aNewDomain.net — Now that smartphone photography is all the rage, it’s time you up your game. That’s why I checked out the new $70 olloclip 4-in-1 photo lens. This is a clip-on lens attachment for Apple iPhone models 4 and later. You just attach this little device onto your iPhone to get four new lenses — fish-eye, wide-angle, 10x macro and 15x macro lenses. It’s an intriguing peripheral.
Below is my hands-on analysis. Scroll below the video for more details and my take on the olloclip 4-in-1 photo lens, shipping now.
Video: Alfred Poor for aNewDomain.net and aNewDomainTV/shooter Al Green and Justin Webb for aNewDomainTV
The new olloclip 4-in-one photo lens gives you those four new powerful lens choices with just a quick clip of one flexible device. Use one side of the clip-on unit and you get a fish-eye lens that delivers nearly a 180-degree field of view. The other side of the olloclip has a wide-angle lens that about doubles the field of view of the phone’s built-in camera lens.
Those two alone would be enough for most photographers. In addition, though, the olloclip 4-in-1 also lets you unscrew the lenses from each side to create macro lenses. One side gives you a 10x macro lens with about an 18 mm focal distance. The other side gets close up with a 15x macro lens with about a 12 mm focal distance.
As for the material involved, execs tell aNewDomain that the olloclip 4-in-1 photo lens uses “precision ground, coated glass, multi-element optics” in its lenses. “The barrels are made from aircraft-grade aluminum using a CNC machine and then anodized,” reps added. The attachment itself is soft plastic, with a secure-to-the-touch feel. Durability and flexibility are key with a product like this one.
Moreover, the olloclip 4-in-1 photo lens is small, as you can see from the photo I’ve included above. I found it slipped easily into my pocket. And it is designed to fit snugly with the Apple iPhone 5, 5s, 4, and 4s models.
Bottom line: So far I am impressed with the tech I saw during my hands-on preview of the olloclip 4-in-1 photo lens at the ShowsStoppers press event at the February MWC 2014. Stay tuned for more details as aNewDomain.net plans for a deeper review of the olloclip.
For aNewDomain.net and aNewDomainTV, I am Alfred Poor.
Based in bucolic Bucks County PA, Alfred Poor is a senior technologist here at aNewDomain.net. A 30-year tech journalism vet, he’s internationally renowned for his coverage of displays. He is easily distracted by shiny, sparkly gadgets and that’s why he is covering consumer tech for us, too. Contact Alfred at Alfred@aNewDomain.net, follow him @AlfredPoor and find the +Alfred Poor Google+ stream here. Alfred also is a professional speaker, a bluegrass musician and a sailor. Check out his LinkedIn profile for more.
