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Shooting Macro Photos with the iPhone 7 and OlloClip Macro Pro Lens Set

If you're looking to get in even closer than the iPhone 7's camera can do, a snap-on lens like those in the OlloClip Macro Pro Lens Set can help.

OlloClip Macro Pro for iPhone 7/7Plus

Categories: iPhone Photography, Lenses, Reviews
Tags: iPhone, OlloClip
Last updated about 1 week ago // Originally published about 4 years ago

You can get some remarkably good photos with mobile devices these days. The camera function might be a secondary feature of them, but the cameras are still very good.

But nearly all of them have a fixed lens. It’s a compromise focal length that’s not wide and not zoomed in. It works well for a wide variety of shooting situations, but it’s still somewhat limiting.

What if you want to shoot a close-up with a macro. Or zoom in with a telephoto. Or get a wide-angle perspective. For those, you need to have something modify the view from the built-in lens.

That means using a snap-on lens. They go over the top of the existing lens, so the light goes through the snap-on lens first and then through the built-in lens before hitting the sensor and recording an image in the form of a still photo or video.

olloclip - Macro Pro Lens Set for iPhone 7/7 Plus & iPhone 8/8 Plus I...
olloclip - Macro Pro Lens Set for iPhone 7/7 Plus & iPhone 8/8 Plus I...
Check Price at Amazon
I’ve long used the OlloClip wide-angle and macro lenses for the iPhone 6, and I’ve posted a detail review of those before. But since upgrading to the iPhone 7 last year, those lenses won’t work.

Now that OlloClip has come out with new models for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus I’ve been using the Macro Pro Lens Set, especially for extreme close-ups when tracking the development of the buds of DC’s famous cherry blossoms as they move closer to blooming. Here’s my take on these lenses.

The OlloClip Macro Pro Lens Set

There are several different combinations of lenses that are available from OlloClip. Since I was most interested in close-up photos, I went with the Macro Pro Lens Set.

OlloClip Macro Pro for iPhone 7/7Plus

It includes three lenses in one: a 7x macro, a 14x macro, and a 21x macro. They clip onto a plastic mounting clip that slides over the top of your phone and goes over the built-in lenses. And it goes over both lenses, meaning that you can use either the iPhone’s front or back camera.

OlloClip Macro Pro for iPhone 7/7Plus

Because the Olloclip adds lenses rather than replacing them, it does make the photos less sharp, and that’s amplified by the natural distortion of most extreme close-up lenses like these. In general, the center of the frame remains quite sharp, but it can drop off quite a lot at the edges.

OlloClip Macro Pro for iPhone 7/7Plus

One of the selling points of the Olloclip is that it’s portable. You’re not going to want it attached permanently to your iPhone. It’s too cumbersome for most pockets, and it’ll come off easily. So it comes packaged with a lanyard and docking clip to make it “wearable” when you’re not using it. It’s not something I tend to use, but it’s there if you want it. A more useful feature, though, is that the storage clip can fold out to create a tiny tripod bracket for your iPhone.

OlloClip Macro Pro for iPhone 7/7Plus

Shooting with the Macro Lenses

Shooting close-up macros can be finicky at the best of times. It’s doubly so when using something handheld like a phone. The problem is there is an extremely narrow plane where the focus is sharp. And because it’s not really designed for it, the iPhone’s camera has a very narrow range for focusing. So even the slightest movement can throw that out of focus.

You have to get the lens very close to the subject. As in, an inch or less. If you’re too far back the camera simply won’t be able to lock focus–it’ll just all be a blurry mess. A side-effect of that is that you’ll often be blocking the light from shining on whatever it is you’re trying to take a photo of, so you often need to get creative with your angles.

Sample Photos Taken with the OlloClip Macro Pro Lenses

Here are a few examples of the kind of close-ups you can get with these lenses. I have many more examples here.

OlloClip Macro Pro Lens Set for iPhone 7 Sample Images

OlloClip Macro Pro Lens Set for iPhone 7 Sample Images

OlloClip Macro Pro Lens Set for iPhone 7 Sample Images

OlloClip Macro Pro Lens Set for iPhone 7 Sample Image

What’s in the Box?

It comes with the slot-in lenses, the main mounting frame, lens caps, translucent lens hoods, a convertible stand/pendant holder, and a lanyard.

