Phone Camera Photos that Rival Your DSLR

[illemonati]

I'm looking to get better quality out of my phone camera (iPhone 15 Pro Max), and have ordered a few Oceanbox goodies to enhance my experience:

• RECMini Snorkel MKII Pro Coral Lens
• Universal ProGrip G2
• Z-Series 120mm Macro Coral Lens

While I wait, I was looking to get some motivation from the community on your phone camera photos that people wouldn't believe you told them were not shot on a DSLR. I'll be sure to post up some results once I get my new gear in, but here is a DSLR shot for attention/inspiration.

Shot on a Sony a7ii with a Sigma 105mm macro lens and 26mm worth of extension tubes, using an Avast Marine long porthole.
​

Show me what you've got! Details on your specific phone model, third-party app(s) used, and any extra gear used would be super helpful.

 

[edsbeaker]

I’m no expert, and have never even used a fancy camera, but I was kind of proud of this one, iPhone 11 with orange lens. It hasn’t been edited.

 

[JonoH]

Both of these were with my Iphone 15

Using a Maxpect Viewer and Magnifier on the Glass

 

[JonoH]

I'm looking to get better quality out of my phone camera (iPhone 15 Pro Max), and have ordered a few Oceanbox goodies to enhance my experience:

• RECMini Snorkel MKII Pro Coral Lens
• Universal ProGrip G2
• Z-Series 120mm Macro Coral Lens

While I wait, I was looking to get some motivation from the community on your phone camera photos that people wouldn't believe you told them were not shot on a DSLR. I'll be sure to post up some results once I get my new gear in, but here is a DSLR shot for attention/inspiration.

Shot on a Sony a7ii with a Sigma 105mm macro lens and 26mm worth of extension tubes, using an Avast Marine long porthole.
​

Show me what you've got! Details on your specific phone model, third-party app(s) used, and any extra gear used would be super helpful.

How will you go with that Lens fitting over the 3 len's on the Iphone?
I have one and its hard to position over the 2 on my 15...

 

[Reefer Matt]

 

[legendhua]

Although my mobile phone is not my main camera, I still use it to take photos occasionally for convenience or to save time.
Because iPhone cannot set white balance, I can only adjust it with filters or third-party apps.

The following are the actual photos and videos taken:

iphone15 pro + orange filter
iphone15 pro + orange filter by legendhua, 於 Flickr



iphone15 pro + yellow & orange filter
iphone15 pro + yellow & orange filter by legendhua, 於 Flickr




Olympus TG6
P4270021 榔頭珊瑚 by legendhua, 於 Flickr


Olympus EM1 markII
P4130107 粉藍倒吊 by legendhua, 於 Flickr



iphone15 pro + orange filter
iphone15 pro + orange filter by legendhua, 於 Flickr




iphone15 pro + yellow & orange filter
iphone15 pro + yellow & orange filter by legendhua, 於 Flickr



Oymplus TG6
P2130095 SPS 全景 by legendhua, 於 Flickr



Olympus EM1 markII
P4130048 SPS 全景 by legendhua, 於 Flickr



iphone 15 pro + filter + ProCamera(APP adjust WB)




Olympus TG6

 

[illemonati]

I’m no expert, and have never even used a fancy camera, but I was kind of proud of this one, iPhone 11 with orange lens. It hasn’t been edited.

I love that! They are such fun fish too.

Both of these were with my Iphone 15

Using a Maxpect Viewer and Magnifier on the Glass

Okay these are great, especially that first one! This is exactly what I am looking for.

How will you go with that Lens fitting over the 3 len's on the Iphone?
I have one and its hard to position over the 2 on my 15...

I purchased Neewer brand case on Amazon that allows you to attach lenses directly to the case right in front of the lens of the phone. You can swap these out and move the lenses around, so it would work out pretty well. I haven't received my lenses from Oceanbox yet, so I am making a big assumption that they use the same 17mm threading, but I think it is a safe bet.

Those are both fantastic! I think I actually saw your photos in another post when searching this subject, and they definitely inspired me to move forward. Have you ever tried shooting at higher resolution? The ProRaw settings allow up to 48MP.

Although my mobile phone is not my main camera, I still use it to take photos occasionally for convenience or to save time.
Because iPhone cannot set white balance, I can only adjust it with filters or third-party apps.

