How to DIY Wide Angle Lens for iPhone...for Free

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DIY wide angle lens for iPhone...for free

How to DIY Wide Angle Lens for iPhone...for Free

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Step 1 of 29
The old glasses you got should be for nearsighted and WITHOUT astigmatism. The more nearsighted the better...but people with serious nearsightedness are also more likely to have astigmatism as well.

The old glasses you got should be for nearsighted and WITHOUT astigmatism. The more nearsighted the better...but people with serious nearsightedness are also more likely to have astigmatism as well.

Step 2 of 29
Dissemble the glasses. Glass lens are better but plastic ones should work. Be careful not to scratch the lens.

Dissemble the glasses. Glass lens are better but plastic ones should work. Be careful not to scratch the lens.

Step 3 of 29
Put double sided tape around the edge of the lens. WIPE THE LENSES!! Then stick the two lens together in () direction by wrapping a black, firm plastic film.

Put double sided tape around the edge of the lens. WIPE THE LENSES!! Then stick the two lens together in () direction by wrapping a black, firm plastic film.

Step 4 of 29
My piece of plastic film came from this plastic shopping bag :P

My piece of plastic film came from this plastic shopping bag :P

Step 5 of 29

You may have to check the optic center of your lenses before sticking them together, or put them in front of the camera and see if autofocus still works.

Step 6 of 29
Make a case to hold the lenses. There're various ways to make the case but I found these materials at home and made do of them: hard black foam and an iPad box with its plastic insert.

Make a case to hold the lenses. There're various ways to make the case but I found these materials at home and made do of them: hard black foam and an iPad box with its plastic insert.

Step 7 of 29
Cut a hole that fits the shape and size of the lenses in the foam. If the foam is thick enough, one piece is enough. If not, make more pieces. How to decide on thickness?

Cut a hole that fits the shape and size of the lenses in the foam. If the foam is thick enough, one piece is enough. If not, make more pieces. How to decide on thickness?

Step 8 of 29

Thickness is determined by how far the lenses can be placed away from the camera. The bigger the lenses, the further away they can be placed away from the camera. Vice versa.

Step 9 of 29
Placing the lenses too far away: notice the black edge on the bottom? That's the edge of the lenses

Placing the lenses too far away: notice the black edge on the bottom? That's the edge of the lenses

Step 10 of 29

Trim the foam to the right thickness so that the lens is placed at the right distance from the camera for maximum effect. Be patient and careful in checking the corners are clear.

Step 11 of 29

Insert the lenses into the foam. Push the lenses to the edge of the foam so that there won't be any black edge on the front end of the lens.

Step 12 of 29
Then cover the foam with some plastic or cardboard. Keep the case as light as possible. You don't want your phone to tilt after mounting the lens on. This picture shows the front of the lens.

Then cover the foam with some plastic or cardboard. Keep the case as light as possible. You don't want your phone to tilt after mounting the lens on. This picture shows the front of the lens.

Step 13 of 29
For the back, cut a hole in the cover so that it doesn't cover the phone camera. Make sure there's space to stick the mount on. There're many ways to make the mounting part but I used iPad box insert.

For the back, cut a hole in the cover so that it doesn't cover the phone camera. Make sure there's space to stick the mount on. There're many ways to make the mounting part but I used iPad box insert.

Step 14 of 29
The corners of the inset in the iPad box fit the corner of the iPhone perfectly. Cut two of the corners and stick them together to make the mount.

The corners of the inset in the iPad box fit the corner of the iPhone perfectly. Cut two of the corners and stick them together to make the mount.

Step 15 of 29
Cut the edges around the corners and stick them together to form a clip that is just as thick as the iPhone.

Cut the edges around the corners and stick them together to form a clip that is just as thick as the iPhone.

Step 16 of 29

iPad box insert is best but I think paper clip & cardboard can do the trick too. Twist paper clips to fit the corner of the phone, then stick cardboard on.

