Macro photography using your camera phone
While camera phones are accessible and versatile they are generally poor at taking close up ("macro") pictures.
Many add on macro lenses are available which can transform your camera phone in to a remarkable tool which can come close to the image you would normally expect to get using your slit lamp with the advantage you can record the image.
Camera phones where the camera is in the corner (largely this is the iPhone range) are particularly good as portable macro cameras. Lots of different types of camera phone add on lenses are available however the type I find most helpful are those where they are part of a camera case.
Clip on lenses are also available which are easier to use when the camera lens is away from the edge of the camera however I find these harder to use.
These lenses needn't be expensive with my favourite lens costing less than £10. The cheaper macro lenses get a little soft towards the edge of the image compared to the more expensive Olloclip lenses but their small sizer and disposable price tag makes up for this.
Alternatively you can make your own high quality macro lens for free if you have an old DVD or CD drive hanging around at home.
Where to find macro lenses for your phone :
Case attached macro lenses: (cost <£10)
search Amazon for your phone name e.g. galaxy and "apexel macro case"
Clip on macro lenses: (cost (<£10)
search Amazon for "phone macro lens" generic fit usually can find one to fit most phones but try searching for your phone
Note re Olloclip lenses - these are the most expensive macro lenses (£30-70) the are great quality but I find them a little bulky and prefer the cheaper lenses as the small size means I can get closer to the patient.
Many add on macro lenses are available which can transform your camera phone in to a remarkable tool which can come close to the image you would normally expect to get using your slit lamp with the advantage you can record the image.
Camera phones where the camera is in the corner (largely this is the iPhone range) are particularly good as portable macro cameras. Lots of different types of camera phone add on lenses are available however the type I find most helpful are those where they are part of a camera case.
Clip on lenses are also available which are easier to use when the camera lens is away from the edge of the camera however I find these harder to use.
These lenses needn't be expensive with my favourite lens costing less than £10. The cheaper macro lenses get a little soft towards the edge of the image compared to the more expensive Olloclip lenses but their small sizer and disposable price tag makes up for this.
Alternatively you can make your own high quality macro lens for free if you have an old DVD or CD drive hanging around at home.
Where to find macro lenses for your phone :
Case attached macro lenses: (cost <£10)
search Amazon for your phone name e.g. galaxy and "apexel macro case"
Clip on macro lenses: (cost (<£10)
search Amazon for "phone macro lens" generic fit usually can find one to fit most phones but try searching for your phone
Note re Olloclip lenses - these are the most expensive macro lenses (£30-70) the are great quality but I find them a little bulky and prefer the cheaper lenses as the small size means I can get closer to the patient.
