Originally Posted by
Traillium
I've wasted money on 3 cheap telephoto lenses for my succession of iPhones. The iPhones are wonderful, and have been my go-to cameras since the iPhone 5.
The telephoto lenses have all been a total waste of money and time. Total. You need a tripod to steady them. Focusing them is very difficult, best done when the screen brightness is turned up to maximum — which wastes battery big-time. The resultant photo is hopelessly 'soft' and unfocused except at best for the central quarter of the image. Totally useless.
Olloclip and Moment make 2x 'telephoto' lenses which are much more usable and useful. Moment lenses are optically better, and can be used on different versions of iPhones because only the attachment doohickey needs updating. Olloclip lenses need to be replaced with each new iPhone size … The 2x 'telephoto' lens quickly became my standard lens, often remaining on my camera most of the time.
I now use an iPhone 7+ with its built-in 2x telephoto lens. It's wonderful!
BTW, the macro lenses of Olloclip and Moment are wonderful!
Also, I use a bulky and cumbersome adapter that holds my iPhone up to binoculars. Works well, but is heavy, bulky, fiddly and requires solid tripod. Never goes with me in my backpack.
Summary: skip the horrible 8x telephoto crap. Go for an expensive but usable Moment 2x lens. And get a macro lens as well.