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Olloclip announces 2x telephoto lens for iPhone 5, we go hands-on
Remember the Olloclip lens for the iPhone 4? That model's done mighty well in Apple retail stores, so it's only fitting that there's a follow-up. Today at the CE Week line show in New York, we got a look at the company's upcoming telephoto lens, which complements the original clip-on by adding 2X magnification. Priced at $100 versus $70 for its predecessor, the accessory offers a circular polarizing lens on the other side, keeping in line with the company's existing two-in-one design. You can get the standalone clip-on lens for the aforementioned price when the gadget debuts in July -- it's compatible with Olloclip's previously announced $49 iPhone 5 case as well.%Gallery-192393% Zach Honig contributed to this report.
Olloclip releases companion app for its camera lens
We've reviewed quite a few pieces of Olloclip hardware in the past. The company makes the 3-in-1 iPhone camera lens that snaps onto the device and provides a wide angle, macro and fisheye lens. Today the company has branched into new territory by releasing its first iOS app, simply called Olloclip. The app is a companion app for the Olloclip lens that allows the user to enhance photos and even fix distortions in photos taken with the Olloclip lens. Here are its key features: Mesh Editor Tool – Conversion lenses can add an interesting curvature to your photos. Once the photo has been taken, use the Mesh Editor tool to adjust this effect. Video Mode – This mode allows you to shoot comfortably and easily while using your Olloclip to transform your field of view. Normal Mode – Maximize on your Olloclip lens system by using Normal Mode to capture your favorite images. Macro Mode – Use Macro Mode to help set your focus when using the Olloclip macro 10X lens. Reticles – Use the reticles to adjust focus and exposure independently or together. Tap the icon to lock the two on any point on your viewfinder screen. Photo Library – Access all your photos through the olloclip app and then adjust them using the Mesh Editor. Olloclip for iOS is a free download.
Olloclip Quick-Flip Case and Pro-Photo Adapter add protection, tripod mount
The team at Olloclip has taken the wraps off of their newest product, a case for the iPhone 4/4S and iPhone 5 called the Quick-Flip Case (US$49.99) that works with the Olloclip 3-in-one lenses to produce a lightweight solution for all-purpose iPhoneography. Let's take a look! Design At first glance, this doesn't look like much of a case. It's made out of a smoked translucent black or opaque white polyurethane material and looks like any of a thousand other slip-on hard cases for iPhone. But then the little features start to appear and you realize how the Quick-Flip case can be used to assist in taking photos with your iPhone. %Gallery-189048% By itself, the case has a pivoting corner that rotates 180° out of the way so that you can install your Olloclip lenses. That pivoting piece also has a second function -- it presses up against the volume up button on the side of your iPhone so that you can just squeeze the button slowly to take a photo. No more need to tap that virtual shutter button on the screen. The real fun comes when you attach the included Pro-Photo Adapter. It slides onto the bottom of the iPhone and includes a pair of threaded tripod mount points as well as a cold shoe mount for other accessories like video lights or microphones. In case you happen to own a 5th-generation iPod touch, there's a special adapter that's included with the iPhone 5 case to make it compatible with the "non-phone iPhone." Functionality For Olloclip-toting iPhone owners, the Quick-Flip Case should be a no-brainer if you take a ton of photos. Your iPhone remains fairly well protected in the case, and with a quick flick of the top the bare shoulder of the phone is exposed so you can slide on the Olloclip. Using the rotated corner piece as a trigger button for taking photos is pure genius. Rather than holding onto the iPhone with one hand and swatting at the display to take a photo, you can use both hands to keep the iPhone steady while gently squeezing the button. It's sure to reduce blur in your photos, especially under low-light conditions. I was happy to see that Olloclip uses metal inserts for the tripod mounts as that will add to the usable life of the Quick-Flip case -- provided Apple keeps a similar size for the next-generation iPhone. The cold shoe is also a nice touch for adding goodies that can make the difference between dull, underlit video and properly illuminated personal movies. Conclusion While it's a bit pricey for an iPhone case, the Olloclip Quick-Flip Case and Pro-Photo Adapter -- along with the Olloclip lenses (purchases separately) -- make for an incredibly useful set of accessories for anyone who takes a lot of photos with their iPhone. Pros Quick-Flip Case makes it easy to protect your iPhone while also facilitating the installation of the Olloclip 3-in-one lens The design of the case makes it possible to hold the iPhone with both hands while shooting pictures, helping to steady your photographs Mounting the case on a tripod in either landscape or portrait mode is a piece of cake with the two threaded tripod mounts Cold-shoe mount works well for adding small LED light bars or microphones Cons The case itself is nothing spectacular in terms of looks or protection Who is it for? Dedicated iPhoneographers who want use their devices to get the best possible photographs and need the steadiness of a tripod mount at a moment's notice
