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OlloClip's new mobile lenses cater to pros and amateurs alike
With smartphones piling on extra cameras with each new release, you'd think the clip-on lens would be in danger of becoming obsolete. Well, that's not the case for OlloClip, which is still releasing its mobile lenses at a steady pace. Its latest additions to its Connect X line for iOS and Android phones -- the Intro Series and Pro Series -- lower the entry fee for budding smartphone photographers and also offer up something for experts.
Olloclip's new clasp fits fancy lenses to any smartphone
Olloclip first started making special camera lenses for smartphones seven years ago, and an initial kit for the iPhone 4 snowballed into a whole business. Many new lenses and photography accessories have followed, typically in tandem with a new iPhone. But even when Olloclip ventured outside the Apple bubble, its products have always been device-specific. That changes with the newly announced and catchily named "Multi-Device Clip," which on its own is a simple mount you can clasp around any phone, Apple or otherwise. It's into this mount that you insert any of the company's "Connect X" lenses, originally developed specifically for the iPhone X.
The best smartphone camera accessories
The two best ways to improve your smartphone photography are "talent" and "practice," but if you'd rather buy your way to better shots, that works too. Nowadays, there's a great selection of accessories like clip-on lenses, stabilizers, stands and other gear you can get without blowing a hole in your budget. If you've been thinking about taking that next step, here are a few questions to ask yourself and some of the best products on the market.
Olloclip's new lenses attach quickly to your iPhone 7
Now that there are new iPhones with revised cameras, many smartphone photographers are going to want new Olloclip lenses. Thankfully, they've arrived... and Olloclip didn't just tweak the connectors and call it a day. Its new Core, Active and Macro Pro lens sets not only have improved optics ("premium multi-element coated glass," Olloclip says), but an improved interchangeable lens system. Called Connect, it separates the frame on your phone from the lens housings. This lets them quickly attach to and align with your iPhone's camera, even if you have a screen protector. You should spend less time swapping lenses and more time shooting, in other words.
The best tech for students studying abroad
There's nothing quite as exciting or daunting as packing up your stuff and heading overseas for a semester. You'll have an opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture, a foreign language and a whole ocean of unique tech challenges. But don't worry, we're here to help you navigate those obstacles. In our guide you'll find top notch cameras to capture all those transformational memories, luggage that is basically impossible to lose, a backpack that hides a spare battery for charging your phone and, of course, some noise-cancelling headphones for those long flights filled with screaming children. But you'll also need a lightweight laptop with solid battery life (like the HP Spectre 13.3) and a phone with a couple of SIM slots for doing a little border hopping. Check out the gallery below for all our recommendations for students studying abroad. And make sure to check out our full back-to-school guide right here.
Otterbox's new case lets you use accessories without removing it
Ah yes, phone cases. A necessary purchase if you're accident prone or tend to drop your handset on the regular. Unfortunately, adding that accessory usually makes for a headaches whenever you try to use another mobile add-on like a thermal camera or lens clip. Typically, you would have to remove your protective case before you could use any of those other gadgets. Well, Otterbox is looking to rid you of that frustration with the new Universe system and it's swappable "accessory modules."
Olloclip's new iPhone accessory is definitely not a clip
Your fevered dreams of a self-contained iPhone studio are here. Olloclip (a company best-known for its lens clip-ons) might have gone too far. "Studio by Olloclip" is a rugged-looking iPhone case that includes a stabilizing two-finger grip and comes with a collection of adapters for camera accessories. Even without attaching anything, it'll be a squeeze to pocket it -- but then it's not really a day-to-day case. Start using the built-in 1/4-20 mounts, or say a tripod, or a flash or even an ole' fashioned lens, and it all begins to look a little crazy. (Although if your iPhone is your de facto video camera -- the package makes sense.) And if you want to know what one too many iPhone camera accessories look like, take a look below.
