Telephoto Phone Lenses

Bringing far things closer

A telephoto lens brings distant things closer without the loss of detail that comes from zooming in digitally, where the phone simply enlarges part of the picture. It suits wildlife and birds, sport, the stage at a school concert, the moon, views from a hill, and portraits with a softer, less cluttered background.

The telephoto lenses here

• Portrait lenses of 2x, small and light, that clip over the phone's camera for closer, flatter-looking portraits and moderate distance. One can go over a phone's own telephoto camera to take it further, and takes polarising and star filters.
• Telescope lenses of 18x, 36x and more. These are long tubes that clip over the camera, and some come with their own small tripod and a holder, because at that magnification the phone has to be held quite still. Some also work as a small monocular for looking through, and some come with a remote.

A telephoto in a kit with other lenses is under phone lens kits.

How to get sharp telephoto shots

A telephoto magnifies shake as much as the subject, so the higher the number, the more it needs support. Put the phone on a phone tripod, and take the picture with a remote shutter, the timer or, on an iPhone, a volume button, so a tap on the screen does not move it. Line the lens up dead centre over the camera in use, with the phone at 1x, and slide it until the circle of the view fills the screen. A heavy lens on a clip can droop, so check it is still centred before each shot. Give it good light: telescope lenses lose some, and dusk shots soon turn grainy.

Questions people ask about telephoto phone lenses

Will a telephoto lens block my flash?

It can. One lens here says plainly that the phone's flash is blocked while it is fitted, and the bigger lenses cover more of the camera area. For far-off subjects, flash would not reach anyway.

Why is my picture a circle with dark edges?

The lens is off-centre, or the phone has switched to another camera. Line it up again at 1x. The guide to clip-on lenses and filters explains how.

Do I need a tripod for a telephoto lens?

For a 2x portrait lens in good light, a steady hand is usually enough. For the telescope lenses, yes, which is why some come with one.

Can I look through it without the phone?

Some of the telescope lenses work as a small monocular too. The product page says which.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.

More to look at

• Phone lens kits
• Phone tripods
• Remote shutters
• Macro phone lenses
• Phone lens filters
• Guide: Clip-on phone lenses and filters explained