iPro - shoot like a pro on your iPhone! (Photos)

In the last few years, we've seen many devices being replaced by iPhones: GPS devices, planners, and even cameras. The built-in camera is advanced on its own, but now, you can get an iPro Lens System to add detachable lenses to your iPhone! I first saw this at Macworld, and was immediately impressed.

As a writer, I've found that adding images to my articles and books really increases the value to the reader. It helps to educate. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words. Still, I'm not a professional photographer, and I would prefer to just use my iPhone, a device that I always have nearby, instead of a big DSLR. Adding this iPro Lens System gives me more options, though. I can shoot using just the lens of the iPhone or I can use a fisheye lens or a wide angle. Wide angle lenses are particularly useful for group shots, landscapes, vacation shots, or (if you're like me) writer conventions! Here in the Bay Area, we have events weekly, and it's a great tool to have with you.

I find the design of the iPro to be quite ingenious. Firstly, it comes with a case for the iPhone that has a threaded mounting hole on either side in which to attach the handle of the iPro (which also doubles as a container to hold the lenses and keep them safe even when bouncing around in a purse or backpack). Then, you can remove the lenses from the holder and pop them onto the iPro case. The case is designed so that the lenses can quickly and securely attach to the case and iPhone so that you can take images with ease.

Though it's a great design, the case is very hard to get on and off of the iPhone. It also doesn't protect the face of the phone at all. If the case was not only a great way to add lenses but also wrapped around the face to protect it, it'd be perfect to keep on your phone all the time. As it is now, I find that I need to keep a protective case on most of the time and switch it out for the iPro Lens System for events - not an easy task since the case doesn't come off easily. Of course, that's a pro in a way too. It won't come off accidentally. A solution is to put a tempered-glass screen protector on the face of the phone, which are available by various third-party manufacturers.

The lenses are of good quality. They are made of metal, so they should stand the test of time. The fisheye does have distortion around the edges. There is secondary transparent vignetting within the usual vignetting of a fisheye. Vignetting is common with fisheyes, but this inner band isn't. Generally, it's either a hard line or graduated but not two clearly defined bands. Still, this isn't a deal-breaker. The wide angle lens is great and shows much more than the regular shot. The slideshow provides examples.

Overall, I really like the iPro Lens System. Now, it's even more exciting since they have added a 2X Tele Lens to the product. The ability to carry three lenses and a camera in a small purse or bag opens up so many possibilities and really makes it easier than ever to make your pictures look professional.

The iPro Master Duo Kit 4/4S is $199 and the iPro Master Trio Kit 4/4S is $299. Both are available at http://www.iprolens.com/