olloclip 4-in-1 Mobile Phone Lens
The olloclip 4-in-1 lens for the Samsung Galaxy S4 is a unique lens add on for smartphones that includes a 10x and 15x magnifying lens as well as a wide angle and fisheye lens.
Ease of Use, Performance: 3/5
Look & Feel: 5/5
Features: 5/5
How much I enjoy: 4/5
Recommendation: 4/5 Stars
The olloclip is a small add-on lens system for phones with the Galaxy S4 and S5 lenses using a metal frame with two lenses side by side. Apple phones and tablets use a similar lens mount system but have a lens on each side of the frame so you simply turn the mount around to change lenses.
olloclip 4-in-1 Lens on S4
Looking beyond the single lens solution I found for smartphone accessories I found the olloclip add on lens that includes four different lenses in a single package. The olloclip 4-in-1 lens comes in designs for both Samsung galaxy s and apple devices with the Samsung Galaxy S4 being my model.
I wanted to check out the smartphone add on lenses available for my Galaxy S4 that would take photography to a new level and the olloclip does work well. The Galaxy S4 version is a metal clip on device that has two magnifying lenses that center over the camera lens.
If you simply swap the olloclip around it brings the other lens to the camera while the wide angle and fisheye lens simply screws on each magnifying lens. You don’t have to worry about matching the correct removable lens to the proper lens on the olloclip as each uses a different male or female thread type.
olloclip Fish Eye Lens
olloclip Wide Angle Lens
The olloclip does require you to clip the lens assembly directly onto the body of the phone so no case can be used while mounting the olloclip on your Galaxy phone. According to the images of the apple phones and tablets that also have versions of the olloclip you can also not use cases with other olloclip lenses.
The 10x and 15x lenses allow you a good range of macro image photography while the fisheye and wide angle give you a great addition to the cameras ability. I enjoy photography but the smartphones do limit you in what you can do so adding lenses to your devices features just makes sense.
15X Magnifier Lens
10X Magnifier Lens with 4X Phone Magnification
15X Magnifier Lens with 4X Phone Magnification
The olloclip works well but the one area I am concerned with is the lack of protection for my phone while using the snap on lens system. I always want to have a case on my phone and want my OtterBox to stay on for my phones protection as I really do know the cost of repairing it.
You simply cannot use a case while using the lens which just makes me concerned for the protection of devices but the olloclip does work well. I had little trouble using the snap on lens but you also cannot use the power or volume buttons depending on which way the lens is on your phone while the lens in on.
The pictures I get from the olloclip look good and especially the macro shots give you a wide range to use for whatever photography you want. I can recommend the olloclip for a good lens system but not being able to use a case while using the lens system does bother me some.
The olloclip lenses for the Galaxy S4 and S% are about $70 while the apple versions range from $50 to $100 depending on the phone model and which lens combination you are interested in.
Pros
Good range of lenses in a single package
Quality images and good range of magnification
Quality materials
Cons
Cannot use case while using the olloclip
Side button is under clip on lens frame