 

[pubwvj]

Nice. Want. But first I need an iPhone... Hmm...

 

[the8thark]

I agree. I can see that the combo of the 5s and future iphones plus a lens kit like this would meet almost any need i have and that most leisure photographers would have. Until they figure out how to substantially increase the size of the sensor, it will never fill the needs of a pro with a DSLR, but for the masses the need for a separate camera is becoming moot.

Basically the iPhone is killing the point and shoot camera. In my opinion the only P&S camera on the market that is better is the Sony RX100 and it's later models. But if you are paying the RX100 price, you might as well get a Nex-3N or Nex-5N also from Sony with it's interchangeable lenses and much better sensor.

In my mind the cameras go like this from weakest to strongest.

1. 99% of all P&S
2. iPhone and RX100
3. CSC (compact system cameras). Basically the small interchangeable lens cameras like the Sony Nex series
4. The physically huge full frame DSLR

1. Becoming irrelevant
2. For people who also want a phone the iPhone is increasingly becoming a great choice. (other cameras don't count, sure some phones have a better camera but no other phone camera has both the phone part and the camera part being very good.)
The RX100 though great is just too pricey for what it is in my opinion.
3. Great for people who want to go to the next step and those pros who want a daily shooter or are sick of taking their huge DSLR with them everywhere.
4. For the pros only.

Apple need to put the latest camera in the latest iPod touch. Why? Some people might want a good camera on the touch with all the iOS7 camera software without a monthly phone bill. Yes this is the new Apple Quicktake camera. The only difference is now it's now housed within a phone.

 

[nikhsub1]

I am more and more impressed with the camera on my 5s with each passing day. It handles manipulation in Snapseed beautifully - so much so that sometimes doesn't even need it, the unprocessed image is that good.

I never considered the camera on my old 4 to be worth the cost or effort of carrying around a lens kit, but the 5s has me looking at the Olloclip and marvelling at the possibilities.

This. I ordered one... Have always been interested in macro photography but not so much so to buy dedicated equipment... Maybe this is just the ticket.

 

[taxiapple]

I'll wait till they come out with a wide angle/telephone combo that I can also put a polarizing filter on. I'm pretty sure they are working on it.
They have the 2X telephoto & polarizer kit already, I just want the wide angle included.

I'm okay with forgoing with the fisheye.

 

[D.T.]

I'll wait till they come out with a wide angle/telephone combo that I can also put a polarizing filter on. I'm pretty sure they are working on it.
They have the 2X telephoto & polarizer kit already, I just want the wide angle included.

I'm okay with forgoing with the fisheye.

Yes! I was thinking the same thing ... that seems like a better "combo" for me.

This. I ordered one... Have always been interested in macro photography but not so much so to buy dedicated equipment... Maybe this is just the ticket.

Very cool. Please share some photos using if you get some time

 

[calaverasgrande]

bookmarked the daylights out of that site.
Their cases are pretty nifty too. And the lenses come in different colors for all of us graphicy types that are uptight about colors.
$130 is a lot, but I've spent more than that on a cheap lens for my DSLR. And this would allow me to leave my DSLR at home for the more casual walk arounds.

 

[pgiguere1]

I am a novice at photography, so can somebody clarify this for me....

If all I really want is optical zoom, does this Olliclip really give that to me?

It seems that it provides Macro lenses for focusing things up-close (like flowers or insects or what-not) and then it provides wide-angle and fish-eye lenses which are not things I really need either.

Is some combination of Macro + Wide Angle just give you like a 10x or 15x optical zoom?

I want to zoom in and focus things that are far away -- not focus things that are up close.

Isn't the kind of lens that I want called "telephoto"?

A zoom lens and telephoto lens aren't the same thing.

"Zoom" is often used in common language to refer as "make bigger", but in photography all it means is that the lens has a variable focal length.
Focal length is often what determines how "close to" you are to your subject.

A telephoto lens is one with a long focal length (>100 mm focal length), which makes your subject appear close. A wide-angle lens (which fisheyes are part of) is one with a short focal length (<20 mm focal length). It's the opposite of a telephoto, your subject appear as if it's distant and you see the landscape around you very well. Lenses that fit in between those two categories are standard lenses and are the most popular ones.

Having a zoom lens only means that you can change how close you seem to be to your subject. It's independent from the focal length category of your lens. For example you could have a zoom telephoto lens, or a non-zoom telephoto lens (a prime lens).

