In the test: LilScope macro lenses also fit the iPhone 12 Pro

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In the test: The LilScope macro lenses on the iPhone 12 Pro

A while ago I had that Snugle lens put to the test. At that time this lens system was still in the beta stage and the "inventors" Viktoria and Wilfried Pauli then gave the attachment lenses the new product name "LilScope“Given and revised it again.

I photographed this 20x lens from LilScope with the 5x lens on the iPhone 12 Pro - you can see this in the shallower depth of field, which is otherwise atypical for the iPhone.
I photographed this 20x lens from LilScope with the 5x lens on the iPhone 12 Pro - you can see this in the shallower depth of field, which is otherwise atypical for the iPhone.

 

Innovative attachment - regardless of the smartphone model

The revised system sent me a set with three lenses so that I could try them out. What immediately convinced me was the attachment of the lenses to the iPhone, because this does not work with special clips or covers that only fit the current smartphone model, but with small, removable adhesive balls made of rubber.

The rubber adhesive is a bit like modeling clay and sticks to the smartphone without leaving any residue. This allows the lenses to be attached, removed and exchanged quickly. For storage you have a metal box in which you can insert the lenses so that they are not damaged during transport.

That is the maximum size of the 2 euro piece that I can take on the iPhone 12 Pro without any additional lenses. If I get closer, the iPhne can no longer focus it (Photos: Sir Apfelot).
That is the maximum size of the 2 euro piece that I can take on the iPhone 12 Pro without any additional lenses. If I get closer, the iPhone can no longer focus (Photos: Sir Apfelot).

High quality lenses - made in Germany

Viktoria Pauli has assured me that they put special effort into developing high quality lenses. Only aspherical lenses are used for the high magnifications (10x and 20x). The special surface design corrects the imaging weaknesses of normal spherical lenses and thus ensures convincing photos.

Of course, with such attachment lenses you always have a blurring towards the edge and only a slight one Depth of field (or depth of field?) - but that's normal. You can tell the quality of the LilScope lenses by the fact that there are no rainbow edges that often appear in photos with cheap lenses.

Note on the image material: All photos in this post are not cropped (that's why you may see weird image sections) and not edited. I just scaled it down to 1200 pixels wide. This should be the easiest way to compare the photos.

Thanks to the universal attachment, the LilScope macro lenses fit any iPhone and of course any other smartphone with a camera (photos: Sir Apfelot).
Thanks to the universal attachment, the LilScope macro lenses fit any iPhone and of course any other smartphone with a camera (photos: Sir Apfelot).

LilScope Macro lenses (expert set) on the iPhone 12 Pro

Of course, I was interested in how the lens set on the iPhone 12 Pro performed. The iPhone only arrived yesterday, but of course it has to be used for various tests.

Attachment works fine

As with my old iPhone models, the LilScope lenses also adhere perfectly to the iPhone 12 Pro. Although the iPhone now has three lenses installed, I was still able to find space to attach the lens. Tip: the “Wide” lens (1x) is the top left of the three.

In the test: The LilScope macro lenses on the iPhone 12 Pro
On the iPhone 12 Pro, the “wide” lens (1x) is positioned at the top left. When attaching the LilScope lenses, just make sure they are centered over the iPhone camera.

Test photos with a € 2 piece and iPhone XS Flash LED

I didn't have much time and therefore only took photos of a 2 euro coin and the LED flash on my iPhone XS, but you can already see that the lenses work perfectly with the iPhone 12 Pro. To clarify: I only took pictures of the flash on the iPhone XS, but didn't use it for photography. : D

Here you can see the 2 euro piece - photographed with the 5x lens from LilScope. Since I took the picture at an angle, the picture becomes blurred towards the rear.
Here you can see the 2 euro piece - photographed with the 5x lens from LilScope. Since I took the picture at an angle, the picture becomes blurred towards the rear.

 

Unfortunately, I can't remember the magnification with which I took this picture, but I think it was the 5x or 10x lens.
Unfortunately, I can't remember the magnification with which I took this picture, but I think it was the 5x or 10x lens.

 

This photo of the Euro lettering on the 2 Euro piece was snapped with the 20x lens.
This photo of the euro lettering on the 2 euro piece was snapped with the 20x lens.

 

Here is a 100% enlargement from the photo above. I simply - without scaling - cut out a section 1200 pixels wide and saved it. It's the part under the R of EURO.
Here is a 100% enlargement from the photo above. I simply - without scaling - cut out a section 1200 pixels wide and saved it. It's the part under the R of EURO.

 

Sometimes the iPhone switches to a different lens when it suddenly gets less or more light, but if you switch between the buttons 0,5x, 1,0x and 2,0x as a test, you quickly have the correct lens active again.

I guess it won't be long before you get to that Photo app Halide can determine which lens is to be used without the iPhone being able to automatically switch between the lenses. Due to a mistake, Halide is currently trying to sell me a subscription so that I could not use the app for the test.

In reality, the bright circle of the LED light on the iPhone has a diameter of approx. 3 mm - here taken with the 5x LilScope lens.
In reality, the bright circle of the LED light on the iPhone has a diameter of approx. 3 mm - here taken with the 5x LilScope lens.

 

The 10x lens brings out more details, but you can tell immediately that the depth of field has decreased a lot, because the surrounding edge of the LED light is already out of focus.
The 10x lens brings out more details, but you can tell immediately that the depth of field has decreased a lot, because the surrounding edge of the LED light is already out of focus.

 

Although the 20x lens lets even less light into the lens, the iPhone 12 Pro manages to expose in such a way that there is no shake, even though I took all the photos by hand.
Although the 20x lens lets even less light into the lens, the iPhone 12 Pro manages to expose in such a way that there is no camera shake, although I took all the photos by hand.

Conclusion: impressive macro photos

I'm using the "expert" version of the LilScope lens set, which has 5x, 10x, and 20x magnifications. I had problems with the 20x lens on the iPhone XS because the iPhone just didn't get enough light. I no longer noticed this problem with the iPhone 12 Pro at all.

I assume that the better low-light performance, even when using macro lenses, has the advantage that blurring is better compensated for and the iPhone simply works with a longer exposure. In any case, the photos all turned out very good - even with the 20x essay.

But the other lenses with 5x and 10x are also highly recommended. The 5x magnification allows surprisingly close shots that are certainly interesting for insects. As soon as I have a little more time, I'll experiment a little more with the set. Now it should be enough for the lenses to work perfectly with the iPhone 12 Pro.

If you want to buy the “expert” set with the three lenses, you will find it here at Amazon or here in the LilScope shop - or via this product box:

LilScope macro lens set expert for mobile phones / smartphones - magnifying glass e.g. B for Iphone, Samsung
LilScope macro lens set expert for mobile phones / smartphones - magnifying glass e.g. B for Iphone, Samsung
Buy it at Amazon Price includes VAT, plus shipping costs (updated: 27.11.2023 at 17: 17 clock)

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