Best Wide Angle Lenses for iPhone and Android
Why do you need a wide angle lens? Smartphones – both iPhone and Android models – come with inbuilt lenses which are already pretty wide. This is to cater for most casual snappers who take pictures with their mobile devices. Put simply, using a wide angle lens means you can get more in shot.
But what of you want to go even wider?
New top range smartphones now come with a range of inbuilt lenses, to include telephoto, ultra wide angle as well as regular wide angle. The Samsung S10 for example, comes with 5 inbuilt lenses front and back.
See the difference when shooting with the Samsung S10 ultra wide, wide and telephoto:
Samsung S10 Telephoto
Samsung S10 Wide
Samsung S10 Ultra Wide
Using a wide angle lens
If you have an impressive landscape, large natural feature or city architecture, using a wide angle lens can create impressive images by bringing more into the frame. You could also just move further away. But apart from the inconvenience, the look is very different.
By being closer to the subject and using a wide angle, you feel more immersed in the surroundings. The feeling communicated is more like being there than observing from a distance. Look at how the rocky walls of the cove in the bottom picture feel like they are towering over us.
Conversion lenses for iPhone or Android
By adding an extra “conversion” lens to your phone, you can also achieve this wide angle look – even if your phone doesn’t have the ultra wide angle inbuilt. By adding extra glass over the top of your inbuilt smartphone lens, you can encounter some problems:
- Mounting the lens. The lens needs to be attached to your smartphone and held firmly in place over the existing lens. Clips are cheap but can cover the screen. Dedicated cases are better but more expensive and if you change your phone, you probably need a new case. You can also use a grip, but they add size and weight.
- Vignetting. Depending on the lens and how you mount it, shadow can be cast over the inbuilt lens, causing vignetting at the sides of the image. You can fix this by cropping the image at the cost of image resolution.
- Chromatic aberration. Depending on the quality of the design and the glass used, there can be added distortion to the final image. Chromatic aberration is the failure of the lens to focus all colors to the same point. Some actually people like this effect and add it to their photos and video.
1. Sandmarc
The Sandmarc wide angle just edges the number 1 spot. In terms of image quality, least chromatic aberration and no vignetting this lens outperforms the other lenses in the list. But not by much.
The lens is made from premium multi-coated optics gives you 2x (double) field of view.
On the downside, if you want to mount the lens with their custom made case they’re only available for iPhones. The lens also comes with a clip mount, however Sandmarc don’t specify whether the clip is compatible with non-iPhone models (clips usually allow you to mount a lens to most phones).
Sandmarc Wide Angle Lens in Sandmarc Store
2. Moment
Coming a very close second is the Moment 18mm wide angle with its equal 2x extra view. The Moment lens gives a pretty similar performance to the Sandmarc, but with a touch more of those distortions. Added to that, when added to the cost of the Moment case the lens comes out at a bit more than the Sandmarc.
Having said that, Moment provide a greater range of cases which gives you more options if you wanted to mount the lens using a case. There is no clip-on option for the Moment lens.
3. Sirui
The Sirui 18mm is another great wide angle option. It’s made with German manufactured Schott glass, aircraft grade Aluminum and with multi-layer anti-reflective coatings. The image quality is pretty much on a par with the lenses above and at a more affordable price.
Mounting options are clip only. However, some users have spotted that the Sirui lenses can be mounted to using Moment’s cases. The question is, do they align properly using that method? You might have to try it yourself.
You can also watch John Harvey switch from Moment wide to Sirui wide below. You can see that the Moment lens gives a slightly wider image.
Check Price of Sirui Wide Angle lens on Amazon
4. RhinoShield
RhinoShield lens is the best value of the lenses so far, but it’s by no means cheaply built. The RhinoShield wide angle comes with a proper lens cap, a removable lens hood and a soft carry pouch. The lens is solid and well made.
Performance is pretty close to the lenses above. Plus, this is a 2-in-1 lens which gives you a wide-angle option and a macro lens for close-up photography. So two lenses at less cost than one of those above. RhinoShield have added 4K to the lens name, but don’t be fooled – it’s not going to add 4K resolution to your smartphone if it doesn’t already have it.
The lens also comes with a 37mm thread for adding filters, which could be useful. Again, this lens needs the RhinoShield mounting case. You might also need the appropriate adapter for your smartphone.
Like the Sirui, the RhinoShield lens has a similar bayonet mount to Moment, so some people claim you can use a Moment case with this lens. However, I’ve seen YouTubers mark down a lens after using it with the Moment case. But I would question the validity of using the lens with a case it’s not designed for. Because mounting the lens incorrectly is often the cause of vignetting, for example.
Check the Price of RhinoShield Wide Angle Lens on Amazon
You can watch Taylor Moore compare the RhinoShield lens to the Sandmarc here:
Best Budget Option
If you want to try a wide angle lens on your smartphone but are looking for something more affordable, the TODI lens is our favourite in the lower budget range.
You could also look at the Xenvo Pro Lens Kit.
Check out our full Official KIT LIST for smartphone filmmaking.
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