Five products from 2014 I can't live without: Steve Sande
Of all of the staff at TUAW, I'm probably the guy who gets to take a look at more hardware and accessories than anyone else. Let's face it, being the hardware review editor has both its rewards -- getting to see a lot of amazing products -- and its downfalls -- having to review some really crappy accessories. Here's a look at five products from the past year that truly changed the way I work and play. Logitech Keys-To-Go Keyboard (US$69.99) As a writer, keyboards are the interface between what's brewing in my brain and what gets published online or in books. I tend to be very particular about keyboards, wanting a specific feel and key layout when I do my work. Well, Logitech did the impossible in 2014, coming out with an inexpensive Bluetooth keyboard that works equally well on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The Keys-To-Go keyboard weighs just 6 ounces and is less than a quarter-inch (6 mm) thick, making it a great mobile or spare keyboard. Oh, yeah -- it uses Logitech's spill-resistant FabricSkin technology, so me spilling a beer on it is much less likely to send it to the island of destroyed keyboards. Logitech Type+ Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad Air (US$99.99) Yeah, I spent a lot of money on Logitech keyboards this year. My go-to iPad Air keyboard case is the Logitech Type+. This thing has an amazing keyboard feel, it's thin, and would you believe that I've only charged it once in the time that I've had it? My only gripe after a few months of use is that the bright red exterior cloth is starting to get a little grimy, but considering the amount of use it gets, I can live with that. In case you're looking for a photo of this keyboard folio case, that's it at the top of this article. Cambridge Audio Bluetone 100 Speaker (US$299.99) If you talk to my boss soon, tell him I need a raise. That's because when I review a product that's truly incredible, I need to go out and buy it for myself. That was the case with the Cambridge Audio Bluetone 100, a 100 Watt Bluetooth speaker that redefines desktop audio systems. Offering rock-solid Bluetooth connectivity, incredible room-filling sound, and a classic design, the Bluetone 100 is a winner. You will not feel bad about spending three Ben Franklins for this speaker. Olloclip 4-in-1 Photo Lens for iPhone 6/6 Plus (US$79.99) The camera in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is so good that I find myself using it for a growing number of photos, both those taken for personal use and even for TUAW reviews. But the built-in lens of the iPhone 6 Plus (in my case) sometimes lacks in terms of field of view or the ability to take amazingly sharp macro shots. That's where the latest version of Olloclip's 4-in-1 Photo Lens comes into play. Offering two macro lenses, a wide-angle lens and a fisheye lens in a lightweight package, the 4-in-1 is also much easier to carry around now that Olloclip provides a plastic clip and lanyard so you can keep the lenses close at hand around your neck. Apple iPhone 6 Plus (price varies with plan and capacity) I have owned every iPhone model since the original, and the iPhone 6 Plus is my favorite so far. The screen is big and beautiful, the speaker is actually loud enough to hear, and Apple Pay? I use it every chance I get. Does this mean that I won't jump to an iPhone 7 when they show up? Heck no. But at this juncture in time, the Apple iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are absolutely the best smartphones on the planet, and sales over the past few months prove that point. For many years, I've told people to just wait a year or so to get an upgrade if they really don't need one -- the iPhone 6 and especially the iPhone 6 Plus are worth paying your carrier's early termination fee and upgrading to.
Olloclip 4-in-1 Lens now on pre-order for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus
For avid iPhoneographers, there's no substitute for Olloclip's line of clip-on or case-mounted accessory lenses. Sadly, while the iPhone 5/5s lenses were wildly popular, those lenses don't work with the new thinner and larger iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Don't worry -- Olloclip announced the next-generation of the 4-in-1 lens that works with both of Apple's big smartphones. The Olloclip 4-in-1 Lens for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus (US$79.99) is currently available for pre-order and will be shipping in late November. If you wait until that time, you'll also be able to pick one up at Apple Stores and Best Buy. The four lenses included in the kit are a wide-angle lens, a fisheye lens, and 10x and 15x macro lenses. For easy carrying, Olloclip created a customizable pendant (three different colors are included) that can be clipped to a keychain or backpack. Olloclip has made the design usable on both the rear- and front-facing cameras, perfect for both traditional or selfie photography. For those who are starting to think about the perfect holiday gift idea for someone who owns an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, the Olloclip 4-in-1 is worth considering.
IRL: Olloclip's 4-in-1 photo lens for Galaxy S4 and S5
We first met Olloclip's tiny pop-on camera lens more than three years ago. The iPhone accessory got its start on Kickstarter, in the crowdfunding site's infancy, and became our very first featured Insert Coin project. Today, it's a staple at the Apple Store and a slew of other retailers -- you can even pick one up at those Best Buy vending machines in the airport. Several more iPhone versions have since debuted, but we've never seen an Olloclip for Android smartphones, until today. The first Android versions are compatible with two recent Samsung flagships, the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5. Because photo effects are created using a physical lens rather than an app, Olloclips are designed for specific devices. If you don't own a Galaxy S4 or S5 (or an iPhone), don't lose hope -- we may see models for other handsets in the near future.
