Reading mode: Light Dark

News Reviews Articles Buying Guide Sample Images Videos Cameras Lenses Phones Printers Forums Galleries Challenges

Now reading: iPad Telephoto Lens will take close-ups with your tablet 39 comments

iPad Telephoto Lens will take close-ups with your tablet

Published Apr 22, 2013 | Lauren Crabbe

If you thought people were making fun of you for taking photos with your iPad before, just wait till you try on the iPad Telephoto Lens.

There is something about seeing a tablet take photos that just brings on the giggles. Pair that with a telephoto lens and you've got a one-way ticket to lol-ville.

While the iPad's camera may not stack up to the iPhone's 8-megapixel unit, the latest iPad has an f/2.4, 5-megapixel camera that can do the trick if you left your iPhone at home. Some people even prefer using the iPad to take photos because its screen makes for a huge viewfinder. The tablet camera has become ubiquitous enough to necessitate a ban from some concert venues where music fans are frustrated by the large form factor used to capture concert footage.

If you can stand the snickers, the iPad Telephoto Lens will let you zoom in super close with your tablet. The accessory screws into a mount for your iPad 3, 4 or Mini and can be easily removed for storage. The lens for iPad 3 and 4 is 10x zoom while the lens for the 5MP Mini is 12x. Both cost $25 from Photojojo.

The iPad Telephoto Lens can take some super close ups. (Example from Photojojo.)

Tags: mobile, accessory, ipad, lens, news, tablet, telephoto, zoom

Comments

All (39)

Most popular (4)

Editors' picks (0)

DPR staff (3)

Oldest first

Roland Karlsson

Using your iPad or iPhone or whatever smart thing to take a photo. Thats OK. I do it. Lots of people do it. Its just common sense. You get the image, and it might even be good.

But, adding accessories to your smart thing, I don't know if its smart. You then have to carry extra things. Things you have to mount on the phone or tablet.

In this case, its probably smarter to have a dedicated zoom camera. Easier to use and better image quality.

May 5, 2013permalink

MikeFairbanks

It's silly, yes, but if someone is behind you it's just rude.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

grumpyolderman

It is all well on a bright day, like in the example shooting the bright sky, but how is this going to work in a concert, where you usually struggle with low light? Strange suggestion, as I am absolutely sure this adaptor will need a lot of light
JL

Apr 24, 2013permalink

Roger T.

This might be disillusioning for some folks here on dpreview, but it occurred to me the other day: most people don't want cameras - they want pictures. It doesn't matter if it's a smart phone, a tablet, a cardboard box, or a leather wallet - if the object you have in hand will create images good enough for your purposes, why not use it? We'll all wind up living in that little space created by the question "How can I get a better picture?"
(I have a D700 with the lens trinity, an LX-3, a bunch of older Nikon bodies and stuff, and a Galaxy 10.1 Tablet. I like cameras - but I'm not most people.)

Apr 24, 2013permalink

HarrieD7000

I love to see my pictures on my new iPad, but I never make picture with the little piece of glass on front nor on the back of this thing. If anyone wants to use it like a camera it is ok with me, but don't call the result a photo.

Apr 23, 2013permalink

Serenity Now

What do you propose we call it?

Apr 29, 2013permalink

Digitall

Shooting with iPad is already ridiculous, with a lens of those only reinforces the idea even more ridiculous is. Needless to say "cheese!", just look and people automatically start laughing.

Apr 23, 2013permalink

johnparas11zenfoliodotcom

i wish the samsung Note 2 has some cases where there will be a built in grip.. so when i use it as a camera...

Apr 23, 2013permalink

StevenE

Make an iPad or iPhone accessory and it will sell. It doesn't need to make sense.

