Including a macro lens to your smartphone is a good way to develop the capabilities of what your cell digicam can do. On this Apexel APL-HB100MM Macro Lens evaluation I’m having a look at what this surprisingly stunning lens delivers for smartphone images.
Firstly, this macro lens is impressively priced for its high quality. Coming in at solely $39.95 on the time of writing, it packs a punch. I’ve a fairly outdated cellphone (it’s over three years outdated which is positively historic in smartphone phrases) and I used to be genuinely impressed with the photograph high quality this little pocket lens delivered.
Execs
- Spectacular photograph high quality even on my older smartphone
- Simple to connect to any cellphone with the included clip
- A screw-in pin holds the attachment agency so it received’t fall off throughout operation
- Lens readability is superb and solely restricted by cellphone’s capabilities
- Telephone autofocus nonetheless works completely as soon as throughout the focus vary
- Consists of two filters
- Sliding mounting makes it straightforward to line up along with your cellphone’s digicam
- Minimal vignetting
Cons
- Included bag doesn’t fairly match the lens with clip connected
- Clip covers the highest nook of the display screen which can block entry to buttons
- Padding on the clip reassures that it’s not going to scratch the display screen, however may very well be thicker
I acquired the lens from Apexel in alternate for an goal evaluation. All opinions are my very own.
Apexel APL-HB100MM Macro Lens – Technical specs
All technical specs had been taken from B&H.
- Macro lens with focal size 100mm
- Glass building
- Minimal focus distance: 1” (2.5cm)
- Most focus distance: 3” (7cm)
- Weight: 5.6 oz / 159 g
- Common compatibility, together with iPhone, Samsung, iPad, HTC, ZTE, Xiaomi, Moto, Blackberry, Nokia
- Every lens housing is made utilizing CNC precision for an correct optical design
- Multilayered anti-reflective optical coated lenses to extend gentle transmission and cut back reflections
Apexel APL-HB100MM Macro Lens – Ergonomics and construct high quality
Smartphone lenses like these have been round for some time, and the Apexel APL-HB100MM Macro Lens has a reasonably normal common attachment. The lens screws onto a metallic ring on the plastic clip. This ring strikes up and down so you may simply place the lens to match your smartphone digicam.
The clip feels sturdy and has the great characteristic of a screw pin to place strain on the hinge to lock the lens into place. There’s rubber non-slip padding on the clip the place it contacts your cellphone’s display screen. This may very well be slightly thicker and grabbier however it does the job.
The lens itself is metallic and glass and feels good high quality. It’s obtained a metallic thread to connect to the clip mount, and comes with a lens cap for the entrance and a tiny one for the again on the threaded finish. This implies in case you have different lenses within the Apexel vary, this one is safely protected on each side if you’re not utilizing it.
Attaching the lens to the cellphone is straightforward: Clip on, line up, and tighten the threaded pin to carry it in place. I used to be simply capable of instantly place the lens in the appropriate place on my cellphone.
The lens slipped into place high quality with my cellphone’s slimline case connected. On my husband’s Otterbox case, we couldn’t match the lens in place with out eradicating the Otterbox, in order that’s one thing to remember for those who use an Otterbox or cumbersome cellphone case.
Apexel APL-HB100MM Macro Lens – Within the subject
I used to be very impressed with the picture high quality of the Apexel APL-HB100MM Macro Lens. As I discussed, my cellphone is fairly outdated by smartphone requirements so I wasn’t positive how nicely the pictures would prove. I used to be happy with the outcomes I obtained.
The lens could be very straightforward to make use of. It feels prefer it’s securely connected to the cellphone, and I didn’t have any downside lining it as much as take pictures. As soon as within the focus vary (which is fairly shut, 1” to three” roughly for it to focus), my cell digicam’s autofocus labored completely. It’s light-weight so doesn’t really feel awkward on the cellphone.
Picture high quality and traits
This positively suits the invoice of a macro lens: I.e. a lens that makes the thing larger than 1:1 within the ensuing picture. It reveals a variety of stunning element, considerably enhancing the standard of my smartphone digicam by itself. It picks up a variety of gentle and renders the picture true-to-life.
Distortion and vignetting
I didn’t discover vital vignetting when the lens is lined up correctly. You’ll discover the sting of the lens in your picture when it’s not aligned. There isn’t a distortion within the picture at this focal size.
Chromatic aberrations, flares and ghosting
I observed little or no chromatic aberration in my photos. Flares and ghosting had been evident when taking pictures backlit towards the solar. Nevertheless, as a result of this can be a macro lens with a restricted focus distance, it’s exhausting to think about a state of affairs the place flares like this might not be avoidable for those who didn’t need them. In different phrases, for those who’re getting flares and ghosting, then you definitely’re most likely attempting for it intentionally.
Sharpness
The pictures taken with Apexel APL-HB100MM Macro Lens had been sharp throughout the limits of my cellphone digicam. There’s two lenses at play right here as a result of the macro lens attaches to the cellphone’s digicam. The above comparability between my digicam by itself and with the macro lens connected present that the sharpness is similar thus merely restricted by my cellphone.
Bokeh
The background blurs fantastically with this macro lens. Once more bokeh goes to be depending on the cellphone digicam in addition to the lens. The Apexel APL-HB100MM Macro Lens definitely offers a clean, pleasing texture to the magnified photos.
Colour rendition
I discovered wonderful colour rendition when testing for this Apexel APL-HB100MM Macro Lens evaluation. I used Radiant Photograph Cellular to course of the photographs and this brings out the element. Nevertheless even straight out of digicam the photographs are rendered true colour.
Apexel APL-HB100MM Macro Lens – Ultimate ideas
Total, I’m very impressed with the standard of macro photos I created for this Apexel APL-HB100MM Macro Lens evaluation. This lens could be an important addition for macro photographers wanting a enjoyable, very transportable, cheap package to make use of on the go together with their current cellphone {hardware}.
For photographing flowers and bugs it delivers stunning outcomes with ease. Creators and craftspeople would additionally discover a use for this lens: For photographing particulars, textures, embroidery, stitching, and many others, it’s excellent. Jewelry images for exhibiting off element work in necklaces, earrings, rings and so forth: This lens would make it lots simpler to seize high quality pictures in your smartphone.
