Tag Archives: iPhone lens

Hipstamatic Retro Pak 3 on sale this weekend only!

After I discovered and posted about the new Silver Lake film/lens pak in Hipstamatic, I received an email saying that the whole RetroPak is on sale this weekend too. 99 cents for the full pack of 3 lenses and 6 films, purchasable through the app on your iPhone.

0 hipstamatic retro 3 pak 2

This is the complete list of the lenses and film in the RetroPak Three. If you want to deep dive into what each film and lens effect is, either view through the iPhone Hipstamatic app (tap on the shopping cart), or jump over to the Web Site where there are examples of many mix and matched for fun vintage effects.

0 hipstamatic retro 3 pak

In search of the 50mm lens for iPhone photography

Some folks think of it as just looking for trouble. Whey would anyone want to limit down the ability of a full feature camera in my pocket. Well, the reason is the same as why we put the 50mm lens on our larger ‘non-smartphone’ cameras. The fun of a 50mm lens is living with a very narrow range of focus so we have a key item standing out. It is a both a lot of fun and very challenging when shooting on the street.

I know, there isn’t a interchangeable lens on the iPhone, what I’m thinking is a app that sets a ‘distance’ that is in focus and a pretty sharp cut off of all of the rest depth.

I thought I had found an app that was forcing a set aperture for my iPhone photography. Large Aperture Pro has a group of ‘lenses’ limits through software. After a bit of research, the app is actually for ‘after’ shooting edits and not for the initial photography step.  Large Aperture Pro does offer a nice group of lens effect settings associated with different aperture lenses that a camera could use. Also, the edge and severity of the areas outside of your focus point is adjustable to get the stand-out effect you may be looking for. A unique feature is the ability to adjust the gradual blur effect.

 

iPhone 8X Telephoto Lens kit from a source I didn’t expect – 15% off this week

Shuffling through my emails this morning, there was on from Richard Solo. The company usually has a fun gadget like a new iPhone stand, speaker or remote control race car. Although the type of product will at times look like it should be ‘toyish’, everything I have purchased from Richard Solo has proven to be of very good quality. I best know them for their little mobile batteries for recharging my iPhone on the go. I have traveled the world with their little rechargers in fact. This isn’t a all-products recommendation for what can found on richardsolo.com. Like anything examine for yourself prior to buying.

The latest email mentions a 15% discount through the weekend on the Richard Solo 8x Telephoto Lens kit. I have played with a few options in this area before so I went to the site expecting to see the usual. I was happy to see their offering is above the normal in the field of iPhone add-on lenses. And, it’s a complete kit in one rather than having the fun of trying to match up a unusual case to someone else’s tripod.

The Richard Solo kit appears complete. A manual focus 8x telephoto lens, cases (one for iPhone 3 body and one for the iPhone 4) to hold the lens to the iPhone, a wrap around mount to attach your iPhone to a tripod… and the tripod. The lens extends out 2.75″ from the iPhone so you may not want to be walking in a crowd with it attached. Luckily, it appears the lens appears to be easy on/off. the 5-inch tripod is made of aluminum and really should be used if your trying to extend your iPhone’s view out so far with the lens. The lens comes with caps for both ends and there is a pouch included to make everything easier to carry. From the site, the photo tech speak is:

  • Measures: 5″ x 5.88″ x 7.75″ (12.7 x 14.93 x 19.69 cm)
  • Weighs: 5.5 oz (155.92 g)
  • Lens measures: 1.18″ x 2.75″ (30 x 70 mm)
  • Magnification: 8x
  • Aperture: 15 mm objective
  • Minimum focal distance: 3 m
  • Field of view: 246 — 1,000 m
  • Angle of view: 16°

Don’t forget the discount if the lens matches your needs. From the email: “Regularly $34.95, now only $29.71 thru Monday 3/26 or while supply lasts. To obtain the discounted price, please enter the code word “view” in the coupon code box during check out.”   Do I need to say that the kit doesn’t come with the iPhone, you have to provide that.