Feedback Loop: Gaming PCs and next-gen consoles, favorite Kickstarter projects and more!
Welcome to Feedback Loop, a weekly roundup of the most interesting discussions happening within the Engadget community. There's so much technology to talk about and so little time to enjoy it, but you have a lot of great ideas and opinions that need to be shared! Join us every Saturday as we highlight some of the most interesting discussions that happened during the past week. This week, we discussed whether gaming PCs and next-gen gaming consoles can peacefully co-exist in the same home. We also tackled tips and tricks for tracking daily routines, fondly remembered our most satisfying app experiences and shared our favorite Kickstarter projects. Click past the break and read what fellow Engadget users like you have to say.
Olloclip 4-in-1 iPhone lens gives you a new perspective on the world
If you're an iPhone owner, there's a good chance you take a lot of photos with your phone. That's totally understandable, given that Apple's recent smartphone offerings are widely considered to be fantastic for photography. Still, the built-in lens on your iPhone 4, 4s, 5 or 5s is still hampered by its physical limitations. The Olloclip external lens system is a clip-on accessory that offers four different view options that can seriously change the look and feel of your iPhone photos. Specs Lenses: 10X Macro, 15X Macro, Wide-angle, Fisheye Price: US$69.99 Design The Olloclip is tiny, and can easily fit in your pocket or bag with no trouble. That's a pretty crucial aspect of the accessory, especially since you're not going to want to have it equipped as you go about your day-to-day tasks. The clip portion of the device is plastic while the lenses themselves are made of metal (and glass, obviously). The clip feels snug when applied to the iPhone, and while it's not difficult to slide off when you're done, there's also little chance that it would fall off on its own. Because of how the accessory is designed, two of the lenses are placed on each side, and the metal lens casings -- which house the fisheye and wide-angle lenses -- unscrew from the plastic clip to reveal a macro lens on either side. If you read our previous review of the original Olloclip 3-in-1 lens -- which featured 10X macro, wide-angle and fisheye lenses -- this version is essentially an updated version of that, and also includes a 15X macro option. Functionality Once the Olloclip is applied to your phone, taking photos is as simple as it's ever been. There's no tweaking or adjustments needed, and switching from one lens to another takes only a few seconds. The autofocus and other built-in iPhone features work as they always have, so you can shoot burst photos, play around with various filters or shoot slow-mo video without issue. If you know how to shoot a photo with your iPhone now, you'll know how to do it with the Olloclip; it's as simple as that. As a package, the Olloclip's lenses are a great combo, but some are definitely a bit more useful than others. The fisheye lens, for example, is fun for goofy shots, but it's not something you'll use daily. Between the two macro lenses, the 15X option is definitely going to be your go-to, simply because if you're looking for macro functionality, the more the better. The wide-angle lens will get the most use from aspiring iPhone photogs, and it's worth the price of admission all on its own. It's great for outdoor shots as well as large group photos where you need to cram as many people into the frame as possible. Conclusion The Olloclip 4-in-1 is a fantastic accessory that is both easy to use and a whole lot of fun to play around with. The lenses included are great for shooting types of photos you've never had the chance to before, and if you're tired of your Facebook photo albums or Flickr collection is looking a little dull, this is one of the easiest ways to spice it up. Rating
Olloclip runs its 3-in-1 lens through the color machine for the iPhone 5c
Folks who bought an iPhone 5c because they honest to goodness love color probably won't settle for drab accessories. So, in order to suit these users' festive tastes, Olloclip jazzed up its popular 3-in-1 lens with hues to match Apple's lower-cost handsets. Similar to previous releases, this 3-in-1 comes with the brand's macro, fisheye and wide-angle lenses to take close-ups, 180-degree shots and pictures with twice the field of view, respectively. Unlike the iPhone 5/5s version, though, the iPhone 5c lens costs $10 less at $59.99 and comes in neon green, yellow, red, blue and, finally, white -- for the less adventurous. The accessory won't ship out until early January, but it's now available for pre-order from the company's website.
