Better close ups with your phone
Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2015 1:35 pm
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.

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.
