Review – The best camera is the one you carry with you. We have all heard this sentence a thousand times, and it is true. But sometimes the camera you carry with you is your phone, and although many of today’s phones have excellent optical performance, they can always be improved. This is where 3rd party add-ons such as SV Assets smartphone lenses can really improve your shooting. Let’s check it.
what is it?
SV Assets is a Swedish company that produces lenses for smartphones. They provide telephoto, wide-angle, macro, and fisheye lenses compatible with iPhone and other smartphones (such as Samsung Galaxy phones). SV Assets provides the following lenses:
Wide-angle lens (18mm)-PRO series (V1)-Field of view expanded 2 times (approximately 110 degree field of view)
Fisheye lens – Pro series (V1) – Field of view expanded 3 times (approximately 160 degree field of view)
Telephoto lens (60mm)-Pro series (V1)-2x magnification-natural bokeh effect (blurred background)
Macro lens (25mm)-Pro series (V1)-10x zoom
What’s in the box?
- lens
- Hard shell suitcase with zipper
- Instructions
- Polishing cloth
- Carabiner
- They also include a specially designed phone case
Design and features
First, let’s take a look at their special cases designed for iPhone series 6 and higher, Samsung 8+ and higher, and even some Huawei phones, such as Huawei P30 Pro. They sent me an iPhone 12 Pro Max. The wood on the back of the case and the matte black aluminum part on the top look good, with threaded grooves that the lens can be screwed in.
The actual shell is semi-flexible black plastic with cutouts for lightning protection ports, mute buttons and speakers. The power button and volume buttons are molded in the housing.
This case is very attractive, but it does add some significant weight to the already heavy smartphone. I am also not a big fan of the molded buttons built into the casing. I would rather have cutouts so that I can access the phone’s built-in buttons.
But in the final analysis, situations like this make it easier to use SV Assets lenses than to use clips-each lens also includes a clip.
The lens itself is well-made, with a matte black coated metal body and top and bottom protective covers.
The bottom of each lens is threaded to fit the SV Assets box or the supplied universal clip.
SV Assets is a high-quality lens using high-quality optical glass anti-reflective coating.
Compared to other smartphone lenses I reviewed in the past, the lens cap is easier to remove.
Use SV Assets lens
To use these lenses, you must design how to install them on your phone. If you have iPhone series 6 and higher, Samsung Galaxy 8+ and higher, or some Huawei phones, you can get a protective case with lens. I think this is the easiest way to use the lens.
If you don’t have a phone compatible with its phone case, you can use the universal clip that comes with each lens. The lens is screwed into the threaded brass socket in the clip, and then you have to put the clip on the camera lens of the phone.
The wide-angle lens even contains a different type of mounting bracket-this metal bracket is not suitable for my iPhone, so I can’t test it.
SV Assets lens photo example
Telephoto lens (60mm)-Pro series (V1)-2 times magnification
The telephoto lens is the thickest of the four lenses SV Assets sent me to try. Here are some before and after samples with and without the SV Assets telephoto lens. They show images from my iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Wide-angle lens (18mm)-PRO series (V1)-The field of view is expanded twice (approximately 110 degrees field of view). Used to take pictures in buildings.
Fisheye lens – Pro series (V1) – Field of view expanded 3 times (approximately 160 degree field of view)
Macro lens (25mm)-Pro series (V1)-10x zoom factor. With a translucent hood, the lens can maintain a perfect distance from the subject. With this lens, you have to move the camera back and forth to get perfect focus. This requires some practice and a lot of light to capture a good image.
Photo example
The most noticeable image is the fisheye image formed by side warping. This is not a defect of the lens, but by design.
Same as the fisheye lens above, but not so obvious.
We see the twisted edges again.
Note how the edges of the image on the side of the Mini Cooper are blurred when using the SV Assets fisheye lens.
what do I like
- Well made
- Special mobile phone case can easily install the lens
- Add more features to your phone camera
What will i change
- Offer bundles at discounted prices
Final thoughts
All SV Assets Pro series V1 lenses are well-made and can provide some additional optical help for your iPhone or other smartphone cameras, which can be transformed into better photos. Because I have an iPhone 12 Pro Max, it has a good wide-angle and telephoto lens built into the phone, and the SV Assets macro lens is my favorite series.
price: 49.90 – 73.90 Euro (59.27 – 87.77 USD)
Where to buy: SV assets
source: The sample of this review is made by SV assets.
