Whether you’re new to photography or an experienced visual artist, phone camera lenses can help you get the best possible shot. Lenses also add creative flair to your cell phone images and can help refine your photographic skills.
Add-on lenses like the ones discussed here are a helpful for taking your mobile photography to the next level, whether you’re interested in documenting wide landscapes of the intricate details of everyday objects.
Here we’ll discuss why you may want to consider different phone camera lenses and highlight a few of our favorites.
Understanding Phone Camera Lenses or Add-Ons
So, what exactly are phone camera lenses, sometimes called smartphone lens add-ons, and why do you need them? Simply, these are external lenses you attach to your smartphone to enhance your smartphone’s built-in camera. From capturing panoramic views to detailed close-ups, add-ons open up a wide range of new photo opportunities.
Why Choose Phone Camera Lenses?
- Expand your creativity: Smartphone lens add-ons let you experiment with different visual effects
- Achieve professional results: Produce high-quality shots without investing in a Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera
- Take phone camera lenses with you: Compact and easy to carry, you can take these lenses wherever you go
- Enjoy hassle-free zooming: Smartphone zoom often lowers camera quality, causing blurry and pixelated photos, but lens add-ons offer a solution to this issue
Types of Phone Camera Lenses
In the world of phone camera lenses, each type enhances a smartphone’s camera using different effects. So before deciding on your ideal lens, consider the typical shots you want to capture.
Here’s a closer look at the various lens options and the creative possibilities they unlock:
1. Wide-Angle Lens
Wide-angle lenses broaden your frame, allowing you to fit more into a single image. These phone camera lenses are perfect for sweeping landscapes, group photos, and architectural shots.
This lens style reduces aperture (the size the camera lens opens to allow light in). This in turn expands the image’s depth of field. The result is a “pop” effect, where the foreground becomes emphasized and sharp while the background recedes and blurs.
If you’d like to try a wide-angle lens with your smartphone, here’s one to consider:
Moment 18mm Wide Mobile Lens | M-Series
The Moment 18mm wide M-series lens helps you capture stunning photos and videos with twice as much coverage. Say goodbye to fisheye warping and hello to crisp, linear shots when you’re photographing landscapes or cityscapes.
Constructed with quality glass and aerospace-grade materials, this lens performs under varying lighting conditions when mounted. Plus, attaching the lens is easy—just match the white marks on the lens and the case, then turn it to the right.
This lens is available for iPhone or Android devices. It’s compatible with the Pro Max iPhone, the Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, and One Plus phones.
2. Macro Lens
Photograph the finest details with macro lenses. These phone camera lenses are ideal for capturing the delicate textures of flowers, the intricate patterns of insects, or any small subject.
A tip for using a macro lens is to take a closer look at your subjects by positioning yourself low for unique perspectives.
Here’s our pick for an effective yet easy-to-use macro lens:
APEXEL 100mm Macro Lens & CPL Filter with Multi-Function Lens Clip Kit
Crafted with a generous aperture, the APEXEL 100mm macro lens kit creates a blur effect for interesting macro photography.
This macro lens kit contains five high-quality glass lenses. Each lens is coated with three to five layers to boost clarity and minimize reflections. This ensures an undistorted and well-lit HD view without any dark corners or warping.
This kit also includes a Circular Polarizing Filter (CPL Filter), which gets rid of unwanted reflections on metal, glass, or water surfaces.
No app or special phone case is required for the lens. Just keep the lens hole in line with your phone’s main camera, attach the multi-function clip to your phone, and fasten the macro lens to start using it.
The lens is universally compatible with almost all smartphones, including:
- Google Pixel
- Huawei
- Samsung Galaxy
- iPhone 14/14 Pro/14 Pro Max
3. Telephoto Lens
With telephoto phone camera lenses, you can get up close without compromising image quality. These lenses have a similar effect as using a regular camera zoom, but they keep the image quality intact.