Olloclip shows off upcoming case at Macworld/iWorld 2013
Olloclip's self-named clip-on lens (US$69.99) for iPhone was one of the early success stories of Kickstarter, and now the Huntington Beach, Calif., company is expanding into other related products for advanced iPhoneography. I spoke with Olloclip CEO Patrick O'Neill at Macworld/iWorld 2013 about the company's existing lineup and future plans, and found that they're thriving. During most of the show, there was a line of people buying the Olloclip lens kits for the iPhone 4/4S or iPhone 5. They're certainly popular with the TUAW team, most of whom snapped up Olloclips for their iPhones and were using the wide-angle and fisheye lenses during the conference and expo. One of the most fascinating things at Olloclip's Macworld booth was a product that's not out yet -- a polycarbonate case that works perfectly with the Olloclip lenses and provides more than just protection. There's a rotating cover (image above) to protect the camera on your iPhone that also adds a nice "shutter button" to make snapping photos with the volume up button a piece of cake. In addition, there's a removable clip-on piece (image below) that offers a tripod mount on one side and a "cold shoe" for mounting other accessories on the other end. We don't know the name of the upcoming case or the price, nor do we have an expected delivery date. But if you're one of those people who incessantly uses an Olloclip to snap macro or fisheye images, the case will give you a way to keep your phone scratch-free and replace the need for a Glif or other tool to attach it to a tripod.
olloclip for iPhone 5: Review and giveaway of the 3-in-one photo lens
olloclip (US$69.99) has been around for a while for the iPhone 4 and 4S, and now the pocketable 3-in-one -- fisheye, macro, and wide-angle -- clip on lens is available in a version for the iPhone 5. In keeping with the gift-giving season that's about to start, TUAW and olloclip are giving away one of these cool photo accessories. Design Like its iPhone 4/4S predecessor, the olloclip for iPhone 5 is a compact little wonder that comes with its own microfiber bag (for both protection and cleaning), lens caps, and a choice of three lenses. Unlike some of its competitors, the olloclip doesn't require a special case -- in fact, it's better if you don't have a case for your iPhone 5 if you want to use olloclip on a regular basis. The fisheye lens provides a field of view of approximately 180°. That's perfect for those situations where you'd like to get all of a scene into the field of view, and don't mind the distortion that such a lens provides. Fish eye views are actually fun to look at if properly done. The wide-angle lens is actually a combination of two lenses -- a screw-on wide-angle lens and a built-in macro lens. It provides an expanded viewing angle of 2X, and is great for landscape shots. Finally, unscrewing the wide-angle lens reveals the macro lens, with a focal length of 1/2" (13mm) for making 10X macro shots. I'd highly recommend not showing this feature to your kids, as they might spend all day taking close-up macro shots of everything in sight. Functionality Installing the olloclip is a breeze. You just clip the center plastic piece over the corner of your iPhone 5 where the rear camera lens is, and it automatically aligns the lenses properly. No muss, no fuss, no trying to make sure that the little magnets found on other lenses are lined up with the metal bezel on the lens. Next, it's time to shoot pictures! As you can see from the gallery below, the olloclip does an amazing job. Unlike some of the el cheapo brands out there that are blatant rip-offs of the olloclip, this is made of aluminum and glass for durability and visual quality. The lenses are coated to prevent lens flare and reflections. Note that with most inexpensive lenses like these, you will get some barrel distortion with the wide-angle lens, and that distortion is expected with the fisheye lens. I found that the wide-angle lens showed some focus issues around the edges, particularly noticeable in the full-size iPhone images. %Gallery-171671% Conclusion I was impressed with the olloclip both for the quality and ease of use. If you're in the aftermarket for some creative lenses for your iPhone 5 (or the 4/4S), it's definitely worth buying one of these little gems. Of course, before you do that, be sure to enter our giveaway -- perhaps you'll win one! Pros Easy to carry in pocket in included microfiber carry bag / cleaning cloth Simple to use Good quality coated optics Works for both still photography and video Macro lens is amazing for taking 10x closeups Cons Probably won't work with future iPhones if Apple continues to make devices thinner Who is it for? Anyone who wants to expand on their iPhone photography with wide angle, fisheye, and macro lenses. Giveaway OK, TUAW readers -- here's your chance to win an olloclip for iPhone 5 courtesy of olloclip and TUAW. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before November 25, 2012 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive an olloclip for iPhone 5 valued at US$69.99 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Insert Coin: A look back at ten top projects from 2011
