45X Phone Microscope Only for 17mm Thread Backplate

(Context: this is a review of the 45x Neewer Phone Microscope lens - I know that in some situations, you can't see which item is being reviewed when there's multiple variations, so I'm adding this here to be explicitly clear). An incredible product for mobile photography! As a long-time DSLR user who worked with lenses covering micro 10:1 magnification up to 500mm telephoto lenses, I've been looking to move permanently to something smaller and more portable. In the past few years especially, phone cameras have become so good that I've been able to use it to replace the need to carry the heavy DSLR and lenses. Very recently, I decided to buy a 17mm lens holder that grips onto my phone, a few filters and a filter adapter ring, and I've been looking into lenses too. The one area which has been lacking has been micro. On the iPhone 17 Pro (and Pro Max), the 0.5x macro lens is really good, but it's no replacement for a true micro lens, so you can imagine my delight when I found this. Initially, I was very skeptical about the image quality - at such high magnification levels, you have to deal with variuos visual challenges, including chromatic aberration, extremely shallow depth of field, and most of all lighting. When the camera lens is almost touching an object, it tends to block out almost all external light. You might think "just do longer exposure", but you risk introducing blur, and also have to deal with image noise even if you manage to keep it perfectly still. Thankfully, it solves that last problem is a very effective way. The LED ring around the lens negates many of the problems associated with shaky hands on high-magnification lenses, allowing the phone to set the camera shutter speed to really high values to avoid blur. The lens is really easy to use, but you do need to use a 17mm threaded adapter for it to be effective (which Neewer also make). It's compact enough to fit in a pocket. In case you're wondering: Yes, this lens will work on the 4x camera lens of the iPhone 17 Pro, and that will still get you 48MP image output, or 12MP image output if using the 8x crop mode. I expect it will work on any phone camera. Something to keep in mind is that on the 4x zoom, the depth of field appears shallower, making it more difficult to get things in focus. I also found that it would crop the sides of the image in this scenario - you still get most of the image, but something to be aware of. If the 45x claim is to be believed, which I have no doubts about, that make this a 180x magnification when using a 4x lens, and a huge 360x magnification if using the 8x crop mode. The photos included in this review show the item without magnification, then on the 1x camera of the phone, and then on the 4x lens of the phone. All items were randomly selected as I felt them interesting subjects when viewed up close, and no affiliation or endorsement of any products or brands is implied.

Just the job Honey we shrank the kids

The lens, when paired with a compatible cage, promises to deliver enhanced magnification capabilities for detailed photography and microscopy work. The rechargeable 50mA battery is a thoughtful addition, ensuring that the microscope is ready for use whenever needed. The LED light further enhances visibility, providing adequate illumination for close-up shots and microscopy applications. However, it's crucial to note a significant limitation – without the separately sold cage, the microscope becomes practically unusable. The cage, which comes with a 17mm lens adapter, is not included and needs to be purchased separately. Unfortunately, the cost of this cage is quite steep, starting from £60 upwards, which may come as an unexpected additional expense for potential buyers. This lack of inclusion and the high cost of the required cage detracts from the overall value proposition of the NEEWER 45X Phone Microscope. While the microscope itself may have promising features, potential users should be aware of the necessity of purchasing the cage to make the device functional. This additional cost consideration may impact the decision-making process for those seeking a complete and cost-effective solution for phone microscopy.

£58 at time of review If you already have the correct type of cage for you mobile this is pretty neat. I have a small rig case on my mobile, that accepts M-Mount lenses, but it also has a swappable plate that can be swapped over for one with 17mm threads (I already had a lens that has a 17mm thread), so I swapped it over and screwed this in. The results are pretty good, it’s not a lens I’d use a lot myself, but if it’s the sort of thing you’ll use then I can safely say it performs really well. Having the integrated light is a must in my book. Hope my review was helpful

This is the first time that I've ever been disappointed with a Neewer product !! Firstly at £56.99 this is way beyond the price that this is worth, and as a YT Tech reviewer, I've had similar lenses for half the price and without the need to purchase anything else to use it with (I'll explain) When you buy this you will also have to buy, a special cage/frame/case or back plate that has a 17mm thread to inable you to use this lense and that will again set you back another £40, £50, £60 plus ?? The build quality is as always fantastic when you buy anything from Neewer, and this is made from premium grade materials. You will need to make sure that you have a compatible phone brand, make and model as again you will need that cage/fram/case thatll fit your phone, otherwise this will be useless and unusable. As Yt Tech reviewer I'm lucky enough to have a friend with the necessary case and correct phone at hand, to test out this lense, but sadly I really wasn't that blown away by it at all, and the other cheaper microscope lenses did a better job. The led light was OK but again needed to be that bit brighter especially since you really need to be almost touching what you are looking at. All in all and I'm saddened to say but this is only worth just 3 out of 5 stars, especially with the price being so extortionate

My partner loves taking pictures of flowers and their visitors and this is a treat for them, the NEEWER brand is one we have trusted in for quite a while and have numerous products from them and quality was not a doubt and that is true here with a well built and well designed piece of kit that slots beautifully into place and lets you explore the world around you in even more detail. Photography was never really my thing but my partner has always been a fan of flowers and all the little critters that visit them and so has been absolutely delighted by this microscope lens, highly recommended for photography fans.

iPhone15ProMaxのマクロ撮影に比べて、このレンズをiPhone15ProMaxの×1カメラに取付けて撮影した方が高解像度になります！

First impressions Attaches easily to the lower lens of the IPhone 12 Pro Max’ three lens setup. Needs an iPhone case with a 17mm mount to hold it in place. Comes with a nice zippered storage case, lens cloth, and USB charging cable. Since it is fixed focus, you need to get right on top of whatever you are photographing and the iPhone lens zoom setting that it works with has an effective range of 1x to 2.4x. Going beyond 2.4 or less than 1x triggers the use of the iPhone’s other lenses and does not work with the Neweer lens’ position over lens number two. It should work fairly well on micro mineral specimens that have been trimmed down to a relatively flat surface area—it will not focus down into vugs however and the interaction between it and the iPhones focusing lag takes some getting used to. The built in light ring has two illuminating settings and works well. It was on sale over the holidays for under $35. A bargain for exploring the often unseen feature of your micro minerals! especially if you cannot yet afford a digital or binocular/trinocular microscope

Dieses Objektiv kann man problemlos an das Cage von Neewer anschrauben. Das Cage gibt es für verschiedene iPhones genau passend. Im Lieferumfang ist ein Reinigungstuch und ein USB-C-Kabel. Man kann den Ring, der zur Beleuchtung dient, somit direkt aufladen. Der Vorteil liegt auf der Hand, das iPhone kann nun die beste Kamera für extreme Nahaufnahmen nutzen. Der qualitative Gewinn an Bildqualität hat mich überzeugt.

Great for extreme close up to small items

Review for 45X version. Very good microscopic lens, however the subject must be centered flat against the edge. Any minute amount of space will bring the subject out of focus. If focus stacking insects, you will need the insect to pass through the middle of the lens opening. Because the actual lens is offset a little, it is possible to focus stack very small subjects like ants, but they must be propped somehow to be able to be up against the edge of the lens. This is very hard to do with live subjects. Focus stacking software will be required for the best picture of any object that is not flat. At least an inch of distance would have been more ideal. Picture: Taken with Xiaomi 15 Ultra. Not focus stacked. Odorous house ant.