Step 17 of 29

Use paper clips to make hooks and stick the hooks on the cardboard corner so that you can mount the lens on the phone.

Step 18 of 29

How to determine where the lens should be placed?

Step 19 of 29
Place a ruler in front of & parallel to the phone. Phone should be in landscape. Take note of the two ends shown on screen: it's actually 10 & 20 but snapguide trimmed photos to squares

Place a ruler in front of & parallel to the phone. Phone should be in landscape. Take note of the two ends shown on screen: it's actually 10 & 20 but snapguide trimmed photos to squares

Step 20 of 29
Hold lens in front of camera at max distance from phone. Move left & right  to make sure the length augmented on both sides are the same. 9.3 & 20.7 ie 0.7 augmented on both sides for real

Hold lens in front of camera at max distance from phone. Move left & right to make sure the length augmented on both sides are the same. 9.3 & 20.7 ie 0.7 augmented on both sides for real

Step 21 of 29

My glasses are -3.0 on both sides, I think. The effect is, therefore, kind of minimal (better than nothing, eh?!)

Step 22 of 29
Then mark where the mounting part should be placed on the lens case and stick it on.

Then mark where the mounting part should be placed on the lens case and stick it on.

Step 23 of 29
This is how it looks like. Kinda cartoon-ish, I think. Only works landscape - well, this is wide angle.

This is how it looks like. Kinda cartoon-ish, I think. Only works landscape - well, this is wide angle.

Step 24 of 29

Here are pictures with and without the DIY wide angle lens

Step 25 of 29
Sitting about 3 feet away from the piano) Normal: 16 keys here (22 keys for real)

Sitting about 3 feet away from the piano) Normal: 16 keys here (22 keys for real)

Step 26 of 29
From exactly the same spot with DIY wide angle lens: 18 keys here (28 keys for real)

From exactly the same spot with DIY wide angle lens: 18 keys here (28 keys for real)

Step 27 of 29
Top: normal Bottom: wide angle

Top: normal Bottom: wide angle

Step 28 of 29
Top: normal Bottom: wide angle

Top: normal Bottom: wide angle

Step 29 of 29

Yes, there's distortion. Not the perfect lens but hey, it's free!

Start Over

13 Comments
Supplies

Old glasses (for nearsighted but w/o astigmatism

Scissors

Whatever material you can make a box with

Double sided tape

Ck K

@sindee stevens thanks.. Guide added

Ck K 5 months ago

Sindee Stevens

Will do Ill follow you 😊

Sindee Stevens 5 months ago

Ck K

@sindee stevens your welcome. Well stay tunes i am making a guide which u might like

Ck K 5 months ago

Sindee Stevens

Awesome thanks so much dude! 😉

Sindee Stevens 5 months ago

Ck K

@sindee stevens well on your iphone settings>>>general>>>accessibility>>>turn on assistive touch.. Done!! You can move the assistive square anywhere on the right or left side of screen.

Ck K 5 months ago

Sindee Stevens

Oh okay thanks for the quick reply sorry I was trying to figure it out lol hmm...how would I get that feature on my phone?

Sindee Stevens 5 months ago

Ck K

@sindee stevens hey.. See step no 22. On phone screen there is a square with white circle inside it.. That is for accessibility features like go home screen or open multitask etc :)

Ck K 5 months ago

Sindee Stevens

@ck k how did u notice she was using accessibility? Jc

Sindee Stevens 5 months ago

Ck K

Haha great lol

Ck K 5 months ago

Joanna Lam

Thanks for asking. My home button still works fine. I was just hoping that it may prolong the life of the button :P

(author) 5 months ago

Ck K

Great idea.. By the way i see you using accessibility? Is your home buttone not working... If yes..try restoring iphone :) it wil start workong

Ck K 5 months ago

David Pfau

Great idea. Such a fun project to do as well

David Pfau 8 months ago

Nate Braxton

Wow this is really clever. Great idea!

Nate Braxton 8 months ago

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