Olloclip 4-in-1 iPhone 5 Lens System Review

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Design: Highly Portable and Organized

The Olloclip kits use an innovative black metal collar that slips over the top right corner of the iPhone, ensuring a snug fit centered over the camera. This double-sided, reversible mount holds the 10x and 15x lens. Furthermore, the wide-angle lens screws into the 10x macro and the fisheye screws into the 15x, so that the entire lens set fits on the mount for easy storage.

The ensemble slips into an included terrycloth bag so you can safely slide the kit into a backpack or pocket. I only wish that the 10x and 15x lenses were better identified: The labeling is on the attached wide or fisheye lens instead of on the macro lens itself.

MORE: Best iPhone Camera Lenses

In addition to the iPhone 5/5s version that we tested, Olloclip also makes a version to fit both the iPhone 4 and 4s.

Ease of Use: Only Difficult If You Have a Case

Sliding the collar on or flipping it around to change lenses is a cinch. The only drawback is that, if you have a case on your iPhone, you'll have to remove it before you can attach the lenses. Alternatively, you can buy Olloclip’s $40 iPhone case, which has a cutout for attaching its lens systems. (We didn't evaluate the Olloclip case.)

Image Quality: Best in Class

Starting Point: Wide Angle and Fisheye

Below is a scene shot with a bare iPhone 5s, used as a reference point to show how the lenses augment images and affect image quality.

Credit: Sam Rutherford / Tom's Guide

(Image credit: Sam Rutherford / Tom's Guide)

Wide Angle: Least Distortion

Credit: Sam Rutherford / Tom's Guide

(Image credit: Sam Rutherford / Tom's Guide)

Olloclip's wide-angle lens was the best we tested, with great detail on the focus subject (in this case the carving in the center of the arch), the best sharpness throughout the image and the least distortion. While images do get a little soft in the corners, you don't get the vignetting (darkening in the corners) that we observed with other wide-angle lenses.

Fisheye Lens: Among the Best

Credit: Sam Rutherford / Tom's Guide

(Image credit: Sam Rutherford / Tom's Guide)

Olloclip's fisheye tied with Manfrotto's Manfrotto Klyp+ iPhone Lens Kit Review ($95) for best quality. Both kits provide a great way to capture a large environment without compromising (much) on quality. Images were sharper than rival lenses from CamKix and Photojojo. However, with all fisheye lenses, rounded distortion is a trade-off for the wide viewing angles.

Starting Point: Macro

Below is a test shot of a $2 bill using the stock iPhone 5s camera. We got as close as possible while still allowing the iPhone camera to focus.

Credit: Sam Rutherford / Tom's Guide

(Image credit: Sam Rutherford / Tom's Guide)

10x and 15x Macro Lenses: A league of Their Own

Credit: Sam Rutherford / Tom's Guide

(Image credit: Sam Rutherford / Tom's Guide)

Image quality from the 10x and 15x macro lenses is head and shoulders above the competition from CamKix and PhotoJoJo. I was blown away by the level of detail captured in our test shots.While the pictures weren't free of distortion, they had much less than those of any other macro lens we tested. 

15x Macro

Credit: Sam Rutherford / Tom's Guide

(Image credit: Sam Rutherford / Tom's Guide)

Not only was I able to get more magnification than with any other kit, the option to use the 10x or 15x lens gives you more flexibility to nail your shot.

Bottom Line

Olloclip's 4-in-1 system provides a great range of lenses without breaking the bank. And it's a cinch to carry around, making it our favorite iPhone lens kit by far. With its superfast attachment and convenient and pocketable travel pouch, the Olloclip 4-in-1 is our top choice for iPhone camera accessories.

Sam is a Senior Writer at Engadget and previously worked at Gizmodo as a Senior Reporter. Before that, he worked at Tom's Guide and Laptop Mag as a Staff Writer and Senior Product Review Analyst, overseeing benchmarks and testing for countless product reviews. He was also an archery instructor and a penguin trainer too (really).

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