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I used to hold a pocket digicam with me all over the place I went, however now my smartphone has come to be my on a regular basis digicam. Second lenses permit me to seize some distinctive pictures that I wouldn’t be capable of with simply the built-in smartphone lens. I don’t at all times wish to take my skilled digicam with me all over the place I am going. Nonetheless, the focal lengths and angles provided by built-in smartphone digicam lenses don’t at all times give me the composition that I’m in search of. I made a decision to place 4 Second lenses to the take a look at to see how nicely they work and the way they may assist me enhance my smartphone images. When you’ve been desirous to get extra out of your smartphone images, maintain studying to study what the fuss is about Second lenses. Second Lens Specs Professionals Excellent construct high quality Lenses are sturdy and might stand up to each day use Photos are crisp, clear, and distinctive Highest high quality possibility for smartphone lenses Second circumstances and bayonet-style mount is safe and straightforward to make use of Number of lenses to fit your images fashion Cons You’ll additionally want a Second case or mount Worth is likely to be too excessive for some Right here’s a breakdown of the specs for the lenses I’ll be reviewing at present. Lens Mannequin Focal Size Compatibility Discipline of View Development Huge 18mm Second Case or M-series mount 100° diagonal 6 Parts 5 Teams Fisheye 14mm Second Case or M-series mount 170° diagonal Multi-element, 3G/1A bi-aspheric design with coating Macro 25mm Second Case or M-series mount 10x magnification 3 parts in 2 teams Anamorphic 37mm Second Case or M-series mount 2.40:1 facet ratio after de-squeeze 2 cylindrical parts, anti-reflection coating Construct & Ergonomics Second lenses will let you remodel your smartphone into a real pocket digicam The final construct and ergonomics are all fairly strong in relation to these Second lenses. I wish to kick issues off by speaking about their sturdiness. You possibly can undoubtedly really feel the worth of those lenses. Second lenses have a great weight to them, and I do know from expertise that they’ll stand up to the occasional drop! The design of those lenses feels fairly pure to make use of. I don’t usually discover myself unintentionally touching the glass after I’m attempting to attach the lens to my Second cellphone case. They really feel like they’re simply the suitable measurement with out being too unwieldy on my smartphone. The lenses connect with your Second cellphone case with their bayonet-style mount. I’ve used these in some run-and-gun conditions, they usually have but to fall off whereas in use. This does imply you’re going to have to purchase a Second case to go along with your lens. Second has a variety of choices and kinds so that you can select from, so it’s not that massive of a hurdle to utilizing these lenses. Attaching Second Lenses to Your Smartphone As I discussed, Second lenses connect to a bayonet-style mount on smartphone circumstances made by this model. This mount is extremely safe. I used to be a little bit apprehensive at first that these lenses can be falling off on a regular basis, however in a number of years of taking pictures with Second lenses—I’ve by no means seen one fall off. There are solely two caveats I might give to this Smartphone lens mounting system. The primary is that you simply wish to take a while to get aware of it, identical to you’d any new lens mounting system. You by no means wish to be on the market within the subject fumbling along with your lenses whereas the shot of a lifetime passes you by. My solely different caveat can be that it is best to spend money on a protecting cowl to your smartphone digicam lens. This mounts over your smartphone digicam in the identical method {that a} display protector would. I’ve by no means unintentionally scratched a smartphone digicam with a Second lens, however then once more, I’ve at all times used a smartphone digicam protector. Focus Efficiency A light-weight crop on shot taken with the Second Anamorphic 1.33x lens | iPhone 12 Professional Max The main focus efficiency of Second lenses is superb. To be trustworthy, I actually didn’t discover any distinction when focusing with a Second lens or with out one. That’s fairly responsive for an add-on smartphone lens. This was simply as true when taking pictures in low mild circumstances because it was when taking some video. I did discover that the focusing carried out higher when utilizing the Second app. The Second app has a number of presets which are designed to work with every lens. These are appropriate for optical distortion, which is very helpful when de-squeezing pictures taken with the anamorphic lens. The app additionally places your smartphone’s digicam into full handbook