The following are the actual photos and videos taken:

iphone15 pro + orange filter
iphone15 pro + orange filter by legendhua, 於 Flickr



iphone15 pro + yellow & orange filter
iphone15 pro + yellow & orange filter by legendhua, 於 Flickr




Olympus TG6
P4270021 榔頭珊瑚 by legendhua, 於 Flickr


Olympus EM1 markII
P4130107 粉藍倒吊 by legendhua, 於 Flickr



iphone15 pro + orange filter
iphone15 pro + orange filter by legendhua, 於 Flickr




iphone15 pro + yellow & orange filter
iphone15 pro + yellow & orange filter by legendhua, 於 Flickr



Oymplus TG6
P2130095 SPS 全景 by legendhua, 於 Flickr



Olympus EM1 markII
P4130048 SPS 全景 by legendhua, 於 Flickr



iphone 15 pro + filter + ProCamera(APP adjust WB)




Olympus TG6

These are great! Have you ever used a third-party app to adjust the white balance before shooting? I downloaded a few options to test out, but need to actually get around to doing that lol.

 

[reefpanda]

All shot on Iphone 14 Pro Max and edited in Lightroom

 

[legendhua]

These are great! Have you ever used a third-party app to adjust the white balance before shooting? I downloaded a few options to test out, but need to actually get around to doing that lol.

ProCamera and Insta360

Even when using these apps to adjust white balance, the iPhone still needs to be paired with filters to show better colors.

 

[illemonati]

ProCamera and Insta360

Even when using these apps to adjust white balance, the iPhone still needs to be paired with filters to show better colors.

Yeah I actually picked up ProCamera and think I have had better results with it than other "pro" apps. I also do have a filter, but it isn't specific for phones so its a bit annoying to use. A dedicated filter is one of the things that is coming in soon.

Edit: I took a full tank shot with just my iPhones default 1x lens with the ProCamera app, a colored filter, and had my phone on a tripod. I think this is a decent starting point!

 

[Freenow54]

I'm looking to get better quality out of my phone camera (iPhone 15 Pro Max), and have ordered a few Oceanbox goodies to enhance my experience:

• RECMini Snorkel MKII Pro Coral Lens
• Universal ProGrip G2
• Z-Series 120mm Macro Coral Lens

While I wait, I was looking to get some motivation from the community on your phone camera photos that people wouldn't believe you told them were not shot on a DSLR. I'll be sure to post up some results once I get my new gear in, but here is a DSLR shot for attention/inspiration.

Shot on a Sony a7ii with a Sigma 105mm macro lens and 26mm worth of extension tubes, using an Avast Marine long porthole.
​

Show me what you've got! Details on your specific phone model, third-party app(s) used, and any extra gear used would be super helpful.

Get Orphek filters. I found my camera hard to focus as well as the fact I could not use flash. And my good lenses are auto

focus. I am new to the phone stuff. New phone goggle pixel 8a and forementioned filters that stack together and clip on the phone but some ok shots

 

[Gumbies R Us]

It's honestly amazing how good phone cameras have gotten. I have an iPhone 16, and I'm always impressed with the kinds of photos it can take

 

[Imrahilwjz]

I’m no expert, and have never even used a fancy camera, but I was kind of proud of this one, iPhone 11 with orange lens. It hasn’t been edited.

Nice. Looks like it's a nest for a dragon!

 

[bubbgee]

Both of these were with my Iphone 15

Using a Maxpect Viewer and Magnifier on the Glass

dang, I have the 16 pro max and my corals still look like potatoes. Any tips?

 

[JonoH]

dang, I have the 16 pro max and my corals still look like potatoes. Any tips?

If you hold your finger on the screen where you want the camera to focus, it will lock the focus.
You can then slide up or down to change the exposure.

 

[legendhua]

Get Orphek filters. I found my camera hard to focus as well as the fact I could not use flash. And my good lenses are auto

focus. I am new to the phone stuff. New phone goggle pixel 8a and forementioned filters that stack together and clip on the phone but some ok shots

Please note that each lens has a minimum focusing distance limit.

 

[bubbgee]

Please note that each lens has a minimum focusing distance limit.

Are there better lenses than orphek?

 

[JonoH]

Are there better lenses than orphek?

I personally prefer taking them through the Maxpect glass mount lens, dont need to position it on the camera then.

https://www.aquariumsaustralia.com.au/maxspect-pastel-reef-magnifier-grande

 

[ReefInSocal]

All taken with iPhone looking through ORANGE GLASSES. LOL!

 

[Freenow54]

Please note that each lens has a minimum focusing distance limit.

The problem is the glass confuses the auto focus