What a filter does on a phone camera
A filter sits in front of the phone's camera and changes the light coming in, not the view. A clip-on lens makes the picture wider or closer; a filter cuts glare, darkens a bright scene or adds an effect, and leaves the framing as it was. The filters here fit in three ways: on a sprung clip that grips the edge of the phone, by a magnet on sets made for one iPhone model, or screwed into a clip with a matching thread.
CPL, ND and star filters
- CPL filters (circular polarisers) cut the glare that bounces off water, glass and wet surfaces, and deepen blue skies. See CPL filters.
- ND filters (neutral density) are grey glass that lets less light in without changing its colour. They let a phone use a slower shutter in sunshine, which gives video smoother movement. See ND filters.
- Star filters have fine lines in the glass that turn bright points of light, such as street lamps and candles, into stars. See star filters.
Some sets here put several together: a CPL and a variable ND in one magnetic system with its own case, or a magnetic set of four with a CPL and an ND32 among them. Some clip-on macro lenses come with a CPL or a star filter as well, and so do some of the larger kits in phone lens kits.
How to choose a phone filter
Start with how it fits. A clip fits nearly any phone, as long as it opens wide enough and reaches the camera with your case on. A magnetic set made for one iPhone model fits that model and no other, so check the model name on the product page. A screw-in filter fits only a clip or holder with the same thread size, given in millimetres. Some of the CPL filters here are 52mm and come with a phone clip of the same size.
Then think about what you want to change. Glare and reflections: a CPL. Smooth video on bright days, or long exposures of moving water: an ND. Sparkle on lights at night: a star filter. Every filter costs some light, so in a dim room the phone has to work harder; a polariser costs around one and a half to two stops.
A clip-on filter covers only one of the phone's cameras, the one in use at your zoom. The guide to clip-on lenses and filters explains how to find it and how to stop the phone switching away.
Questions people ask about phone lens filters
Will a filter fit over my phone's camera bump?
A clip fits over most camera bumps, but a thick case or a raised camera ring can hold it off the lens and let in stray light. Take a thick case off, or choose a magnetic set made for your phone.
Can I use a filter with a clip-on lens?
Some kits are made so a filter screws onto a lens. Each extra layer of glass costs light and can darken the corners, so try it before relying on it. The lenses themselves are in clip-on phone lenses.
How long does delivery take?
Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.
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