Weekly Roundup: Amazon Prime Air drones, LG G Flex review, hands-on with the YotaPhone and more!
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Olloclip's Macro 3-in-1 Lens is a powerful little stocking-stuffer
TUAW's staff is made up of a lot of fans of the accessory lens products from Olloclip. They're designed to work perfectly with various models of the iPhone, and are nicely designed and well built. Now the company has announced the Macro 3-in-1 Lens kit (US$69.99 SRP) for the iPhone 5/5s, made specifically for taking those really close-up shots of everything in the world around us. Things start off with a 7x macro lens, bump up to a 14x lens and then go into the realm of the microscope with a 21x lens. Since it's often difficult, if not downright impossible, to get properly focused on your subject when using macro lenses, Olloclip includes a pair of translucent focusing cups that make it much easier to hold the lenses the correct distance away. As usual, Olloclip machines the lens casings out of aluminum and uses ground-glass, multi-element lenses. A small bag for the lenses is included, as are lens caps to keep everything dust- and smudge-free. On one side of the Macro 3-in-1 Lens is the 7x macro, while the other side has the fixed 21x macro. To bump the magnification of the 7x side to 14x, you simply screw on the 14x lens and its included focusing cup if desired. Rather than talking about how this lens works, I decided to put it to the test taking photos of two objects -- an Icelandic 1000 Kroner note and a euro coin: In each case, the images are taken first at 7x, then at 14x and finally at 21x. As you can see, the amount of detail that the lenses can pick up at the higher magnifications is nothing short of remarkable. The images are razor-sharp at the center, but do have a tendency to lose focus at the periphery of the photos. Conclusion Dedicated iPhone photographers will find a lot to like in Olloclip's Macro 3-in-1 Lens. It's extremely well constructed, includes the novel focusing cups to aid in focusing on subjects and, all in all, works beautifully as a set of three macro lenses. Pros Reasonable price point, considering the quality of the lenses Translucent focusing cups are useful in holding the lens at optimum focus point Includes lens caps for protection Cons Focus is a little off on the periphery of images Who is it for? Anyone who uses the iPhone 5 or 5s as their primary camera and wants to have the ability to take macro shots with the device
Daily Roundup: AT&T's new mobile plans, Olloclip debuts new lens, audio holiday gift guide and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Olloclip debuts Macro 3-in-1 lens for iPhone and iPod touch (hands-on)
It's been a tremendous two years for Olloclip. The company's premier product, a three-in-one lens that packages macro, wide-angle and fisheye lenses in one nifty iPhone attachment, was our very first Insert Coin project in May of 2011. One successful Kickstarter campaign later, and the lens trio was on its way to production. Now, you can find Olloclips in every Apple Store in the world, along with big-box retailers like Best Buy and Target. Today, there's a very cool addition joining the iPhone and iPod touch-friendly lineup: a three-in-one macro lens that enables 7x, 14x and 21x magnification. We spent a few minutes with the new optic paired with an iPhone 5s (pictured above) -- dare we say, this is the best option for macro photography on a smartphone that we've ever seen. The results were sharp and bright, and the bundled Instafocus diffuser hoods pull double duty as "training wheels," letting you calculate the appropriate focus distance with ease. You can also use the lenses without the hoods, but we definitely preferred the results with the lightweight plastic cones attached. When shooting text on the screen of a Moto X, the iPhone picked up quite a bit of pincushion distortion. Fortunately, the bundled app has an easy fix, and after a few seconds of tapping, each shot was Instagram-ready. The new Olloclip is compatible with iPhone 5/5s and the 5th-generation iPod touch. It's available today for $70 at the source link, along with Apple Stores and other retailers. Check it out in our hands-on shots and sample images in the galleries below.
Olloclip four-in-one iPhone lens improves on its Kickstarted roots with better optics
Sure, apps can spiff up pictures with filters, but there's nothing like a hardware boost to take casual phone photography to the next level. When it comes to the iPhone, Olloclip makes some of the better-known clip-on hardware out there, and today the company's announced its new 4-in-1 system. Similar to its 3-in-1 predecessor, the add-on captures nearly-180-degree fisheye and wide-angle shots. The two main lenses unscrew to reveal a pair of hidden components: a 15x macro lens with a 12mm focus distance, and a refreshed 10x version with 18mm focus distance. According to the firm, the latter glass takes brighter and more focused images than its older counterpart. Seeing as we were impressed with the first Olloclip's macro lens when we reviewed the accessory, this sounds like a welcome upgrade. The new Olloclip 4-in-1 -- compatible with the iPhone 4, 4s, 5 and 5s, as well as the 4th and 5th gen iPod touch -- will set you back $70. Those who can't wait to Instagram close-ups of their grub can snag one now via the company's online shop, the Apple Store and other retailers.
