Smartphone accessory lens maker Olloclip has launched a new mobile lens system that is designed specifically for use with the Apple iPhone X.
With a number of interchangeable lenses and a "lens mount" that clips onto your device, Connect X works in a very similar way to previous Olloclip systems. However, the new lenses come with a number of features that are exclusive to Apple's flagship smartphone, including a lens mount that aligns perfectly with the iPhone X's front and rear cameras, allowing for use of the accessory lenses with both camera modules.
In addition, the lens mount is expandable and therefore usable in combination with most protective phone cases. The Connect X system also comes with a pendant stand designed to carry the set of lenses, but that also works as a mini-tripod.
There are six lenses available for the Connect X system:
Super-Wide: Four-element lens with 120° field of view
The system is now available to order on Olloclip.com. Individual components range from $60 to $80. You can also purchase a Mobile Photography Box Set for iPhone X which contains the Connect X lens mount plus Super-Wide, Fisheye, and Macro 15x lenses. It will set you back $100. The bundle will also be available at Apple Stores starting in June.
Well, I got one with wide and ultra-wide. The lens is wonderful, however, and this is a big however, it's much harder to work with than all previous versions. The joy was you had two lens with you at all times and could just reverse the clip. No longer. If your "clip" has the fisheye and ultra wide for example and you wish to switch one to the rear camera, you cant just reverse the clip. You have to remove each lens, reinstall the lens you want on the rear, shoot then reinstall the original lens to its position. Very cumbersome. Back to switching prime lenses :). I know from experience continued lens switching leads to broken plastic clips. So I'm not looking forward to a good run. FYI only their case works. It has cut-outs around the rear camera that their clips " pop" into.
Hello, The clip is excellent, it's just not as easy to work with as it was in the past. The other issue on the iPhone X is that when the clip is attached you cannot use face ID you need to enter the code manually, I would recommend the wide and ultra wide... quality of image is very good
I hope that DP Review "reviews" some of these clip-on lenses (like Olloclip, Moment, etc) and publish the photos actually taken using them. Most photos used for their ads do not have full resolution, and heavily "photoshopped". Even so, I can see some blurry parts around the center (the center looks OK). But I cannot exactly see how bad it is. I need some honest (full resolution) pictures by honest reviewers using all the lenses they offer (Tele lens, wide angle lens, Macro lens etc).
It is untrue that these work with most phone cases. If you look at the product pages for the lenses it says right there that it doesn't support any other phone cases except for olliclip-ready cases.
Cut and paste from product page:
✓ Works with caseless iPhone ✓ Works with "olloclip-ready" phone case ✗ Does not work with any other phone case
I have been using Olloclips since they were a Kickstarter project. A fantastic addition to my "photo life." Your review states "therefore usable in combination with most protective phone cases." not according to their website video, only their own case works, "no matter how thin"... as for its value, well worth it. I've gotten shots in confined spaces using the ultra wide that I could not have gotten with either my D7200 or XT2, without carrying around a bag of lenses. Clip it on a belt loop and it's easy to take along...
I carry my phone in a very small purse. It only has room for my phone, credit cards and cash. I only use my phone as a camera when I see something I want to shoot a picture of and I don’t have a camera with me. I carry my keys in my pocket. I could slip this into my other pocket. Bab
It says that it can be used with most protective phone cases. My X has an Apple phone case and should be included. I might stop by Apple in June and check these out. They will probably allow customers to try it at the store. As far as Apple iPhone X sales go, I read today that Apple had a very good quarter, thanks in part to excellent iPhone X sales.
if a contraption like this has validity then thicker phones with better or removable batteries , thicker phones that have decent lenses and sensors , and thicker phones that can actually be held properly are valid too
well the obsession with thinness hurts every aspect of performance ... better a few mm more than these ridiculousness bendable thin battery thin optical stack apple slivers and the android copycats in thiness
I would agree that phones could stand be a little thicker. Just not as big as a phone with the olliclip attached, which is what I thought you were implying.
True, and there are now reports circulating that the iPhone X isn't selling well due to it's $1000 price point. Probably headed for an early demise or at least a much small production run. There will be fewer cameras onto which you can attach the Olloclip so it's not good news for Olloclip.
