iPhone Macro Lens

I've always loved close-up photography starting with a book I remember from first grade on spiders. I actually couldn't get past the first few pages of the book without freaking out and slamming the book shut, but I always came back for more.

About a year ago I made a clip-on lens for my iPhone and everyone is always asking me where I got it. It's very easy to make with just a few tools and materials. I'm not the first person to make one of these, but this is my take on it.

Step 1: Gather the Materials and Tools

The first thing you need to do is gather the materials and tools for assembling the lens.

Tools: pliers, small drill bits, X-Acto knife and/or saw, fine metal file and/or sandpaper, hair dryer or heat gun, tweezers, wire cutters

Materials: 4" of .04" music wire, disposable camera, 1/16" heat shrink tubing (4"+, 1 or more colors), super glue or RTV, O-ring assortment

The camera can be one that you have and have used up and removed the film, or you can ask for a used one from a one hour photo lab.

Comments

[satiutni]

Hi this looks great!
What focal distance does it achieve - I'm looking for something that would scan micro QR codes at very short distances on things like brochures.

[appsman]

I played around with paper clips and similar hacks. This one is pretty cute, but if you want something a bit more robust and cleaner looking, take a look at this 3D printable iPhone 4 macro lens holder you can get from Shapeways:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-an-iPhone-4-or-4S-slide-on-macro-lens/

[iectyx3c]

There are so many good things about this i'ble. Well-written, clear, good photos, and many tips about building which any hobbyist can use. Thanks for all the work you did in creating this and posting it.

[Pfarmkid]

ditto

[TabbyDeAnne]

FANTASTIC!! I am getting to this one right now! Very well done! I have several different lens ideas to try today. I will post my finished project! Thanks!

[dickens.joey8]

respected sir hw can u take a photo with out any rills otherwise ur invention is very gud

[IamTheMomo]

No one knows what you mean by "rill". What is a rill? I think you're using the wrong word. Speak English, not text-speak. If you can't, then get an adult to spell it properly for you.

[wagthedog44]

joey, please, for everyones reading pleasure, try to use spellcheck and grammar. It's sad to see people comment in "text speak"

[dickens.joey8]

mr rvogel i did not understand that in your experiment(invention) how cum u can take a photo with out any rill

[XOIIO]

bit of advice, use the proper spelling of come, the other one could get you in trouble sometimes.

[shrimp15]

what is a rill?

[WingDings]

Wikipedia told me that "In fluvial geomorphology, a rill is a narrow and shallow incision into soil resulting from erosion by overland flow or surface runoff that has been focused into a 'thin thread' by the soil surface texture of roughness." Not that that helps very much. :P

[DirtMcGurt]

This is an awesome idea and I will def try it, but it would probably be a good idea to add a warning about opening up disposable cameras. The capacitors used for the flash are pretty dangerous.

[cole810]

Well, idk man, I took one apart right after I used the flash and I had white dots in my eyes, biggest shock of my life haha

[trebory6]

Dangerous? Not really. Hurt like heck? Yeah. I mean sure, it would be dangerous for children and maybe people with pacemakers, but the volts and amps are much lower than a taser or stun gun last time I checked.

[daiatlus79]

yeah i gave my self a lil owwie when i disassembled one for an atomic joy buzzer hahaha

[dot communist]

This is amazing, I am VERY impressed!
Pictures i took:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2053888&id=1285468375&l=9b4b934d43

[prodo123]

Looks like you can do this with a heat shrink-covered paper clip. Freakin awesome.

[RVogel]

That could work. Music wire is a bit more resilient in the long run and getting bumped around in your pocket. A paperclip is an excellent option, especially when salvaged from the junk drawer. Thanks!

[joelparks]

I would use a recycled bicycle spoke, since I have some. Nice and stiff, and recycled!

[Coliopteran]

Great idea! I'm going to try this!

[technodude92]

Very good instructable! this would be great for creating insctructables too. i've seen way too many insctructables with bad close-up shots resulting from a lack of proper camera. this is a great little mod. I must ask, did you use this lense to take pictures for this instructable?

[spiderham]

Great ible, this is one I'll be trying out soon! Could you please post a pic of the lens placement on the phone?

[castothomas]

coolness, what type of camera did you get the parts from?

[RVogel]

It's just a disposable Fuji camera.

[omnibot]

Looks like a generic disposable camera. I've done similar things with ducttape and lenses from those, this one is much cooler though.

[nickodemus]

Such a great idea, and simply executed, nice work.

[GianniMora]

really rad concept! -M

[GianniMora]

ironic, u use a camera to take a picture of a camera... -M

[Kiteman]

This is cool (even though I don't have an iPhone).

The project itself is well-executed and illustrated. Well done, that ibler!

[RVogel]

Thanks! This can be made to work on any cell phone. If the lens is too far from the edge to use a clip, then you can just use removable double-stick tape. I use it a lot when i can't find the clip-on lens.