Next up: an iPad leash, for when you need to take your dog-photo for a walk

Apr 23, 2013permalink

I own an iPad & iPhone too, so I am quite fond of Apple.
However, when I watch people, mainly women (sorry...this is true), taking photos with their iPads (mini or standard), I kind of wonder...why? I mean everyone I know who owns an iPad, usually also has an iPhone or an Android phone and the photo quality from these phones is usually much better than the one of tablets.
At some point, I asked a friend's wife why she uses an iPad for taking photos and the reply was quite simple: She uses the iPad as some sort of photo album, so why not take the photos directly with it, so there is no need for a transfer or whatever? Actually quite ingenious *LOL* but I guess her quality expectations aren't the same as mine. Yes, it looks stupid taking photos with an iPad at an event or even at the zoo but on the other hand, why shouldn't people take photos with whatever they want? This is called freedom of choice and I actually couldn't care less. Even if it looks stupid...oops...silly. ;-)

Apr 23, 2013permalink

wansai

most people can't tell the difference between high quality photo or low quality photo. All they see is a photo.

For example, even to this day, people still show me pictures that are 300px small with heavy pixilation, noise and muddy colour. You can barely even make out who the person in the shot is, but to many people, it just doesn't seem to matter.

My wife can't tell if a picture is any good unless I pull out a comparative shot and explain to her how it's better; then she realises how big the difference is. usually this means shooting a picture of her with a crappy camera then one with an APSC camera. Only when I side by side does she have that "wow" moment.

Apr 24, 2013permalink

Sharky12

Did you tell her that iCloud would sync her photos from her iPhone to the iPad anyways .... ?

May 9, 2013permalink

thinkfat

You can see that in every touristic location now.

I'll call it, um... Sightpadding.

Apr 23, 2013permalink

topstuff

I have noticed people starting to show up at public events using ipads as cameras.

When you have a wall of them in front of you, they obscure your view of the event unfolding.

I recently attended a wedding where this was commonplace.

Maybe I am getting grumpy, but I found it incredibly annoying !

Apr 23, 2013permalink

techmine

And they say, regular cameras are annoying.

Apr 23, 2013permalink

Lars Rehm

The Yeah Yeah Yeah's have actually banned picture taking at their concerts for precisely the same reason.

Apr 23, 2013permalink

tazmac

People try to make money here while make you look stupid...

Apr 23, 2013permalink

brecklundin

good gawds...what next an iPad marital aid by KY advertized with a free sample of their Apple Co-branded "warming" gel...

Apr 23, 2013permalink

Sammy Yousef

It's just one half of a pair of roof hinge binoculars. At $25 I won't quibble, especially if someone's made sure it works with your device. But lets not call this something new. I've been holding cameras eye to my telescope and microscope eyepieces for years.

I don't really want a tablet so this isn't for me.

Apr 23, 2013permalink

ThaPeastenator

Nah, I'll stick with my Nikon.

Apr 23, 2013permalink

jm67

Seeing as how it's now Monday, I expect I'll probably stop laughing come Saturday. Or maybe not. This is almost as hilarious as the iphone dohicky that attached it to your hotshoe to amuse infants while you took their photos.

Apr 23, 2013permalink

JackM

Alternate title: "One More Way to Spot a Moron in Public"

Apr 23, 2013permalink

Mario G

If my calculations are right, this 10-12x telephoto adapter will slow down the lens by 3.3-3.6 stops at best, which would turn the original f/2.4 into a rather slow f/7-f/8... Considering also the lack of stabiliser with an around 300mm lens (in 35mm equiv), this is going to need a tripod for anything except bright sunshine...
But people like the lady playing with the ipad above would probably be clueless about what that means, and be content with their extremely blurred night concerts photos.

Apr 22, 2013permalink

Lars Rehm

As long as people are content there is no harm, right? ;-)

Apr 22, 2013permalink

Mario G

Fair enough, or maybe this will make people realise it the hard way that it doesn't quite work as they expected, and push them to switch to proper cameras and lenses ;-)

Apr 22, 2013permalink

BendiBus

A tripod for an iPad? An iPod?

Apr 23, 2013permalink

The Customer

Cool idea and looks like it also could add some balance to the iPad's handling, when used as a camera.

Apr 22, 2013permalink

noirdesir

Not too long ago, some people preferred a large format camera because composing on a big 'screen' is more precise, easier and more enjoyable. Why should composing with an iPad screen thus be something ludicrous?

Apr 22, 2013permalink

KevinFultonPhotography

Because large format cameras offer superior quality photos over their small 35mm brothers. This you get a nice big viewfinder with no quality benefits. In fact, since its camera assembly is not as good as the iPhone 4S or 5, the IQ is actually a step down.