These lenses are perfect for wildlife photography or sports events because you can catch all the action, even when you’re a long way from the action.
Consider adding the following telephoto lens to your smartphone accessories:
Apexel Classic Phone Camera 36X Telephoto Lens
The Apexel Classic Phone Camera 36X Telephoto Lense is a high-powered, versatile lens that lets you adjust focus without missing a second. It looks like a mini telescope, and with its powerful magnification it certainly acts like one.
This lens offers high transparency and definition for distortion-free, realistic visuals. With 36X magnification, high resolution, and a compact design, this telephoto lens offers optimal viewing and portability on the go.
The Apexel lens is compatible with the iPhone 14 Pro/14 Pro Max and 13 Pro/13 Pro Max.
4. Anamorphic Lens
Achieve a cinematic look for your photos with the help of anamorphic lenses. These types of phone camera lenses create a unique widescreen perspective.
If you want to give your phone photos an upgraded feel, consider this anamorphic lens:
The Beastgrip Pro Series 1.33X Anamorphic Lens MK2
Meet the Beastgrip Pro Series 1.33X Anamorphic Lens MK2—perfect for shooting documentaries and landscapes. With this lens, you can bring crispness to all of your photos and reveal hidden details in your images.
If you’re shooting video, this lens’s cinematic widescreen 2.4:1 aspect ratio and organic horizontal lens flares will give your footage that Hollywood look. Plus, the lens also includes a 62mm lens filter mount built into the design.
Compatible with iPhones and Android devices, this lens adds cinema-like quality to your storytelling. Just be aware that you will need a simple post-production app for editing final touches.
5. Fisheye Lens
If you’re looking to add a playful and distorted twist to your shots, fisheye phone camera lenses are for you. Perfect for artistic compositions, quirky selfies, and usual perspectives, this lens lets you experiment with your creative side.
A fisheye lens helps capture exciting action shots or videos as its wide perspective lets you get close without missing anything. Plus, the extra-wide view helps reduce shaky footage when you’re on the move.
Explore new visual perspectives with the following fisheye camera lens:
Moment 14mm Fisheye Mobile Lens | M-Series
Introducing the Moment Fisheye 14mm Mobile Lens. With a sweeping 200-degree field of view, it outshines typical ultra-wide phone lenses by 30%. This fisheye lens uses your camera’s entire sensor, so you’ll get a crisp, edge-to-edge image with no dark corners.
This lens is sharper than ultra-wide, thanks to bi-aspheric glass, a fresh optical design, and mounting over the built-in wide lens—allowing 25% more light and compatibility with night mode.
This fisheye lens is compatible with iPhone Series 13 and newer, the Pixel 7 Pro and newer, and most Galaxy phones.
6. Ultra Wide-Angle Lens
Expand your field of view even further with an ultra wide-angle lens. If you want to capture panoramic views, architectural marvels, and the beauty of nature, this is the type of lens you need for your phone.
If you think an ultra-wide angle lens may be for you, here’s one we like:
SANDMARC Wide Lens
The SANDMARC Wide Lens can help revolutionize your iPhone camera experience. Helpfully, this lens captures razor-sharp photos and videos seamlessly. It also provides good image clarity compared to your iPhone’s native ultra-wide camera, especially in low-light conditions.
This lens works with front and rear phone cameras and has a special multi-coated glass that captures scenes two times wider than the standard smartphone camera. Additionally, it’s compatible with Drama PL & Scape ND filters and has a unique thread design for easy filter attachment.
This lens kit also includes a convenient clip-on mount, so it will always be securely attached to your phone. But, you can also safeguard your lens with the provided lens pouch.
Enhance Your Smartphone With Phone Camera Lenses
Discover more than your phone’s camera with phone camera lenses. The right add-on lens will help you capture sweeping landscapes, intricate details, and cinematic shots for a truly creative photographic experience for photographers of all skill levels.
