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Can any mobile cameras focus close enough to be useful for macro? Maybe you can buy a third party add-on lens?

• Zababa 10mo ago
  Depends on what level of macro you want, but with modern phones you can get pretty close, usually with the wide angle lens. On iPhones: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/take-macro-photos-and-videos-iphfaacf2eb0/ios https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/take-macro-photos-and... On Pixel: https://store.google.com/intl/en/ideas/articles/pixel-macro-focus/ https://store.google.com/intl/en/ideas/articles/pixel-macro-... I'd recommend playing around with it, it's a lot of fun!
  • hermitcrab 10mo ago
    Had a quick play with my iPhone 15. It doesn't give the sort of magnification you would need for insect close-ups. I will stick with my Nikon DSLR + 100mm macro lens!
    • Zababa 10mo ago
      Yeah it's far from being as good as a DLSR or mirrorless with a dedicated macro lens. Still, most people reading HN have one in their pocket and it can be a good test to see if you like the idea of macro. It does work with larger insects, on a pixel 10 pro my mantis fill most of the frame.
• khr 10mo ago
  You can, depending on your definition of "useful". You can buy a cheap laser pointer, take out its lens, and put it over your camera lens. Tape it onto the lens for a temporary janky version or make a 3d-printed mount for something much better that you can easily take on/off. I've personally found this little hack useful, but then again I don't have a DSLR and macro lens!