Price: $69.99

Requirements: iPhone 4 / iPhone 4S

Test Rig: iPhone 4S, 32GB

In the 60’s the average Joe was introduced filmmaking thanks to the Hi-8 camera. There were no effects (unless you were completely methodical in your planning and willing to invest the time) and titles were created on felt message boards with plastic lettering.
In the 80’s, with the advent of the VCR, VHS recorders afforded budding filmmakers the opportunity to create projects they could view on their TVs. Effects and titling were still minimal at best.
Today, the smartphone reigns supreme. And with the help of a computer, you can create professional-looking titles and effects. The quality of these tools advanced so quickly, that soon smartphone films became their own genre. (In fact, as I write this, Nokia has just unveiled a phone that has not only an excellent picture but incredible image stabilization.)
Likewise, a market for lenses, tripod adapters and rigs, plus effects packages has blossomed.
“The olloclip is a quick-connect lens solution for the iPhone 4/4S that includes fisheye, wide-angle and macro lenses in one small, convenient package that easily fits in your pocket. Nestled in the palm of your hand, the olloclip connects to the iPhone within seconds so you’ll be sure to capture the image you want…if you don’t see the picture you’re looking for just flip it over to switch lenses.”
You can buy adapters to use DSLR lenses, but that feels like you’re defeating the beauty and the advantage of having such a mobile camera. The market has recognized this and responded.

THE JUICE

The ōlloclip is another entrant in the smartphone lensing market. Built slightly larger than your thumb, the ōlloclip is three different lenses in one ingeniously small package.

Attach it to your iPhone one way and you have a fish eye lens.

Flip it over, attach it again and you have a wide angle lens.

Unscrew that lens and you have a macro lens.

Also included, two lens caps and a small cloth drawbag to carry it in.

THE PULP

The pictures, as you can see, are sharp and crisp. You’ll notice in the Macro shot, in particular, just how detailed the peach fuzz is. I didn’t take any video (an oversight on the part of your ever faithful boneheaded reviewer) but I have no reason to assume that the results would be any different.
And the fact that to take all three photos consumed the better part of three minutes to shoot is testament to the ease of which you can switch between all three lenses. This would be extraordinarily handy for those surprise moments.

THE RIND