There's a very good likelihood that Apple will reuse the camera design in the future. They typically have done 2-3 generations with the same camera placement on other models.
"True, and there are now reports circulating that the iPhone X isn't selling well due to it's $1000 price point. Probably headed for an early demise or at least a much small production run. "
Have you read all the reports AFTER Apple has announced their quarterly profits?
G1Houston - No it was based on rumors that apple was cutting back orders with suppliers of parts for the iPhone X. The quarterly report shows the X doing well and that the rumors were false. I stand corrected.
Actually, the quarterly figures shows not meeting estimates in pretty much all IPhone sales, and in per phone revenue, which implies IPhone X not getting close to estimates sales numbers..
In what way is that 'doing well'?
Total profit increased mostly due to more big cuts in costs..
There have been 2 impediments to these smartphone lens systems being really practical:
1) Being able to use with your existing cases. Most people use a case on their iPhone and do not want to have to remove it to use a lens system. Also the same goes for a screen protector. I have seen someone's screen protector prevent a lens from fitting onto an iPhone.
2) Being able to use with additional models of iPhones as new designs are released. With these lens systems they are designed for one type of iPhone body, and so they will have a very limited shelf life if you update your iPhone.
So in summary, to make these lens systems really take off, one would have to somehow make them more universal: can be used with virtually any case, on any model. I don't know if that is even possible, but if not then these will continue to be a very niche market.
The main advantage of using a smartphone for photography is convenience. Another is the perception that it is free, since you needed a phone anyway.
Whenever you start needing extra cost attachments to make your phone "more camera like" you diminish both. The resulting configuration ends up less convenient, harder to carry and more expensive. And all those separate parts aren't "always with you" unless you want to start carrying a cell phone bag.
Who says they need to always be with you? Use the lenses in the camera most of the time, or for convenience purposes. Use the add-on lenses when you want to be creative or are on vacation, etc.
I am sure that people with ILC kits don't take ALL their lenses with them all the time. If they did, you could easily conclude that pancake lenses are pointless.
@ Marty4650 I have a Full Frame Canon. Should I drop my plans to buy the bulky/expensive/heavy and therefore inconvienent "Holy Trinity" Zooms? Maybe all I really need is a fast 50mm.
You absolutely shouldn't. Go ahead and buy that Holy Trinity. And get a fast 50mm lens too. I'd opt for the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art lens.
You will be glad you did.
Sure it will be less convenient than using a cell phone plus a bag of toy plastic clip on lenses, but your photos will be at least a million times better.
apple users already need to pocket contraptions like dongles just to use a non apple [ and sometimes apple ] headphone set.... just store accessory lenses in the dongle pouch
This is key for me: "usable in combination with most protective phone cases." I'm simply not using my Iphone without a protective case. Yet I do not see in the video this system being used with, say, an otter case, or any other protective case. Nothing on the website either.
I do appreciate DPReview covering this subject as I'm very interested in getting a lens set for my Iphone X.
On the vendor website it simply says that this lens system has 'Expanding mount is compatible with all screen protectors." Nothing about it expanding to work with all cases.
The most the vendor does is offer their own case which is compatible with this lens system.
The a7R V is the fifth iteration of Sony's high-end, high-res full-frame mirrorless camera. The new 60MP Mark IV, gains advanced AF, focus stacking and a new rear screen arrangement. We think it excels at stills.
Topaz Labs' flagship app uses AI algorithms to make some complex image corrections really, really easy. But is there enough here to justify its rather steep price?
Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a 'best' option. We case our eye over the options costing more than $2500 but less than $4000, to find the best all-rounder.
There are a lot of photo/video cameras that have found a role as B-cameras on professional film productions or even A-cameras for amateur and independent productions. We've combed through the options and selected our two favorite cameras in this class.
What’s the best camera for around $2000? These capable cameras should be solid and well-built, have both the speed and focus to capture fast action and offer professional-level image quality. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing around $2000 and recommended the best.
Family moments are precious and sometimes you want to capture that time spent with loved ones or friends in better quality than your phone can manage. We've selected a group of cameras that are easy to keep with you, and that can adapt to take photos wherever and whenever something memorable happens.
What's the best camera for shooting sports and action? Fast continuous shooting, reliable autofocus and great battery life are just three of the most important factors. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for shooting sports and action, and recommended the best.
