Vtec 12x Telephoto Lens for iPhone 5 Review

Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification


Since the launch of the iPhone there have been numerous lenses released from fish-eye, wide-angle to ones helping you get closer to your subject, such as the Vtec iPhone 12x telephoto lens on test here. It is made from aluminium and comes with an iPhone case, holder, mini tripod, cleaning cloth, pouch and lens caps and is priced at £34.99.

Vtec 12x Telephoto Lens for iPhone 5 Features

• Comes with 3 leg tripod
• iPhone cover (to fix lens to)
• Manual focus ring
• 3m minimum focus distance
• 12x magnification
• 12° angle of View
• 21mm objective lens diameter
• Aluminum shell and optical glass element

Vtec 12x Telephoto Lens for iPhone 5 Handling

The black case is a fairly standard one which comes with most lenses for the iPhone and you can keep your phone in it when storing. The lens screws into the case over the camera. You can shoot hand-held, particularly in good light but you're going to get your sharpest shots when using a tripod. To remove all possibility of camera shake, we recommend you use an app, such as Camera Awesome, which has an anti-shake mode, or even the Belkin LiveAction Camera Remote.

The iPhone 5 lens is a 35mm equivalent of 33mm, so this lens will boost the length to 396mm. The lens is fixed, therefore it will not zoom in or out. There is a manual focus ring which needs to be twisted to make the images sharp. It is also worth noting that you can't use the lens with the flash as it shines right into it, so remember to turn it off.

There is a metal ring which goes around the lens and attaches to a tripod. The miniature one that comes with it is OK if you manage to balance it well, as the weight of the lens compared to the iPhone makes it a little unstable. You also need to screw the rotating ball very tight as the weight can cause the lens and iPhone to move. For the test shots in this review the Hama Traveller Mini Pro has been used, this has quite a short screw, other tripods had a longer screw which didn't fit securely into the socket.

It is a very nice touch that the lens comes with a pouch and lens caps for both ends, meaning you can keep it clean when not in use.

Vtec 12x Telephoto Lens for iPhone 5 Performance

Below are a few shots taken using the lens and an iPhone 5. Image quality is good, with the iPhone 5's excellent colour reproduction coming through. It is clear to see, even from the thumbnail pictures below, that images are sharp in the middle, but become soft around the edges.

Vtec iPhone 12x Aluminium Telephoto Lens For iPhone 5 Sample Photos

Value for money

The Vtec 12x Telephoto Lens seems like good value for money at £34.99, particularly considering the additional accessories it comes with. We have also reviewed an 8x telephoto lens, available from Photojojo (approx £22), which produced similar results.

Vtec 12x Telephoto Lens for iPhone 5 Verdict

If you are looking at this lens as an alternative to purchasing a camera with 12x zoom, image quality doesn't match up, but if you are a keen iPhoneographer and feel restricted by the lack of optical zoom, you can't complain for the price.

Vtec 12x Telephoto Lens for iPhone 5 Pros

Comes with plenty of useful accessories
Good value for money
Decent image quality for use on the web

Vtec 12x Telephoto Lens for iPhone 5 Cons

Images are only sharp in the centre
Supplied tripod can be tricky to use

FEATURES
HANDLING
PERFORMANCE
VALUE FOR MONEY
OVERALL

The iPhone 12x Aluminium Telephoto Lens is available from Vtec for £34.95.

Vtec iPhone 12x Aluminium Telephoto Lens For iPhone 5 Specifications

View Full Product Details