Bankshot Loc: Henderson, NV, USA

Hi, I see that cell phone telephoto lens that is being pushed everywhere, including on this site, and being someone who likes gimmicks and gadgets, I am wondering if anyone on here has bought one and tried it out. Is it a piece of cheep plastic crap, is it something I can get decent telephoto shots with? I’m sure it has its limitations.
Bill

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

If one can buy three lens adapters for $75, it's most likely cheap plastic crap.
BUT, they may yield acceptable results for some people.

yorkiebyte Loc: Scottsdale, AZ/Bandon by the Sea, OR

Might wanna' check YouTube reviews on that stuff!! ....No to the X power thank you!!

AzGriz Loc: Sedona, Arizona

It IS a piece of cheep plastic crap!!!

fjdarling Loc: Mesa, Arizona, USA

Most of the ones I've researched have been cheap plastic. If you do a lot of smartphone photography and want a telephoto, wide angle and macro set, check out the ones from Moment. They get more positive reviews than the other brands I looked at. On a whim, Wifey gave me the 10x40 telephoto lens that is advertised online a lot. It exhibits noticeable chromatic aberration and seems to amplify the atmospheric haze. Image quality is sub-par. Fun to play with, but not a useful photographic tool.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Bill Bankshot used the nasty nasty phrase "a piece of cheap plastic crap." implying all things plastic are crap and cheap... that is a confused grouping of thought ... counseling definitely needed, but only if covered by insurance. Don't worry Bill, if you ever need a heart valve replacement, you can demand that it be a pig heart valve not one of those modern "a piece of cheep plastic crap" heart valves.

The great emotion displayed by using the unclean word "cheap-plastic-crap" eliminates many things in this world. Perhaps the phrase "well-engineered low-cost" opens the doors to alternatives not made of optically ground glass multi-element lenses, surly not made of float glass or unthinkingly, gulp, plastic. I say this while reading Bill's post thru my plastic lens eyeglasses, which have CA based on the high refractive index which allows for thinner lenses... less weight.

The use of a cellphone camera is a compromise tho becoming less so with each new edition. If you wish to have fun with add-on lenses, why not. If you are wanting serious photos but portability, then use the cell as-is and/or a pocket 1" sensor super-zoom.

Add on cell lenses are discussed in:
https://justcreative.com/2019/11/20/best-smartphone-lenses

For the purist, you can get a 1.33x add-on [not much in my book] "Phone vlog lens is made of German SCHOTT optical glass and multi-layer coating technology to control the imaging quality. the frames use the advanced aviation aluminum" for $80.

For more reach, Sony makes not an add-on rather and "attachable" giving you 10X for only $420. That price would go well toward a Pocket super-zoom [last year's model.]

For under $50 you can get versatility and have a lot of fun with your non-threatening cell photography.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yes, as opposed to cheap plastic crap.

PixelBoy Loc: Brooklyn, NY

Add this: I have and used an attachable lens, via a clip, on my Phone with a glass, coated lens that cost me under $30 and it did a very respectable job. By the way, you can do a commercial job, get paid with a big thank-you using a poorly made plastic lens on a cell phone. It all depends on what you're trying to do. Don't poo-poo those things.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Bill you might want to consider the new iPhone 12 Pro...

A 47% larger sensor
A faster ƒ/1.6 lens
A brand-new ‘sensor shift’ stabilization system for low-light
ISO sensitivity is 87% higher
A new telephoto lens, reaching a new length of 65mm (full-frame equivalent)

Apple was thinking about image quality here... Rather than pushing more pixels into the larger sensor they wisely increased the size of the photosites which greatly increased the dynamic range and low light performance...

Apple realized that 3024 by 4032 resolution was more than enough for professional imagery standards (unlike camera vendors who are still trying to convince the naive to pony up for even more pixels).

I'm migrating to the Apple iPhone 12... it has now become a viable capture device which can (and does) yield stellar results...

Hope this helps Bill...
And maybe consider coming over to the "Dark" side... iPhones are now the new Force “Resistance is Futile”

MrMophoto Loc: Rhode Island "The biggest little"

I've read several reviews on clip-on lenses for smart phones, the bottom line, don't waste your money on low price stuff (you get what you pay for) The higher end products seem to have better reviews but one problem seems to plague all of these products - focus and clarity on the outside edges. Just like the early cameras had the same problem until they figured out to only record the center of the lens image.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

I’m not sure if the phone lens is made of plastic. I felt that a piece of plastic may be prone to scratching. I had thought that, but a Hogger mentioned they are made from Sapphire glass.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

MrMophoto said, "I've read several reviews on clip-on lenses for smartphones, the bottom line, don't waste your money on low price stuff (you get what you pay for)."

OK, you have made a statement about reviews, one should back up their statement with at least one reference.
MrMophoto , Quotes, and references, please.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

I was a camera snob. I’m not any longer. Now, cell phones are getting good press including their cameras. But I wouldn’t specifically get a new contract for the camera. I’ll upgrade when it is time. Besides you then donate the phone to a soldier or a women’s shelter

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

I bought a 3-lens set for $5 for my smartphone, and the lenses are definitely glass, not plastic. True, the results are anything but great, but having them can make the difference between getting the shot and not getting the shot. I don't know about you, but there are plenty of times I'm out doing errands or whatever, see something interesting along the way I want to capture, but don't have a dedicated camera on me.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

When I started in 1976, my photography teacher told us to carry a camera at all times. He said that everything we see is a photo. Don’t miss the opportunity. I carried my camera then and still do everywhere I go. We never had cell phones then. It is a nice feature of a cell phone such as a compass, train map and hair comb. LOL!