Professional photographers are increasingly ditching their DSLRs for smartphones. Yes, you read that right. “Mobiography” is in. And with innovations like 360-degree video, 3D imaging, and depth sensing, some think the future of the mobile device is less about the phone and more about the camera.
Cue attachable smartphone lenses. They clip-on, screw-in, slide-on, or magnetically stick to a phone’s built-in lens to enhance photos. Both lighter and more compact than traditional camera gear, they’re perfect for traveling. Here are five types of attachable lenses to up your Insta-game.
1. Fisheye
The fisheye’s ultra-wide-angle lens goes beyond panoramic shots, capturing 180 degrees of hemispherical views. Not enough horizon? The super fisheye offers 235 degrees of distortion.
Best For: Rather than holding the lens at eye-level, point it up or down to amplify the fisheye effect.
2.Polarized
By blocking reflected light, the polarized lens eliminates glare and increases color saturation.
Best For: Shooting the sky or water’s surface.
3. Telephoto
Smartphones come with a digital zoom, but the end product is usually pixelated and blurry. The telephoto lens fills the frame with distant objects while retaining its sharpness.
Best For: Anything you’d use the zoom on.
4. Wide Angle
Wide-angle lenses expand the field of view to fit large landscapes, like skylines and panoramic views, into a single shot.
Best for: Scenery, but don’t be camera shy. Take an epic wide-angle selfie with the view as your backdrop.
5. Macro
The macro lens hones in on fine details for close-up photos. Quality differs depending on the brand, but some macro lenses can even enhance natural lighting without the flash.
Best For: flowers, insects, and other objects with textures invisible to the naked eye.
For more photography tips, check out our Instagram city guides and learn how to take a vertical panorama on your smartphone.
