Quick take: Phone lens attachments used to be toys. A probe lens for my phone has changed that. I've used it on two paid jobs and in my YouTube videos. Combined with ProRes, log and the free Blackmagic Camera app, a phone with the right accessories is now a real production tool for product and composite videography, and much easier for a solo operator than my full-size probe lens setup.
From Toy to Production Tool
For the longest time, phone lens attachments were fun: the 16mm wides were great and the telephotos were okay at best. This phone probe lens is different. It's a proper production tool, and I've already used it on two paid jobs and in a couple of my YouTube videos.
The phone version I use is from SANDMARC, which doesn't sell it on Amazon. NEEWER makes one that's available there (linked below).
Compared to My Full-Size Probe Lens
I bought a full-size probe lens for my cinema camera back in 2018 or 2019. You learn quickly that it comes with a big tax: you need a ton of lights and sliders, and that hasn't changed. Its built-in light isn't properly color balanced and needs external power.
SANDMARC did a phenomenal job with its version, with one exception: the built-in light reflects off the outer element and makes the image unusable. In dark scenes, you'll need to light from above or account for it some other way.
Image quality from a cinema camera is still better, and you can always spot the difference, no matter how hard people try to argue otherwise. But as a solo operator, the phone setup is much more manageable. It's much lighter, so you can use smaller sliders, and it's less prone to vibration, which is a big problem with the full-size lens. Honestly, I'm tempted to sell my old one.
The Software Matters Too
It's not just the accessories. Phones now shoot log from the factory and record Apple ProRes. The free Blackmagic Camera app was probably the biggest update to phone cinematography I can remember. It gives you the same kind of tools as the cinema menu on my Canon R5 C, and it pretty much put every other premium camera app out of business.
I also cast the phone screen to a wireless monitor, so there are no cables running to a monitor, and I can check perspective and alignment without rewatching footage.
What It Costs
The lens is about $350. You don't need the handle, though I like how it lets me offset the phone. That's about another $100. SANDMARC makes a roughly $10 case for most flagship phones. This is what accessibility looks like for professional video work now.
Don't Buy a Cinema Camera Yet
We're heading into Prime Day, Black Friday and holiday sales, and a lot of people will be convinced they have to buy gear to progress their careers. For beginners, that usually isn't true. Phone accessories are easy to resell to anyone with any phone, and that's a much smaller risk than a few thousand dollars on a cinema camera and lens. You won't shoot pro sports on a phone, but for composite and product videography, I'm confident I could do entire shoots on mine.
Focus on your skills instead. Your skill set, and your soft skills and ability to communicate with clients, are what set you apart. If there's a deal, put the money toward editing software, because editing is where a lot of people fall apart when delivering a final package. Early on, you need low overhead, and you're the whole production house. For more on this, see why I don't buy camera gear on Black Friday.
Final Thoughts
We're past the point where phone video is a toy or something you use until you can afford a real camera. With the right accessories, it's a production tool. If you want to frame yourself with your phone's rear cameras, check out the Newmowa MagSafe selfie screen too.
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