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.
Top Rated Comments
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.
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.
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"?
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.
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.