With a bit of practice, you can take professional-grade photos using your iPhone camera.
However, the nature of a smartphone camera means you'll never be able to truly replicate the DSLR experience. After all, there are no lenses, cases, remotes, camera stands, or endoscopes for iPhone cameras, right? Wrong.
Here are seven of the best iPhone camera accessories that every user needs.
The Best iPhone Camera Lenses
iPhone lenses come in various shapes and sizes. Each of the lenses has a different purpose. For example, some let you take wide-angle snaps, some allow you to capture telephoto images, and others specialize in macro photography.
All the lenses attach to the exterior of your device; there's no warranty-voiding DIY required.
Our top three iPhone lenses are:
1. Moment Superfish Lens
Moment makes some of the best premium-quality iPhone camera lenses. The company started life via Kickstarter in 2014, but its products are now available in official Apple stores.
Moment offers an anamorphic lens, a wide-angle lens, a tele-portrait lens, and a macro lens, but we especially like the best-in-class Superfish lens. This one can take high-quality fisheye photos. It's a 15mm equivalent lens that boasts a 170-degree field of view.
Lenses from Moment are compatible with all models from the iPhone 6 onwards.
2. ExoLens Wide-Angle Lens
The ExoLens Wide-Angle Lens is arguably the best all-around iPhone camera lens.
With an 18mm focal length, a 0.05m focus range, and a 0.6x field angle factor, it can produce high-quality images with no distortion, missing pixels, or other image quality issues.
In the picture below, you can see the ExoLens image on the left and the regular iPhone image on the right.
The ExoLens Wide-Angle Lens is dust and water spray resistant; you can use it in challenging conditions without worrying about potential damage.
The lens is also compatible with all the company's mounting devices, some of which are more robust than others.
3. Olloclip Telephoto 2X Lens [No Longer Available]
Olloclip was the company that started the iPhone camera accessories craze. It has made external lenses for iPhone since the release of the iPhone 4 back in 2010.
Broadly speaking, its products resemble a more fun and carefree approach to photography when compared to the uber-professional ExoLens and Moment. Young creative types might find them more appealing.
Our favorite Olloclip product is the Telephoto 2X lens. It uses optical zoom to let you get two times close to your subject than the iPhone camera would ordinarily allow. The Olloclip Telephoto 2X lens works on both the front and rear-facing cameras.
And because it uses a shallower depth of field, it's also an ideal camera for snapping portraits (and taking the perfect selfie).
The Best iPhone Camera Remote
4. Gadgin Bluetooth Remote Control Camera Shutter Release
To take your photography to the next level, you need an iPhone camera remote. It'll help you compose perfect images by giving you time to get the lighting, angle, and subject exactly right before you hit the shutter. Better yet, you won't risk ruining your photo by nudging your phone slightly while pressing the button.
There are a few iPhone camera remotes available, but for a good mix of quality and price, check out the Gadgin Bluetooth Remote Control Camera Shutter Release. Because it uses Bluetooth, there are no cables to deal with. Just pair the remote with your iPhone, and you're good to go.
The Best iPhone Camera Case
5. Hitcase Pro
iPhones aren't the most durable devices in the world. The internet is full of sorry tales from people who used their device in an overly forceful manner.
However, if you buy a Hitcase Pro, your phone will transform into a rugged action camera that's almost impossible to break. Indeed, your iPhone will turn into something resembling a GoPro.
The case---which is constructed out of low-profile anodized aluminum---offers an IP68 waterproof rating. That means your phone can withstanding being underwater for 30 minutes at a depth of 33 feet. It's also drop-proof from a height of 16 feet.
Best of all, the Hitcase Pro uses the same mounting system as the GoPro. As such, it's easy to find additional accessories to which you can connect your iPhone (for example, water floaters, headbands, and selfie sticks).
Hitcase also makes its own iPhone lenses that attach onto the case, but they are sold separately. The case works fine without them.
The Best Snake Camera for iPhone
6. Depstech Wireless Endoscope
A snake camera---also known as an endoscope or a borescope---might not be high on many professional photographers' wishlists.
However, it's a handy gadget to own. How many times have you wished you could look behind a heavy piece of furniture to find a lost item, or peer deep into your home's drainage system to check for blockages?
The Depstech Wireless Endoscope connects to your iPhone over your Wi-Fi network. It comes with an 11.5-foot cable, an 8.5mm diameter camera with a 1200p output, and four adjustable resolutions (320x240, 640x480, 1280x720, and 1600x1200). The cable and the camera are both waterproof.
There's also a blue LED light on the camera's tip. It offers six brightness settings, thus allowing you to see in even the darkest places.
The Best iPhone Camera Stand
7. JOBY GripTight GorillaPod Stand
The last essential iPhone camera accessory for any budding photographer is a tripod. An iPhone camera stand will help to reduce shaking, blurring, and other issues that may affect the quality of your image.
The JOBY GripTight GorillaPod Stand is a lightweight, portable tripod that'll let you set up your camera on any nearby surface. You can easily use the tripod on uneven surfaces thanks to its flexible legs. You can also adjust the tilt angle to avoid glare.
The stand is also safe to use. Its rubber feet and a robust phone grip inspire confidence that it's not going to tip over and damage your device. The tripod stands at one foot tall.
More iPhone Camera Tips for You
These iPhone camera accessories should all help you take better quality photos with your device, but there are many other ways to get even more out of your iPhone's camera.
Check out these hidden camera settings for you to master as well as these iPhone camera apps that behave like film cameras.