# What's the best macro lens for iPhone? **URL:** \ **Category:** Nature Talk\ **Created:** [April 18, 2019, 1:45pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/whats-the-best-macro-lens-for-iphone/2281 "2019-04-18T13:45:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![thompsonmark23](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/thompsonmark23/32/1210_2.png) [@thompsonmark23](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/thompsonmark23)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 1:45pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/whats-the-best-macro-lens-for-iphone/2281/1 "2019-04-18T13:45:23Z")
Trying not to break the bank, so maybe chime in on the best for under $50, and also the best ever (any price). Looking to photograph small stuff that’s sedentary (plants) and mobile (bugs). ---
**Author:** ![susanhewitt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/susanhewitt/32/887_2.png) [@susanhewitt](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/susanhewitt)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 2:39pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/whats-the-best-macro-lens-for-iphone/2281/2 "2019-04-18T14:39:00Z")
One important question is, do you have a case on your phone? If so (I certainly do – an otter box case) then some of the more expensive clip-ons won’t fit. But I can’t risk the damage to my phone when I am out and about in rugged conditions, so I have to have a good solid case on it. Also, realistically speaking, how likely are you to lose the clip-on lens? I put mine on and take it off all of the time and therefore I am quite likely to lose it. If I were you, I would be inclined to start with a really cheap clip-on (you can get a set of lenses for under $10) and then upgrade as you go along. They all take a little bit of getting used to, because you have to brace yourself against something to keep the image steady. The main thing is that some have a very narrow range of focus, are very unforgiving. And that does not depend on price. ---
**Author:** ![carrieseltzer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/carrieseltzer/32/38544_2.png) [@carrieseltzer](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/carrieseltzer)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 2:55pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/whats-the-best-macro-lens-for-iphone/2281/3 "2019-04-18T14:55:12Z")
If you’re willing to use a custom case, I recommend the Ztylus Revolver series without reservation. [https://ztylus.com/collections/revolver-m-series](https://ztylus.com/collections/revolver-m-series) Also mentioned in [this thread](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/good-cameras-for-nature-shots/1064/31). ---
**Author:** ![diegoalmendras](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/diegoalmendras/32/1473_2.png) [@diegoalmendras](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/diegoalmendras)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 4:26pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/whats-the-best-macro-lens-for-iphone/2281/4 "2019-04-18T16:26:52Z")
how about [nurugo](https://www.nurugo.com/products/nurugo-micro?lang=es)? [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/21238082](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/21238082) she uses a lot nurugo to capture butterfly eggs! and she mentioned me it works very well. I use a 4 dollars macro lens from a trinkets store, it works well and if it breaks, it will not make me feel bad, here is one example from this cheap lens [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/22428350](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/22428350). Bad quality is maybe because my Iphone is 5c, not sure about this point. ---
**Author:** ![susanhewitt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/susanhewitt/32/887_2.png) [@susanhewitt](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/susanhewitt)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 2:48pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/whats-the-best-macro-lens-for-iphone/2281/5 "2019-04-19T14:48:12Z")
@carrieseltzer – How good is the custom case that comes with the Ztylus Revolver? I use my iPhone X on sandy beaches a lot, and in mucky and rugged conditions, and sometimes when it is drizzling. And I do drop it fairly often! ---
**Author:** ![carrieseltzer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/carrieseltzer/32/38544_2.png) [@carrieseltzer](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/carrieseltzer)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 9:04pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/whats-the-best-macro-lens-for-iphone/2281/6 "2019-04-19T21:04:31Z")
@susanhewitt the iPhone X/XS is pretty water resistant so I don’t worry about drizzle, but if I spent a lot of time on sandy beaches I’d probably want a case that protected the screen. The one they have now protects everything else well (including screen edges). I also drop my phone and it hasn’t landed on the screen yet :-) I think anyone who would like a more protective case option should write to Ztylus and request it! I’ve written to request a “naturalist revolver” without the useless fisheye lens. ---
**Author:** ![susanhewitt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/susanhewitt/32/887_2.png) [@susanhewitt](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/susanhewitt)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/whats-the-best-macro-lens-for-iphone/2281/7 "2019-04-19T21:42:17Z")
Thanks Carrie, I may do that! ---
**Author:** ![charlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@charlie](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/charlie)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 1:48am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/whats-the-best-macro-lens-for-iphone/2281/8 "2019-04-25T01:48:05Z")
oh, looks like there IS an SE case… [https://ztylus.com/products/iphone-se-combo](https://ztylus.com/products/iphone-se-combo) may have to get one though for wet days i’d still need to go back to the otterbox case or a plastic bag… the otterbox case i got about a year ago has a plastic screen that covers it and it got so scratched up that it can’t be seen in the sun or glare at all. Should be OK if it’s wet out i guess. (i have an SE not 6X. Looks like they are running out of these or not making them anymore so i should get one, with some birthday money I have :) ) ---
**Author:** ![kiwifergus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/kiwifergus/32/1904_2.png) [@kiwifergus](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/kiwifergus)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 8:58am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/whats-the-best-macro-lens-for-iphone/2281/9 "2019-04-25T08:58:26Z")
most new phones are water proof, or at least water resistant, to a fair degree. I wonder if just wrapping the phone in a couple layers of cling film would suffice, as it would protect from most scratches, repel moisture, and can be replaced as soon as it becomes compromised. I think through cling film the capacitive screens still work, i’ll go and test that now! In fact, I might try it on my phone on the next “safe” outing I do, to see how long it lasts under normal use. ---
**Author:** ![charlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@charlie](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/charlie)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 11:58am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/whats-the-best-macro-lens-for-iphone/2281/10 "2019-04-25T11:58:36Z")
Oh, interesting. It seems mine is fairly waterproof too. I do put it in a plastic bag if super wet conditions such as rain or splashy canoeing. I work in wetlands so often a phone could be dropped into water though i haven’t ruined one that way. The old iphones were very water sensitive and i damaged one by letting some snow fall in my pocket when i was shoveling snow. ---
**Author:** ![kiwifergus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/kiwifergus/32/1904_2.png) [@kiwifergus](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/kiwifergus)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 12:12pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/whats-the-best-macro-lens-for-iphone/2281/11 "2019-04-25T12:12:36Z")
I remember going canoeing in the sea with one in my pocket (c2010)… one of those “what was I thinking” moments ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/2X/7/7831452cf7f0d653ff1ffd34176334b7ef1b6a17.png) [@system](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 12:12pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/whats-the-best-macro-lens-for-iphone/2281/12 "2019-06-24T12:12:38Z")
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