Apr 22, 2013*permalink

Lars Rehm

on a large format camera you have minimal depth of field which makes a large viewfinder a necessity. On the iPad you have almost indefinite DoF. A big screen is still nice to have but doesn't really offer any "precision advantage" over a smaller one.

Apr 22, 2013permalink

Peiasdf

People also pick GH3 over other m4/3 or NEX cameras eventhough there are no IQ advantage over other cameras.

What I find more ludicrous is people using built-in-flash shooting skyscraper and lomography.

Apr 22, 2013permalink

graybalanced

There are two opinions here. One is that the large screen is of value, the other that the camera doesn't justify any improvements in viewing.

Not much will change about the large screen. It will remain a large Retina-quality viewfinder, which, if it was on a "pro" camera, would be highly desired.

But what will change is the quality of the iPad camera. Sure, it isn't great now, but just look at the trajectory on similar devices. Its quality can only go up. The iPad camera is sure to improve to where other mobile cameras are now. Not too many years from now, it might be valuable to use the iPad as a Retina viewfinder the same size as an 8x10 view camera.

Apr 22, 2013permalink

Anepo

There is a difference of an actual optical viewfinder and looking at a digital low res image on a tablet which wont give you the correct info nor be a good "viewfinder"

Apr 27, 2013permalink

jcmarfilph

Just another make-your-life-miserable accessory.

Apr 22, 2013permalink

Mssimo

Sad thing is they will sell more lenses than leica or zeiss this year.

Apr 22, 2013permalink

udris

It serves a purpose and considering a lot of images are about shoot>post>delete the quality is not needed.

Apr 22, 2013permalink

Peiasdf

Sad thing is people still think Leica or Zeiss stands for high quality photography.

For people using this, they only need to bring a small lens attachment alongside their iPads and they can capture more varied photos. I rather have something like this than a MF at home and miss something.

Apr 22, 2013permalink

Anepo

Mssimo i purchased my first "leica" lens today and now regret it and wish i would of gotten this instead (just kidding lol)
but i got the 25mm 1.4f for my omd today & now i feel like a boss...
except i got enough money for two pizzas to last the month now lol, m43 is expensive as hell but worth it.

Apr 27, 2013permalink

martinsvanags

Does shooting on 8x10 view camera look silly? iPad is even smaller view area. It's all coming back to beginnings.

Apr 28, 2013permalink


Surprisingly sharp: Inmacus 18mm HD Wide Angle Kit lens review Apr 22, 2016	Huawei clarifies Leica-involvement in P9 camera design Apr 20, 2016	Learning curve: LensRentals examines the workings of linear focus motors Apr 21, 2016	DxOMark Mobile report: Nextbit Robin Apr 21, 2016

141	* This Week Through Your M4/3 2016.09.24 *
113	Question for FAS haters
101	The image qualities of Sony vs Canon sensors
66	Translucent mirror of doom?
60	*This week with your a7x, 9/24/2016, part 1*
53	Need a little help choosing our hiking camera. pix included
53	Which micro 4/3 lenses?
48	PART 2 This Week Through your m4/3 2016.09.25
46	How important are the ergonomics and "gestalt" of your camera to you?
46	>>>Weekly Close Up (WCU)_23_September_2016_<<<
45	M5 naysayers, educated opinions welcome
43	For Vaughan B - this is what detail looks like
41	* Weekly Wildlife Thread 24th to 30th September 2016 *
41	Give me some compelling reasons to upgrade from XT1 to TX2
39	Let's break off Olympus E-M1 Mk1 & MkII into it's own!
38	Forget Sigma Art - This is Nikon Art
38	EM1 II, recommended for pro video, are you kiddin....
35	Bright aperture more advantage than bigger sensor (examples)
33	X-T2 froze up at wedding.
33	[Humor] The Universal Answer Thread


Sadiqur_Rahman by Sadiqur Rahman from Ain't Going to Work on Maggie's Farm no More	Airborne by John Beavin from - How to respect the Flag and Anthem - (Portrait in Full Colours + A Border)