Using the best iPhone camera lens turns your smartphone into your secret weapon when making a low or no budget film. We know your smartphone already will keep you plugged in with your cast and crew, provides you with the internet in your pocket, and can store documents such as scripts, call sheets, budgets, and production books.
However, the biggest feature of an iPhone, often overlooked, is the iPhone’s high quality camera. The cameras in the newest smartphones (namely iPhone and Samsung) are absolutely good enough to serve as your primary photography camera! To get the most out of this, it is important to have the right accessories. In this article, the “focus” will be on the best iPhone camera lenses. And yes, pun fully intended.
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First and foremost, be sure to get yourself an ND Filter. This Neewer 37mm Clip-on ND 2-400 Cellphone Camera Lens Filter Kit simply clips onto your phone. Place the filter over your camera to reduce the amount of light reaching the film without affecting the color.
This 4 in 1 cell phone camera lens kit is fun, compact and has a ton of included gadgets. The telephoto lens takes great long-distance shots; and the Fisheye, Macro, and wide-angle lenses are ideal for closer shot lenses. The Bluetooth Remote Shutter & Tripod for cell phones (with flexible legs) along with the Phone Holder puts fantastic telephoto photography at your fingertips. Blurriness is eliminated from shaky hands, or windy days, and the remote shutter allows for ease of use.
Another option is the Amazon Best Seller Criacr (Upgraded Version) Phone Camera Lens, 0.4X Wide Angle Lens, 180°Fisheye Lens and 10X Macro Lens . It is again a clip-on lens, and comes in a set of three. The first lens is a .4x wide angle lens, which is ideal for expanding the field of view, enabling you to get more out of your shot. The second lens is a 10x macro lens, which enables you to shoot photos at a distance of 1.18-1.157 in from your phone. This is great for detailed close-up shots. Finally, lens number three is a 180 degree fisheye lens. This lens will give you that awesome circular effect that is reminiscent of GoPro photography. https://www.amazon.com/AMIR-180%C2%B0Fisheye-Screwed-Together-Smartphones/dp/B0179JX8GC
Three in one is a good deal, but this 9-in-1 smartphone lens set from PAIAP also provides an excellent value with even more options. Though the price tag is heftier at $90, the range of options you get with this set is hard to beat. Included is an ultra wide-angle lens, a 20x macro lens, a fisheye lens, 2x telephoto lens, and a filter kit comprised of 5 unique filters.
It may look ridiculous to some, and ridiculously awesome to others. This is the Moment – Wide Lens . The lenses that come in this set will officially transform your smartphone from a mere mid-quality camera meant for selfies to a serious movie camera.
The 18mm Wide Angle Lens is perfect for getting super crisp close-ups with stunning image quality and is perfect for capturing the entirety of a scene beyond the scope of your phone’s standard capabilities.
Similar (less expensive, not quite as good, but still good) option: Universal 18X Zoom HD Clip On Mobile Phone Optical Camera Lens
Whether you choose an inexpensive smartphone lens attachment, or decide to go all out, one thing is for sure: these items will help improve the overall look of your film, adding a level of production value that would have previously cost thousands of dollars to achieve.
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Sam Klein is a writer, producer, and director based in Los Angeles, CA. He is a member of the Producers Guild of America, has written and directed shorts that have been in festivals around the country, wrote the ‘Hipsters” series for Youtube star Anna Akana, directed internationally distributed commercials for Dunlop, and is a staff producer for Tennis Channel’s original content department.
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