Brando Telescope makes iPhone 3G photos 6x worse

We've seen these zoom lens add-ons before. Now Brando's slapped together this 6x "Telescope" for the iPhone 3G -- a phone not exactly revered for its image quality. Just snap the unit to the back of the iPhone 3G and get to work. How good is it? About as bad as the $19 worth of optics within. Seriously, 19 bucks and available now.

[Meus Posted Aug 18th 2008 12:37PM]

This just made my life so much easier taking those candid snapshots on the subway. Thank you Brando!

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 18th 2008 1:28PM]

The iphone has the best camera for a phone that I've ever had, but that's not saying much, my previous phone was a Moto Q. I'll stick with my cybershot either way.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 18th 2008 1:30PM]

These Brando telescope lenses: are they any good? It's clear the OP isn't fond of them, at least not as used with the iPhone 3G. I've never heard of Brando before; anyone recommend them? Or a similar brand? I'd like a telescope I could attach to a Gmini 402 camcorder.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 18th 2008 1:58PM]

Arrr, land ahoy captain.

[thirdopticaltool Posted Aug 18th 2008 3:00PM]

I think i'll grab one of these - the pictures look freakin' sweat.

...like an old Holga or Diana.

-- rad.--

you fidelity/mp freaks are boring.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 18th 2008 4:00PM]

did someone say "flash"?

I didn't hear it.

I think it is absolutely ridiculous that they still have not put a flash on the phone and the camera is as bad as it is. My old Sony Ericsson W610i has a flash and a 2.0 megapixel camera on it and it is much smaller. I have a P1i and it has a 3.2 megapixel camera with a flash and its overall volume is about the same as the iphone. I have had both Iphones, and while the interface is extremely intuitive (though sometimes glitchy) the camera is just a joke.

I understand they can't do everything but they should have tried to address it somehow.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 18th 2008 7:54PM]

Will it run Crysis?

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 18th 2008 9:10PM]

Not bad considering it's custom, but would like a simple close-up attachment better. This shows what can be done with a 99 cent magnifying glass or loupe, really decent quality. http://www.peskybeaver.com/?p=131

[Jon AU Posted Aug 18th 2008 9:42PM]

...and it's got manual focus.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 19th 2008 5:27AM]

Still one of the best camera in a mobile phone is the Sony Ericsson K800i! 3MP, Autofocus and Xenon-Flash..

[nevember Posted Aug 19th 2008 2:32PM]

I bought one of these for my Edge iPhone and it is actually pretty spiffy. I'm guessing Engadget didn't test this first hand. I received mine for $11 because I had a free shipping coupon from eBay for being a longstanding customer. It was definitely worth the money for me.
As @Chris Dunning pointed out, there's lots of things built into the iPhone that normal cameras don't have. Mine not being the 3G phone, I don't have a lot of those options but nevertheless even over the edge I can take a picture of a player on the field, or a musicians face at a concert and post it to Facebook and Flickr in about 2-3 minutes.

I agree with @crackp1pe that the camera works just fine for these sort of things. It's only when it comes to printing and other high-dpi uses that one would be disappointed. But don't we generally use better cameras for these things than even 5mp and so on? This is an awesome little add-on for someone who carries a backpack, or keeps the lens in their car. If anyone wants picture samples and comparisons, you can email me. Or, if enough folks tag-back wanting it I'll upload a webpage with the samples.

And, as a bonus, even if you decide for whatever reason you never want to use it with your iPhone, it still works as a one lens zoom with a neck strap that you can take to a ball game for a better view. Also worth noting, even without the fitted case to mount it to your phone, it still works with any camera phone, if you a have a steady hand.

And lastly, my Edge iPhone version even had a mount-hole in it for a tripod. I picked up one at the dollar store and screwed it in. I mean really, how can you rag on this deal? For 12 bucks I can take pictures of text across the room (or street) that I couldn't even see with the phone previously, and I can take a timed picture of myself with family, from 5 feet away or 25 feet away, without having to find anything more than a flat surface for the tripod. And it all fits in the small pocket of my backpack and take around 15 seconds to attach everything.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2008 10:25AM]

why on earth would i want this

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 18th 2008 10:55AM]

Per the manufacturers website it looks like the scope is designed for scouting favelas .