ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Sandmarc Telephoto 2x lens is on the market now for $155.
- The lens attaches to your iPhone and makes photographs extra vivid, including an expert high quality to your pictures (and is cheaper than a DSLR).
- It’s not out there for Android and sometimes warps close-up photographs.
Since I may maintain a digicam, I have been engaged on bettering my images expertise. Now that I must take product photographs for work, I’ve devoted extra time to determining the right way to seize one of the best photographs I can. As a result of, if I am being trustworthy, I typically battle with it.
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Whereas researching the right way to up my recreation, I stumbled upon the Sandmarc Telephoto 2x Lens. It got here up on my TikTok search, and I used to be instantly intrigued. Within the video, the content material creator mentioned the lens was vital for creators, and it makes your footage have DSLR high quality.
After seeing this, I knew I needed to give it a strive. If you happen to’re a budding photographer with an iPhone and on a funds, you will need to understand how my expertise went.
The lens has two software choices. You possibly can both screw the lens into an included clip or into the telephone case, which can be included within the buy. Sadly for Android customers, this product is barely appropriate with the iPhone 14 and past.
The Sanmarc Telephoto 2x lens connected to the clip.
Allison Jewell/ZDNET
I first tried it out on some product photographs. It was an overcast day, and hardly any pure mild got here via my window, so I had issue getting the shot I envisioned. I did get some good pictures after taking part in with the lighting, although. I experimented with it once more throughout a visit to an Indiana State park.
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As soon as I received the hold of it, it felt extraordinarily pure. Plus, it is means much less cumbersome than a digicam. Once I did not want it, I may simply slip it again into my purse.
The photographs turned out lovely. As a result of it is a 2x lens, it really works nice for nature and out of doors pictures. Nevertheless, this lens wants numerous mild to do its finest work, so I would not suggest it for many who shoot at evening or indoor occasions with poor lighting. The zoom from the 2x lens was a lot cleaner than the native digicam.
The left picture of the Sandmarc clip was taken with the lens, and the picture on the best was taken with my plain iPhone digicam.
Allison Jewell/ZDNET
My buddies have been curious in regards to the large lens protruding of my telephone, however after I confirmed them the clear pictures I received with it, all of them needed photos with the lens. These additionally got here out beautiful. The colour is much more saturated than the iPhone digicam, and objects pop within the body.
The lens is marketed as being nice for portraits, and I agree. Once I in contrast pictures that my iPhone took with and with out the lens, the lens pictures have been the clear winner.
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This digicam additionally produces wonderful video. I filmed water flowing over rocks on the state park, and the ensuing picture was dynamic and alive. I in contrast it to my iPhone, and it was actually higher and added a lot crispness to the shot.
The most important qualm I had with the lens is that it didn’t work with the native digicam app on my iPhone. As an alternative, I needed to pay $10 to obtain an app known as Procam. The iPhone’s digicam does not permit for a lot guide management.
A crisp shot I took at a state park with the Sandmarc Telephoto 2x lens.
Allison Jewell/ZDNET
Once I put the lens on, it might shift between cameras, and the lens would block the shot. With the ProCam app, you’ll be able to management virtually any setting along with your digicam, enabling you to make use of the Sandmarc lens correctly.
It’s a little irritating to spend extra cash when you could have already spent $150 on the lens, and it is good to have entry to an expert app, however it might be even higher if it could possibly be used with the native digicam. Nevertheless, which may be Apple’s difficulty, not Sandmarc’s.
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The lens additionally tends to warp shut objects in case you’re not cautious. There have been additionally occasions when unhealthy lighting yielded below-average photographs and a few minimal warping, however I can chalk that as much as person error.
There has at all times been a component of crispness that I’ve lacked in my earlier photographs. With the Sandmarc 2x lens, I can simply enhance my images recreation with out having to spend a whole bunch of {dollars} on a DSLR.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
The Sandmarc Telephoto 2x lens is a superb accent for newbie photographers with an iPhone 14 and past. Utilizing the ProCam app with the lens provides you the texture of a DSLR with out truly having one, right down to the guide controls. Nevertheless, $150 could be a hefty price ticket for some who really feel their iPhone digicam is sufficient.
Resulting from its small and accessible measurement, this accent could possibly be very handy for professionals who should be able to take photos on the fly.