While peak Milky Way season is on hiatus, there are other night sky wonders to focus on. We look at the Orion constellation and Northern Lights, which are prevalent during the winter months.
We've gone hands-on with Nikon's new 17-28mm F2.8 lens for its line of Z-mount cameras. Check out the sample gallery to see what kind of image quality it has to offer on a Nikon Z7 II.
The winning and finalist images from the annual Travel Photographer of the Year awards have been announced, showcasing incredible scenes from around the world. Check out the gallery to see which photographs took the top spots.
The a7R V is the fifth iteration of Sony's high-end, high-res full-frame mirrorless camera. The new 60MP Mark IV, gains advanced AF, focus stacking and a new rear screen arrangement. We think it excels at stills.
Using affordable Sony NP-F batteries and the Power Junkie V2 accessory, you can conveniently power your camera and accessories, whether they're made by Sony or not.
According to Japanese financial publication Nikkei, Sony has moved nearly all of its camera production out of China and into Thailand, citing geopolitical tensions and supply chain diversification.
A pro chimes in with his long-term impressions of DJI's Mavic 3. While there were ups and downs, filmmaker José Fransisco Salgado found that in his use of the drone, firmware updates have made it better with every passing month.
Landscape photography has a very different set of requirements from other types of photography. We pick the best options at three different price ranges.
AI is here to stay, so we must prepare ourselves for its many consequences. We can use AI to make our lives easier, but it's also possible to use AI technology for more nefarious purposes, such as making stealing photos a simple one-click endeavor.
This DIY project uses an Adafruit board and $40 worth of other components to create a light meter and metadata capture device for any film photography camera.
Scientists at the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia have used a transmitter with 'less power than a microwave' to produce the highest resolution images of the moon ever captured from Earth.
The tiny cameras, which weigh just 1.4g, fit inside the padding of a driver's helmet, offering viewers at home an eye-level perspective as F1 cars race through the corners of the world's most exciting race tracks. In 2023, all drivers will be required to wear the cameras.
The new ultrafast prime for Nikon Z-mount cameras is a re-worked version of Cosina's existing Voigtländer 50mm F1 Aspherical lens for Leica M-mount cameras.
There are plenty of hybrid cameras on the market, but often a user needs to choose between photo- or video-centric models in terms of features. Jason Hendardy explains why he would want to see shutter angle and 32-bit float audio as added features in cameras that highlight both photo and video functionalities.
SkyFi's new Earth Observation service is now fully operational, allowing users to order custom high-resolution satellite imagery of any location on Earth using a network of more than 80 satellites.
In some parts of the world, winter brings picturesque icy and snowy scenes. However, your drone's performance will be compromised in cold weather. Here are some tips for performing safe flights during the chilliest time of the year.
The winners of the Ocean Art Photo Competition 2022 have been announced, showcasing incredible sea-neries (see what we did there?) from around the globe.
Venus Optics has announced a quartet of new anamorphic cine lenses for Super35 cameras, the Proteus 2x series. The 2x anamorphic lenses promise ease of use, accessibility and high-end performance for enthusiast and professional video applications.
We've shot the new Fujinon XF 56mm F1.2R WR lens against the original 56mm F1.2R, to check whether we should switch the lens we use for our studio test scene or maintain consistency.
Nature photographer Erez Marom continues his series about landscape composition by discussing the multifaceted role played by the sky in a landscape image.
The NONS SL660 is an Instax Square instant camera with an interchangeable lens design. It's made of CNC-milled aluminum alloy, has an SLR-style viewfinder, and retails for a $600. We've gone hands-on to see what it's like to shoot with.
Recently, DJI made Waypoints available for their Mavic 3 series of drones, bringing a formerly high-end feature to the masses. We'll look at what this flight mode is and why you should use it.
Astrophotographer Bray Falls was asked to help verify the discovery of the Andromeda Oxygen arc. He describes his process for verification, the equipment he used and where astronomers should point their telescopes next.
OM Digital Solutions has released firmware updates for the following cameras to add compatibility support for its new M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm F3.5 Macro IS PRO lens: OM-D E-M1 Mark II, E-M1 Mark III, E-M5 Mark III, E-M1X, and OM-5.
Comments