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The Olloclip 3-in-1 iPhone camera attachment: a cool iPhoneography accessory
Earlier my colleague Steve wrote about the US$249 Photojojo iPhone Lens Dial, an iPhone accessory that gives iPhone photographers access to an array of three camera lenses on rotating dial. For those of you who like the ability to add lenses to your iPhone, but don't like the $249 price, I recommend the Olloclip, a $69 slip on 3-in-1 lens for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. The Olloclip started off as a Kickstarter project and went on sale in May. The body of the Olloclip is made of anodized aircraft grade aluminum and it comes in two colors, red or black. On the front end of the Olloclip is the fish eye lens, which gives you a 180-degree field of view. The rear of the Olloclip houses the wide angle lens, which gives you a greater field of view than what your iPhone 4/4S camera would normally have. You can unscrew the wide angle lens to access the macro lens that gives you about ten times the magnification of the subject of your shot within 12-15mm. To use the Olloclip, simply slip it onto the end of your iPhone, over the iPhone's camera. The notch in the Olloclip is made of plastic so you don't need to worry about it scratching the glass front or back of your iPhone 4 and 4S. The Olloclip's entire 3-in-1 lens solution is quite small, which is nice when traveling. It easily fits into your pants or shirt pocket. The Olloclip also comes with a small, draw-string bag/case made of microfiber material that also doubles as a lens cleaner. The Olloclip's primary difference from the pricier Photojojo iPhone Lens Dial is that it comes with a macro lens instead of a telephoto lens. However, if macro shots are more important to you than telephoto shots, the Olloclip is a terrific choice for photographers who want to get more out of their iPhone4/4S camera. The quality of its construction, size, and features can't be beat for the price. You can order the Olloclip from Amazon or directly from the company's website.
Olloclip three-in-one lens for iPhone 4 review
The age of lugging around a pricey DSLR kit just to capture casual fisheye, wide-angle and macro photos may be nearing its end -- for some of us, at least. Designed by a startup duo in California, the Olloclip was the first project featured in our Insert Coin series, and we were thrilled to learn not only that it was successfully funded, but that the device is ready to ship to both early supporters and new customers just two months later. The accessory brings the functionality of all three lenses to the iPhone 4, and it does so well enough to warrant leaving your pro kit at home on occasion -- assuming, of course, that your photographs aren't responsible for putting food on the table. While a bargain compared to its professional equivalents, $70 is a lot to spend on any iPhone accessory, so the lens's price tag may not sit well with some users. Also, design limitations mean you won't be able to use the lens with other devices, and there's no way to guarantee compatibility with future iPhones as well. Nonetheless, we had a blast shooting with the Olloclip, and we think you will too. Head past the break to find out why.%Gallery-128329%
Insert Coin: Olloclip three-in-one lens for iPhone 4 (video)
In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. We typically prefer to mount our macro, wide-angle, and fisheye lenses directly on a DSLR, but lugging around a pro-level kit isn't always an option. The olloclip adds some flexibility to your iPhone 4's camera, complimenting the built-in lens with a three-in-one optic that clips onto the phone and can be stored in your bag or pocket when not in use. The attachment includes three lenses: a 180-degree fisheye on one side, a wide-angle lens on the other, and a 10x macro that's revealed after unscrewing the top of the wide-angle. Based on the intro video, the wide lens appears to have some rather significant barrel distortion, so we hope inventor Patrick O'Neill and designer Chong Pak are able to work that out before this hits production. A $45 pledge to this Kickstarter includes one olloclip, which you're getting at a 25 percent discount. Lenses should ship 4 weeks after the project hits its $15,000 funding goal -- if it does hit that goal -- and are expected to retail for $60.
