The iPro Lens Trio Kit (229) will help you take better photos with your smartphone's camera. The three-lens set includes super-wide, macro and telephoto lenses. It is also available for the iPhone 5 (Amazon) and 5s (at Amazon) respectively.
A mounting clip is available to attach the lenses to all iPad models. However, iPro does not yet have a case for any Windows Phones. We like it a lot better than the bulky, waterproof Optrix PhotoProX lens system for a lot of reasons, including the iPro's sleeker design, bayonet mounting system, excellent image quality, and à la carte purchase options.
It is made from a tough plastic material and sleek. The case is black and fits on your phone in two pieces. The bottom covers approximately a third of the phone, while the top portion slides on the first. The lens bayonet mount is located on the top and can be accessed from the bottom. The case is sturdy when connected and feels good to the hand. Although it doesn't bulk up the phone much, there are two threaded sockets on each side.
These are screwed into the cylndrical pistolgrip, which allows you to hold your phone more steadily when taking photos. It has a tripod socket on its bottom that allows you to use your phone with either a Gorillapod or tripod. The grip also doubles up as a case for lenses. The grip can be disassembled into four pieces and contains three bayonet mounting points for lenses storage.
Telephoto lenses add-ons double the focal length of the phone's camera. It behaves much like a 60mm lens, with a wide angle 30mm lens. This lens is for photographers who want a wider field of vision. This lens is the biggest of all three included in the Trio Kit. It can't be slipped into your pocket without it attached. It doesn't show any noticeable difference in image quality, unlike the Optrix PhotoProX add-on.
Super-wide angle is a design of 0.5x, which means that your 30-mm lens can be transformed into an ultra-wide optic measuring 15mm. The lens is small enough to be carried in your pocket with the attached lens cap. Although I did not notice any drop in sharpness, the barrel distortion was noticeable. Although it isn't fisheye-like, the distortion is noticeable. The effects of this effect are illustrated above, the naked iPhone 5 lens is in the middle, and the Telephoto lens to the right. All shots were taken from the same location.
My favorite lens of all was the macro lens, however that is purely personal choice. Although the iPhone's close focus capabilities are decent, I found it easy to get a good image with the macro lens. I could even spot my reflection within a droplet of water on a rose! Macro photography is difficult with smartphones because you can't adjust the aperture to change the depth of field. It can be hard to focus an image as sharply as you want, even though the image sensor is very small.
You can also buy the standard Wide Angle lens (85), which will increase your field of vision to match 20mm prime lenses, or a fish eye lens (89), if that's what you prefer. If you're not interested in all of the lenses in this kit, or are put off by its asking price, you can buy everything à la carte. You can buy the case for around $31, get the macro lens for $39 and the telephoto at $99 while the super-wide is $75.
These lenses perform well, with only minor distortion from the super-wide. The bayonet mount system allows for faster lens changes than the Optrix PhotoProX's screw-mount design. Price is what holds you back from buying the iPro Lens Trio Kit. A decent compact camera, such as the Canon PowerShot SX600HS (Amazon), can be purchased for $229.
It can focus closer and deliver better quality images than phones. The zoom lens can also be used for wide-angle or telephoto shots. It's easy to transfer images from your compact camera to share on Instagram and Twitter because almost all new models ship with Wi-Fi. If you don't feel like buying a new camera or aren't willing to invest too much money, the best option is to buy the case with a single lens.
Compatibility is another concern when you upgrade your phone. Apple did not change the design of iPhone 5 when it launched the 5s. However, the highly-respected Samsung Galaxy S5 has been available for some time now without a case. The iPro lens system might be worth considering if your phone is still in good condition and you don't want to carry a small camera. The iPro lens system is a great optical option that makes your smartphone's camera more useful.