Smartphone filmmaking has come a long way, with the ability to capture cinematic footage right from your pocket.
While the built-in lenses of modern smartphones are already impressive, adding extra lenses can unlock new creative possibilities.
In this guide, we’ll break down the three primary types of smartphone lenses, why they matter, and when you might need them to elevate your content.
Why Lenses Matter in Smartphone Filmmaking
Before diving into the specifics of the lenses, let’s first understand why they’re so important. The lens you use dramatically impacts the quality and type of shot you can capture.
Along with lens choice, understanding frame rate settings is essential to achieving smooth, professional footage.
For instance, the difference between a wide-angle shot and a telephoto shot is night and day. Multiple lenses give you more flexibility, allowing you to choose the right lens for your creative vision.
However, it’s not always necessary to buy additional lenses. Many smartphones have multiple built-in cameras, each offering a different focal length.
These lenses can often cover most of your filming needs. But sometimes, an additional lens can offer something that your phone’s built-in camera can’t. Let’s break down the three primary lenses every content creator should consider.
1. Wide-Angle Lens (18mm)
A wide-angle lens is one of the most popular additional lenses in smartphone filmmaking, and for good reason.
This 18mm lens significantly widens the field of view when attached to your smartphone’s primary camera.
Why You Should Use a Wide-Angle Lens:
- Capturing More of the Scene: Wide-angle lenses allow you to fit more into the frame, making them perfect for filming landscapes, large spaces, or dramatic group shots.
- Dynamic Shots: They’re ideal for high-energy scenes, like action shots or sporting events, where you want the viewer to feel right in the action.
- Smoother Footage: The wider focal length helps minimize visible shakes, making your handheld shots appear much smoother.
Ideal Uses for the Wide-Angle Lens:
- Real Estate Videos: Showcase spacious rooms and environments.
- Travel Vlogs: Capture vast landscapes and scenic vistas.
- Action Shots: Add energy and movement to your videos, immersing the viewer in the scene.
2. 58mm Lens (Telephoto)
The 58mm lens offers a telephoto perspective, which essentially zooms in on the subject and compresses the scene.
It’s perfect for shots where you want to isolate the subject and bring it into sharper focus, creating a cinematic effect.
Why You Should Use a 58mm Lens:
- Flattering Portraits: The 58mm focal length is perfect for portraits. It’s a standard range in photography that flatters human subjects by providing a more natural perspective.
- Close-Up Focus: This lens helps make distant objects appear closer without distorting the image. If you’re filming wildlife or anything far away, this lens will help you get a shot that looks like you’re right next to your subject.
- Please focus on the Subject: The 58mm lens compresses the background, allowing the subject to stand out and making it perfect for talking head videos or interviews.
Ideal Uses for the 58mm Lens:
- Portrait Shots: Ideal for flattering close-ups of people.
- Talking Head Videos: Great for isolating the speaker and focusing attention.
- Wildlife and Nature: When you need to get closer to the action without disturbing your subject.
3. Anamorphic Lens
An anamorphic lens is a bit more advanced and used primarily for creating cinematic, wide-screen shots. It works by squishing the image horizontally, and then your editing software unsquishes it, giving you a widescreen, letterboxed aspect ratio.
Why You Should Use an Anamorphic Lens:
- Cinematic Look: The anamorphic lens gives your footage a professional, wide-screen, cinematic feel. Pairing this with the right camera movements can further enhance the dynamic quality of your shots and elevate your filmmaking style. It’s commonly used in Hollywood films and gives your smartphone video that expensive, high-quality look.
- Horizontal Lens Flares: One of the most distinctive features of an anamorphic lens is the horizontal lens flare it creates. This effect is often seen in music videos and sci-fi films, adding drama and style to your shots.
- Wide-Angle Shots: The anamorphic lens captures a wider field of view, making it perfect for those grand, sweeping shots that demand attention.
Ideal Uses for the Anamorphic Lens:
- Cinematic Filmmaking: When you want to achieve that broad, movie-theater look.
- Sci-Fi and Music Videos: These genres’ horizontal flares and wide shots are a signature feature.
- Epic Landscapes: To emphasize vast, sweeping views in a dramatic, cinematic way.
When Do You Need to Buy Lenses?
Before you rush to buy any additional lenses, let’s think critically about whether you need them.
Modern smartphones already come with multiple built-in lenses, including a standard wide-angle and a telephoto lens. Choosing the right lens is just one part of achieving cinematic video; selecting the correct frame rate also plays a crucial role in how motion is portrayed on screen.
Pairing this with the right camera movements can further enhance the dynamic quality of your shots and elevate your filmmaking style.
Factors to Consider:
- Lighting: The quality of your footage can drop significantly in low-light conditions. The primary camera on most smartphones generally performs the best in these scenarios due to its larger sensor and lower aperture. If you’re filming in bright, well-lit environments, the difference in quality becomes less noticeable.
- Use What You Have: If you haven’t yet reached the point where your current setup limits your creativity, you probably don’t need additional lenses. Start experimenting with your phone’s built-in lenses, and only invest in more specialized lenses when you encounter a specific creative challenge.
I happily switch between the built-in lenses on my iPhone, rarely feeling the need for extra lenses.
Of course, there are times when I’m glad to have the added flexibility of additional lenses, but these occasions represent less than 15% of my shooting.
Best Smartphone Lens Brands
If you decide that additional lenses are a worthwhile investment, a few trusted brands stand out in mobile filmmaking.
1. Moment
Moment is one of the leading brands in smartphone lenses, known for producing high-quality glass and accessories.
They offer lenses for all types of shooting, including wide-angle, telephoto, and anamorphic lenses. The build quality is excellent, and their customer support is top-notch.
- Lens Options: Moment offers an 18mm wide-angle lens, a 58mm telephoto lens, and an anamorphic lens.
- Mounting System: Moment uses a quick-release system with custom phone cases, making switching lenses easy.
2. Sandmarc
Sandmarc is another excellent option, with lenses that deliver superb quality for mobile filmmaking. Content creators highly regard their lenses for their sharpness and versatility.
- Lens Options: Sandmarc offers wide-angle, telephoto, and macro lenses.
- Mounting System: Sandmarc uses a threaded screw-in mount for a secure fit, providing a slightly different experience than Moment’s quick-release system.
Conclusion
- Wide-Angle Lens: Use this to capture more of the scene, whether for landscapes or action shots.
- 58mm Lens: This lens is ideal for portrait shots or to create a more intimate, focused shot.
- Anamorphic Lens: Choose this for cinematic, wide-screen shots with signature lens flares and a professional look.
Ultimately, the lens choice depends on your creative needs and filming style. While smartphone lenses can be a great addition, remember not to overcomplicate things.