Apexel 5 in 1 HD Camera Lens Kit
The Apexel 5 in 1 HD Camera Lens Kit is a fun way to add some creativity to your smartphone’s camera. The wide angle lens definitely adds some field of view to the camera’s normal view. The CPL did some nice color correcting on a bright day. The fisheye lens is a fun add to your camera. It provides some interesting shots with its very large field of view.
What’s in the box
The Apexel 5 in 1 HD Camera Lens Kit comes nicely packaged in a small nylon and foam zippered box for storage and protection. It includes a clip to hold the selected lens onto the camera, a wide angle lens, a fisheye lens, a macro lens for up close focusing, a telephoto lens with 2X magnification and a CLP lens which is more of a filter than lens. Each lens comes with a small plastic lens cover which helps protect the lens.
Using the lenses
I’ve had some trouble with the telephoto lens. I have to take my phone (Galaxy S5) out of its protective case to get the lens to seat firmly on the camera’s lens. Otherwise I get considerable vignetting. With the case off, I still get a bit of vignetting but by using some of the phone’s zoom I can crop it out. In a setting where there is lots of stuff in both foreground and background, I’ve found the phone has a hard time focusing. It may be the setting or the operator but I haven’t found the telephoto lens useful yet. Still trying.
The wide angle lens definitely adds coverage to the photo. This could help when trying to get a group of friends all in the selfie!
The CPL reduced glare and brought out the blues in an otherwise kind of washed out sky.
The fisheye lens does what fisheyes do. You’ll see the photo of my cocker spaniel gets a fun look with her nose being emphasized as it was closest to the camera.
View without the wide angle lens attached
View with the wide angle lens attached
View without the telephoto lens attached
View with the telephoto lens attached. Note focus issues on edges.
View without lens attachments
View with the CPL lens attached
View with fisheye lens attached
Rating
At less than $20, you’re not going to get the results you’d get with more expensive lenses but they rate pretty high on the overall value scale. The nice, small case it comes with protects the lenses and makes them easy to pack along so you have them when you might need them.
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