Don’t be fooled by the expensive-looking lens attached to that iPhone you see from across the park. It’s not a professional camera–it’s a professional lens that can be attached to a phone!
The emergence of the camera attachment should come as no surprise to anyone following the smartphone boom. More photos are taken by phones than cameras these days, and the increase of social apps for posting photos and sharing with friends has created a niche market for a better smartphone camera. However, since upgrading a built-in camera would be challenge for even the smartest, hippest app developer, developing a camera attachment made a lot more sense.
Meet the professional-grade smartphone camera attachment. Various companies are now producing plug-in attachments that help smartphone users zoom in and take better close-ups, among other tasks — and the lenses can produce professional-level quality and clarity.
According to manufacturers, these new devices make it even easier for everyday phone users to snap breath-taking photos, without having to know much about photography, lighting, or exposure. Though you do have to at least know how to point and shoot.
Many companies are taking advantage of this trend, with everything from tripods to SLR extensions available for your beloved smartphone or tablet (most of them, at least), drastically decreasing the time from photo-take to sharing.
Check out some of the available attachments featured by The New York Times and where to find and buy them.