mode. You’ll be capable of management the whole lot from the main focus to unbiased lens choice in case your smartphone has multiple lens. Picture High quality The picture high quality on Second lenses is simply improbable. Possibly I’m simply an old-school photographer, however I at all times really feel like my pictures are sharper when I’ve an precise lens mounted to my digicam. The images I take with Second lenses at all times have a little bit bit extra readability and vibrance than pictures captured with my smartphone alone. There isn’t a really noticeable enhance in distortion when utilizing Second lenses, however you may get some vignetting with a number of of the lenses. Second makes an anamorphic lens and a fisheye lens which have numerous distortion, however when you’re aware of these two forms of lenses, then you definately’ll know that the distortion that comes with them is a part of their aesthetic attraction. That attraction is a giant issue within the picture high quality of Second lenses. If your entire smartphone pics are beginning to really feel a little bit the identical, perhaps the factor that you simply’ve been in search of is a brand new lens to present you a singular angle and focal size. 18mm Huge Angle Lens The Second 18mm Huge Angle lens mounted on a Second case utilizing their Filmmaker Cage The Second 18 mm wide-angle lens is one in every of my favorites. I’ve often acquired this lens on me whether or not I’m going out to take some photographs or some video. The picture high quality on this 18 mm lens simply can’t be crushed in relation to smartphone images. I can also’t get sufficient of truly having the ability to seize wide-angle pictures that don’t have that smartphone digicam look to them. This lens is nice for wide-angle portraits in addition to panorama images. I’ve additionally made numerous good use of this lens when doing smartphone videography in cramped quarters like indoor interviews. Fisheye 14mm Lens Utilizing the Filmmaker Cage with the Second Bluetooth distant permits for some crisp wide-angle pictures The 14 mm fisheye lens is nice for getting near your topic, and it’s a a lot better possibility than attempting to make use of fisheye distortion filters. I often should edit out numerous vignetting and distortion when working with a fisheye lens, however I used to be fairly stunned by how clear the images taken with the fisheye lens have been. They nonetheless have that ultrawide fisheye fashion that I get pleasure from, however the pictures have been crisp from nook to nook. The fisheye lens can also be an incredible alternative when you’re a videographer. This will provide you with that wide-angle, GoPro really feel with out having to maintain a second gadget charged. Macro 10x Lens The diffuser hood is eliminated to point out off the lens, but it surely’s virtually at all times on whereas in use It’s wild to assume you can take gorgeous macro images utilizing nothing greater than that smartphone that’s sitting in your pocket. One of the crucial fascinating issues about this macro lens is that it’s the least expensive possibility on the market for moving into macro images. If you wish to know what all of the hype about macro is about, you’ll be able to decide up this lens for a fraction of the price of the rest available on the market. Right here’s a tip for utilizing this macro lens. The included diffuser hood not solely helps you get higher mild in your topic, however the fringe of the diffuser hood is precisely the identical size because the focusing distance of this lens. Which means that all you should do is contact the sting of the diffuser hood to your topic, and your macro photographs will at all times be in focus. 1.33x Anamorphic Lens – Blue Flare If I’m heading out at evening, I’m throwing the 1.33x Anamorphic lens in my Second M-TW sling bag The anamorphic lens from Second was the one I used to be most excited to strive. When you’re into the historical past of cinema, you’ll know that anamorphic lenses supply a number of the most aesthetically pleasing pictures and are often fairly exhausting to come back by. This lens permits your smartphone to naturally seize wide-angle 16:9 pictures. The Second app comes with a de-squeeze characteristic that corrects for the anamorphic distortion, however you could possibly additionally go away that distortion in for some retro cinematic aesthetics. Anamorphic lenses are additionally well-known for his or her lens flare. This lens has a blue coating that produces a placing blue flare that feels prefer it’s out of a Sci-Fi film. When you actually wish to problem what smartphone images is able to, that is the lens it is best to decide first. Second Lens Pattern Photos Listed below are some pattern pictures taken with Second lenses utilizing my iPhone 12 Professional Max. 18mm Huge Angle Lens The 18mm focal size is nice for bringing in all the