Black White Photography - UK (2019-05)

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B+W

CHECKOUT

Removable lens attachments can really extend the performance of smartphone

cameras. From wideangle to macro, there are good choices out there and

some quirky options. Daniel Calder holds six up for closer inspection.

TESTS AND

PRODUCTS

The Kodak Pixpro SL10 is

effectively a 16Mp camera that

requires a phone to operate it.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

KODAK PIXPRO SL10

Lens/camera hybrid

LIKES

DISLIKES

Compatibility Works with most iOS and Android phones

Guide price £140

Contact kodakpixpro.com

Dedicated shutter button

Built-in 16Mp sensor

Micro SD card slot

Sluggish operating app

Large and heavy for a phone

The Kodak Pixpro SL10 has

been knocking around for a

while now, but with the demise

of the DxO One and Sony DSC-

QX100 it’s the only device left

that functions as a standalone

camera while using a smartphone

or tablet for operation.

The Pixpro SL10 is effectively

a 10x zoom lens (equivalent to

28-280mm) with a built-in 16Mp

sensor. It can either be clipped

to the smartphone or placed

somewhere else and operated

remotely by the phone using

Wi-Fi. It works in conjunction

with the Pixpro Remote

Viewer app that’s available for

Android and iOS devices, and

allows you to set the exposure

settings, point of focus, self-

timer, image size, zoom and the

playback of images.

The camera features a shutter

button on its side, which is far

quicker to use than the phone

screen, and also includes a

thread for attaching to a tripod.

The pictures can be stored on

your phone or the camera’s

micro SD card.

Despite taking pictures with

greater detail than a smartphone,

shooting 6fps and boasting

optical image stabilisation, the

Pixpro SL10 feels somewhat

redundant as a device, especially

as it is so large and the app

so sluggish to use.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Compatibility iPhone 6/6S/6 Plus/6S Plus/7/8

Guide price £89

Contact lensbaby.com

LENSBABY DELUXE CREATIVE

MOBILE LENS KIT

Dreamy effects

LIKES

DISLIKES

Metal and glass lenses

A mini Lensbaby for your phone

Includes a protective tin

for carrying

Limited to older iPhones

Incompatible with phone cases

The Lensbaby Deluxe Creative

Mobile Lens Kit offers three

sturdily constructed lenses for

iPhone photographers who

are after something out of the

ordinary. The LM-10 and LM-20

lenses capture images with a

sharp centre surrounded

by extreme blur,

giving a dreamy or

fast moving optical

effect. The only

difference between the two

lenses is the size of the sweet

spot. The LM-30 is even more

unusual as it captures a crisp

centre and surrounds it with

a kaleidoscopic repetition of

smaller images. In each case

you can use the app to select

the focus point before shooting

and adjust a few other settings.

A bright green plastic clip

locks over the phone’s camera

and uses a small magnetic plate

to secure the lens. Because

of this it is impossible to use

a phone case with the lens

attachments at the same time.

A kickstand is also included,

which attaches to the same clip

and offers angled support to the

phone. Unfortunately, because

of the attachment you can only

use the front camera but it’s

handy for Skype and hands-free

recording. A tin case is also

included for safe and accessible

storage of the various parts.

The Lensbaby Mobile Kit uses

a bright green clip with a small

magnetic plate to secure the lens.