Olloclip's Telephoto + Circular Polarizing Lens: Up close and personal
For iPhone photography, the Olloclip 3-in-1 lens kit (US$69.99) has no peer. The kit includes high quality wide-angle, fisheye, and macro lenses ... but no telephoto lens. That hole in the Olloclip line has now been filled with the addition of the new Telephoto + Circular Polarizing Lens ($99.99) kit. This lens and filter combo is available for order now, and was scheduled to ship in late July, 2013 -- that date, of course, has come and gone, and the Olloclip website is still showing that the telephoto can only be pre-ordered. Design The telephoto lens is a 2X lens, meaning that everything seen through it is magnified optically by two times. Like the other Olloclip lenses, the telephoto is made from optical glass and aluminum, much more durable and optically superior than plastic. The entire little kit comes in two microfiber bags, one containing the circular polarizing lens and the other containing the iPhone 5 adapter with the telephoto. The telephoto can be used by itself, or the circular polarizing lens can be slipped onto the front of the telephoto lens to reduce glare and provide richer color. %Gallery-195776% Like the 3-in-1 lens kit, the telephoto can be used with a "naked" iPhone 5 or in concert with the Quick-Flip Case ($49.99) that adds a tripod mount and cold shoe to the mix. Functionality Like the 3-in-1 kit, the telephoto is a piece of cake to install. You simply slip the adapter over the camera lens on your iPhone 5 and the lens lines up perfectly. You can use the telephoto with any iPhone camera app, or for extra capability in terms of focusing you can download the free Olloclip app. To give the Olloclip Telephoto and Circular Polarizing Lens a workout, I went for a walk in our local greenbelt, which is filled with marshy areas that are loaded with cattails and prairie wildflowers this time of year. To demonstrate the telephoto capability I took some shots with the regular iPhone 5 lens, then with the Telephoto Lens with the Circular Polarizing Lens attached and adjusted (rotated) for maximum effect. The results can be viewed in the gallery below -- note that in each case, I have placed the non-telephoto image first, followed by an image through the telephoto. The final pair of images shows how the polarizer can be used to minimize reflections on water. %Gallery-195775% The optics in both the telephoto and polarizer are pretty good. I liked the fact that there was no visible vignetting; some third-party lenses I've used have shown the telltale edge shadowing of vignetting, while the images with the Olloclip telephoto were bright and clear across the frame. Conclusion While not exactly inexpensive, the Olloclip telephoto and circular polarizing lens are a perfect accompaniment to the company's wide-angle offerings for avid iPhone photographers. Pros Excellent build quality No vignetting of magnified telephoto image Coated lens reduces reflections to a minimum Circular Polarizer works very well for increasing sky/cloud contrast, reducing water reflections Included microfiber carry bags can be used to clean lens surfaces Cons Somewhat expensive, although the product quality is top-notch Might not be usable with future versions of the iPhone Who is it for? The hard-core iPhone photographer who uses the phone as his or her sole camera
Olloclip adds a telephoto lens to the family
Olloclip has been a favorite solution for many iPhone owners when it comes to enhancing digital photography with the Apple device. The company's clip-on lens solution features a macro lens, a fisheye lens and a wide-angle lens. While those lenses are fine for landscapes and detail photography, one piece of glass has been missing from the Olloclip line -- a telephoto lens. Today Olloclip announced a pair of 2x telephoto lenses (both US$99.99), one model that works with the iPhone 5 and the other with the iPhone 4/4S and the last two generations of iPod touch. Also included with the telephoto lens is a circular polarization lens (CPL) that, when rotated, blocks unwanted light reflections and makes colors appear closer to what the eye actually sees. The CPL can also be used without a lens or with the fisheye and wide-angle lenses. The telephoto is made with a high-quality aluminum body and precision ground glass optics. You can expect to see the Olloclip telephoto lens in Apple Stores later this month, and in Best Buy stores in August.