additional particulars and geometries of a scene Second lenses are nice for some digital lomo images, so I attempted to seize some distortion for a lo-fi look Fisheye 14mm Lens Fisheye lenses are identified for his or her distinctive distortion, so why not lean in? The Second fisheye lens let me seize the town in methods my built-in smartphone lenses simply couldn’t Macro 10x Lens Macro images might be exhausting to mild and focus, however the diffuser hood made each fairly easy Macro is a superb fashion for anybody into exploring textures of their composition 1.33x Anamorphic Lens – Blue Flare The blue flare on the anamorphic lens can be utilized for a lot greater than only a Sci-Fi fashion particular impact How I Examined the Second Lenses It’s no secret that I’ve been utilizing Second lenses for some time now. This implies I’ve gotten to check them below a variety of circumstances from informal day images to extra demanding shoots. My smartphone is now my go-to on a regular basis digicam. Once I don’t really feel like hauling round knowledgeable digicam lens, I simply use my iPhone for day-to-day images. I did my newest take a look at utilizing my iPhone Professional Max 12 with a Second magsafe case. I used to be additionally carrying the Second filmmaker cage and the M-TW bag simply to see how nicely Second gear works collectively. Since I’ve already acquired a Second case on my cellphone, rapidly attaching one in every of their lenses is a simple method to improve my pictures and seize new angles. Each time I head out, I’ll usually throw one or two Second lenses into my bag. My two favourite selections are the 18 mm broad angle and the macro, however the anamorphic lens and fisheye lenses are by no means far behind. I’ve used these lenses at evening, within the rain, and even on trip. These lenses are additionally nice for video with the anamorphic lens having the ability to create some standout outcomes. I feel it’s truthful to say that I put some critical miles on my Second gear. What’s the Finest Various to Second lenses? Second is certainly in a league of its personal in relation to smartphone lenses. Whereas yow will discover loads of finances alternate options to clip on a number of lenses to your smartphone, there actually isn’t anybody else making lenses fairly like Second. I put collectively a fast record of some alternate options you’ll be able to contemplate. Most of those are finances alternate options that work when you can’t spend about $100 per lens to your smartphone. The one oddball on this various record is Sony’s temporary foray into smartphone lenses which is actually fascinating, if not very fashionable. (Consult with our greatest macro lens for iPhone article.) Why are Second Lenses so Costly? Whereas plastic smartphone lenses are a dime a dozen on Amazon, Second lenses are produced from aerospace-grade metallic and the identical high-end glass utilized in 4K movie lenses. Every Second lens goes to value you round $100. This worth can go up and down relying on a brand new lens being launched or a sale. I’ve to say that Second lenses have the precise proper worth for his or her cash. I’d even say that I really feel like I’m getting a cut price at this worth level. Many of the different smartphone lenses on the market are extra of a gimmick reasonably than a critical possibility for individuals seeking to take their smartphone images to a brand new degree. That is particularly the case with the extra distinctive Second lenses just like the fisheye and anamorphic lenses. You possibly can at all times decide up one or two lenses to see in the event that they’re best for you, or examine the Second web site for one in every of their equipment bundle offers to get some additional gear with lenses at a reduction. FAQ’s The place is Second positioned? Second relies out of Seattle, Washington, in america. Second additionally organizes worldwide images journeys and works with photographers from throughout the globe. Who owns the Second lens firm? Second is owned by founders Marc Barros and Michael Thomas. The corporate was based in 2013. Which Second lens ought to I get first? Any of the Second lenses would make an awesome first buy. You might want to contemplate the kind of pictures or video that you simply wish to seize and the lens that’s going that can assist you create the artwork you wish to create. With that stated, I’d advocate grabbing the 18 mm wide-angle lens or the 58 mm tele lens for a great first possibility. Second Lens Assessment | Conclusion I’ve been utilizing Second lenses for years now and I’ve acquired no plans on stopping. Like so many different individuals, my smartphone is my go-to pocket digicam. If I can rapidly slap on a lens to seize new angles or get a better-looking picture, then these lenses from Second are greater than well worth the buy.
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