This article was taken from the June 2012 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Trick out your smartphone with this assortment of zoom lens attachments.
How We Tested
We attached each lens to an iPhone 4S (and a Sony Xperia S when needed) and shot distortion and resolution charts to test for light fall-off (vignetting), distortion and softness. Then we snapped a variety of outdoors photos to gauge ease of use, design and practicality.
PHOCUS Accent (above)
<div>The Accent includes three screw-threads for a tripod or other accessories. A large grip enables two-handed holding for a less-shaky image, and the 0.45x macro lens presents the least distortion of all lenses on test -- it can shoot just 12mm from your subject. The Accent's expandable system (anticipate future lenses and DSLR mounts) are well-matched for the serious user.
Wired: Large grip; low distortion; macro
Tired: <span class="s2">Large size and big price
7/10
$99 (£62)
Photojojo 8x Telephoto Lens
This 70mm-long, 8x lens can be screwed into place on an iPhone 4S with minimal effort, to transform it into a 350mm equivalent. Image quality does suffer from corner softness, however, as well as a pincushion distortion that gives images a "tilt/shift" effect, so don't expect a DSLR rival here. But for the low price -- which includes a mini tripod with mount, cleaning cloth and case -- this is a fun piece of kit, though it's more novelty than practical.
Wired: Lots of useful accessories; focus ring; long focal length
Tired: Edge softness; pincushion distortion; focus ring stiff in use
6/10
$35 (£22)
<span class="s1">olloclip 3-In-One Photo Lens
This is a neat three-in-one solution that includes fisheye, wide-angle and macro lenses -- just slip it over the corner of your iPhone and it's ready to go. The fisheye and wide-angle produce near-spherical and widescreen results respectively, but the macro lens is the highlight -- you can shoot just 13mm from your subject.
Wired: Macro lens; easy to attach
Tired: Won't fit over a bumper case; wide-angle vignettes
8/10
£59.99
Photojojo 2x Telephoto Lens
Stick a ring-shaped magnet around your smartphone's camera lens, then snap the Photojojo lens into place: this sounds like a practical idea, but in reality the lens kept dropping off. Image quality suffers from edge softness and subtle distortion, and flare can be an issue. The lens is useful for movie capture, but using a zoom <span class="s2">app would yield similar results.
Wired: Affordable; useful for video
Tired: Magnetic adhesion; soft images
5/10
$20 (£12)
VTec Wide Angle and Macro Lens
To use the VTec you need to slip a case over the iPhone, into which the lens is screwed. This means it can be removed with ease when not in use -- ideal for slipping into a pocket between shots. Image quality is impressive; although barrel distortion is present, sharpness towards the edges of the frame is kept to a decent enough level.
Wired: <span class="s5">Useful in tight spots; good macro
Tired: Removing its case can be a faff
7/10
£25
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