For example, the lens on a iPhone is a prime lens since it doesn't zoom. The zoom feature is 100% digital as the lens doesn't actually move to change focal length. Point-and-shoots, on the other hand, have zoom lenses.

Ollocip offers a telephoto lens for iPhone which makes your subject appear closer, but it is not a zoom lens. That means you won't be able to choose exactly how close to your subject you want to by playing with the lens itself, but you'll still be able to do the usual pinch-to-zoom on your iPhone screen (digital zoom).

Unfortunately the Olloclip telephoto lens only offers a 2x magnification and it's pretty expensive for what it is ($100). If you're serious about photography you may want to invest in a cheap/used DSLR instead, but of course you wouldn't have the portability and overall convenience of an iPhone.

Hope that helps clarify a bit!

 

[Fortimir]

I hate all these iPhone lens companies. Ditch that fisheye and give me a 2x telephoto instead. I want 2x, wide, and macro.

Fisheye is worthless to me.

 

[japanime]

For those who are interested in macro photography using the iPhone and an Olloclip, I highly recommend "Calling Nature," a fantastic and free "how to" ebook available in the iBookstore.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/calling-nature/id590198557?mt=11

(Although I am a book publisher, I am in no way associated with this author or book. I just happened to find it in the iBookstore a while back, and absolutely loved it.)

 

[BC2009]

A zoom lens and telephoto lens aren't the same thing.

"Zoom" is often used in common language to refer as "make bigger", but in photography all it means is that the lens has a variable focal length.
Focal length is often what determines how "close to" you are to your subject.

A telephoto lens is one with a long focal length (>100 mm focal length), which makes your subject appear close. A wide-angle lens (which fisheyes are part of) is one with a short focal length (<20 mm focal length). It's the opposite of a telephoto, your subject appear as if it's distant and you see the landscape around you very well. Lenses that fit in between those two categories are standard lenses and are the most popular ones.

Having a zoom lens only means that you can change how close you seem to be to your subject. It's independent from the focal length category of your lens. For example you could have a zoom telephoto lens, or a non-zoom telephoto lens (a prime lens).

For example, the lens on a iPhone is a prime lens since it doesn't zoom. The zoom feature is 100% digital as the lens doesn't actually move to change focal length. Point-and-shoots, on the other hand, have zoom lenses.

Ollocip offers a telephoto lens for iPhone which makes your subject appear closer, but it is not a zoom lens. That means you won't be able to choose exactly how close to your subject you want to by playing with the lens itself, but you'll still be able to do the usual pinch-to-zoom on your iPhone screen (digital zoom).

Unfortunately the Olloclip telephoto lens only offers a 2x magnification and it's pretty expensive for what it is ($100). If you're serious about photography you may want to invest in a cheap/used DSLR instead, but of course you wouldn't have the portability and overall convenience of an iPhone.

Hope that helps clarify a bit!

Thank you for your awesome reply. My wife uses a point-and-shoot with a 12x optical zoom for most of her photography. She won't use the iPhone so much because she cannot zoom in to get close-ups of the kids from a distance. I was hoping somebody would make a variable zoom lens you can attach the iPhone to so she could get the auto-upload to Photo Stream and still have variable zoom. Too bad Apple doesn't make a point-and-shoot camera that integrates with iCloud. I'll probably get her one of those newer models that has WiFi built in so maybe she could more easily get her photos online or maybe just give her my iPad 4 with SD card adapter and buy the iPad 5 when it comes out.

 

[nataliestew]

Still Like My Photojojo Cell Lenses Better

I was hopeful when I read these lenses would be similar to a DSLR ... but for the price and functionality I still prefer the cell lenses I bought last year from Photojojo. I received this newest version of the Olloclip as a gift, becauase my brother knew how much I use my Photojojo lenses.

The quality of the images is comparable between both sets, but it's still not convenient for me to have to remove my case everytime I want to use the Olloclip. And having to screw on and off each lens is another step that takes time.

With my Photojojo lenses I can take them on and off in a second and they work on all of my devices, be it my iPhone 5 or my Nexus 7 tablet. I also use them with the camera on my computer. My nephew loves it when I use the Fisheye when we're video chatting.

If you're only going to use these lenses on your iPhone and don't use a case, this newest Olloclip is probably fine. But why limit yourself?