OlloClip Macro Pro for iPhone 7/7Plus

Wrap-Up and Tips

There are a few things to factor in when using the OlloClip macro lenses.

To get the most out of it, you want the main subject of your shot to be in the middle of the frame.

To use the macro you need to be very close to your subject. That’s not going to work with some subjects, and in others it might block the light from reaching the subject.

The edges of the frame will almost certainly be blurry even if the middle is sharp. That’s less of an issue if you’re cropping off the edges when posting square photos to something like Instagram.

The Olloclip also covers the flash. So you’ll want to turn that off. I keep mine off all the time anyway.

And if you have your phone’s screen set to adjust its brightness automatically (Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Brightness), the Olloclip goes over the light sensor, so your screen will dim. This only affects the viewing screen and not the camera exposure. It’s not a huge issue, but it can be an annoyance in bright shooting conditions when you’re trying to frame your shot and see if it’s in focus.

Unless I’m using the phone on a tripod or some other still mount, I find the camera’s built-in burst mode invaluable as a way to make sure that at least one photo is actually in focus. It involves a little more editing to go through and find the shots and cull the others, but that’s vastly better than coming home with entirely blurry photos.

Will it work with video?

Yes, no problem at all. There’s nothing extra to set or do.

Does it work with my phone case?

This is going to be a deal-breaker for many people (and is close to one for me), but no, it won’t. Because of the snug fit, the lens frame won’t mount over your case and preserve the right distance to keep things in focus.

There is one very specific exception. OlloClip is putting out its own dedicated case that is compatible. But as a I write this it’s not yet available.

Does it work with a screen protector?

So long as your screen protector is no thicker than 0.5mm, it will apparently work.

Where to Buy the OlloClip for iPhone 7

I bought mine at B&H Photo. They can also be purchased at Amazon.

olloclip - Macro Pro Lens Set for iPhone 7/7 Plus & iPhone 8/8 Plus I...
olloclip - Macro Pro Lens Set for iPhone 7/7 Plus & iPhone 8/8 Plus I...
  • ADVANCED OPTICS: The Macro Pro Lens Set has advanced six-element optics allowing you to get extra close...
  • SELFIE-READY: The Macro Pro Lens Set works seamlessly on both front- and rear- facing cameras, allowing...
Check Price at Amazon

Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2021-01-24 at 05:09. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on January 15, 2021

Categories: iPhone Photography, Lenses, Reviews
Tags: iPhone, OlloClip

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News & Deals

With the holidays fast approaching, there’s some great deals on photography gear and services available. I’ve put together a roundup of Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020 Photography Deals. It’s a running list as new deals are announced, so be sure to check back.

Canon announces new EOS Rebel T8i DSLR. Canon has announced their new T8i DSLR. 24MP APS-C cropped CMOS sensor, 4K24 video, and updated image processing and detection systems. It’s available for preorder from B&H Photo.

New Firmware for the Ricoh GR III. Ricoh has release firmware v1.31 for the GR III. Release notes are: “Corrected — When shooting with the multiple exposure, in rare cases the live view may not display correctly. Improved stability for general performance.” You can download it here.

New Canon 1D X Mark III Pro DSLR Announced. Canon has announced their new flagship model of pro DSLR, the 1D X Mark III. They’re sticking with a 20.1MP CMOS sensor, but it’s a new and improved version and boasts an incredible native ISO range of ISO 100 to ISO 102400 and an extended range that goes up to a jaw-dropping ISO 819200. With revamped autofocus, a new image processor, and all sorts of other bells and whistles, it’s no wonder that Canon is billing it as “The Ultimate EOS.”

New Manfrotto Pro Rugged Memory Cards. Manfrotto, an Italian probably best known for their tripods and studio accessories, has launched a new Pro Rugged range of high-end SD, microSD, and CompactFlash cards. While they don’t have a huge selection of sizes and speeds, the cards are aiming for very fast cards that can put up with rugged demands. For instance, they claim that their V90 rated SD cards can withstand three times the force (20kg / 45 lbs) of a regular SD card. I’ve ordered some to run through my speed tests.

New Sony Alpha a7 firmware released. A firmware update for the Sony a7R IV now lets you control external Sony flashes from the camera’s own menu system. Up to 15 flashes in five groups can be controlled via the camera. It also applies to the a7R III and a7 III.

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I take photos. I travel. I do it for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between.

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