Better close ups with your phone

[CJSomerset]

Here's a VERY simple hack that will let you take pictures with a phone and get a lot closer.

Most smart phones have a pretty good wide angle lens that will let you take a decent close up. But the main problem encountered when using a phone, is holding it still enough whilst it focusses. This method will let you get closer, light the subject and hold the phone steady at the same time.

My iPhone took this shot un aided



But with a few house hold things I got this



All you need is one of these



and one of these



You may have tried to take pics through a magnifier before, but found that the phone won't sit in the right place or the bezel around the lens gets in the way.
All you need to do is cut a tube of cardboard to the same height as the bezel.



It real is that easy…



If you have a magnified area of the lens just put the tube over it and sit your phone on top so that the phone lens looks through the tube. Your phone will focus with out any problem and you'll be able to see the pic on the back of the phone before you take it.
Sorry I couldn't get a shot of it in action.

Don't forget to clean your magnifier first! You might lose a bit of quality by shooting through a "cheap" lens, but for general use the results will be fine.
The only problem you have is if you get to close. The phone will still focus, but the ring light won't be able to shine on the subject. Don't forget to turn to flash off if you have one.

[1001kjk]

Brilliant

[gustavlekstal]

Great info!

[Brasko]

When does the toilet come into play?

This is good advice, I will have to track down that light/magnifier you have there!

[Filo387]

I saw a video on YouTube that used a lens out of one of those laser pointer pens that made a great macro lens adapter

[Yevgeny]

My phone camera is enough already

this is not my phone