Zeiss ExoLens Pro System for iPhone

Fixed smartphone lenses can be limiting, which is why Zeiss and ExoLens have partnered to create a set of three add-on lenses for Apple iPhones. Richard Sibley gives them a try

- Richard Sibley

For a generation of young photographers, their smartphone is their first, and often only, camera. The reduction in image quality, thanks to the smaller sensors in smartphones, seems to matter little to those for whom portability and instant results are more important. Another limitation is the lens. Or, at least, it was.

Although there are already numerous conversion lenses that convert the fixed focal length lens on a smartphone to achieve a wider or narrower field of view, most of these reduce the image quality even further. The ExoLens range, with optics by Zeiss, is set to change all this. Yes, you read correctly: you can get Zeiss lenses for your smartphone.

Three conversion lenses are available. The first is a 0.6x wideangle, which converts the 30mm lens of an iPhone to an equivalent of around 18mm. Next up is a 2x telephoto, offering a 60mm equivalent. Finally a zoom-macro lens has the ability to change the close-focusing distance.

Each lens has a sturdy metal housing, front and rear lens caps, as well as lens hoods. It really is like looking at a miniature set of Zeiss lenses, complete with the legendary blue Zeiss logo emblazoned on the side.

To top it all off, the lenses are fitted to a smartphone via a lightweight but extremely rigid machined aluminium bracket. As well as providing a screw thread for the lenses to be mounted, it has an accessory shoe mount for either a small LED light or microphone, as well as a tripod thread on the bottom. Currently, there are brackets for the iPhone 6, 6+, 6S, 6S+ and 7. Because it has such a slim profile, the mount can remain on your phone at all times, and all three lenses fit easily in a coat pocket.