Explore Guides
Sign In

Sign In with Facebook or Twitter

Or use your email address

Create an Account Forgot Password?
Like
Liked
How to Make a DIY iPhone Macro Lens for Free
Start the Guide ›

by Joanna Lam
758 Likes
17.1k Views
Step 1 of 29
Find an old camera (I got this one 20+ years ago)

Find an old camera (I got this one 20+ years ago)

Step 2 of 29
Dissemble the old camera and take the lens (with its bezel) out

Dissemble the old camera and take the lens (with its bezel) out

Step 3 of 29
Here's the lens

Here's the lens

Step 4 of 29
Round the lens with blu-tack (I've only got white ones at home)

Round the lens with blu-tack (I've only got white ones at home)

Step 5 of 29
The blu-tack can already adhere the lens to the iPhone securely.

The blu-tack can already adhere the lens to the iPhone securely.

Step 6 of 29
The only problem is you have to make sure it sits right on the camera every time you put it on. That leads us to the second half of this DIY guide :-)

The only problem is you have to make sure it sits right on the camera every time you put it on. That leads us to the second half of this DIY guide :-)

Step 7 of 29
Cut a corner from an iPad box insert (the corners of the insert are of exactly the same angle as those of the iPhone!).

Cut a corner from an iPad box insert (the corners of the insert are of exactly the same angle as those of the iPhone!).

Step 8 of 29

If you don't have an iPad box, try bendable cardboard or plastic cards. Plastic will make it more durable but basically anything that's kinda hard and can be wrapped around the corner will do.

Step 9 of 29
What we're trying to do is to make a holder that can sit right at the iPhone corner and naturally aligns the DIY macro lens on the iPhone camera

What we're trying to do is to make a holder that can sit right at the iPhone corner and naturally aligns the DIY macro lens on the iPhone camera

Step 10 of 29
The pencil line marks the thickness of the iPhone (the upper half). The lens will sit under that line. Split the two ends of the holder but leave the corner intact.

The pencil line marks the thickness of the iPhone (the upper half). The lens will sit under that line. Split the two ends of the holder but leave the corner intact.

Step 11 of 29
Stick the lens to the 'holder' around the corner. Try it on your phone and make sure the lens sit right on the camera.

Stick the lens to the 'holder' around the corner. Try it on your phone and make sure the lens sit right on the camera.

Step 12 of 29
After making sure the lens are sitting at the right place, wrap the two ends around the lens with tape to secure its position. Tape type depends on holder material.

After making sure the lens are sitting at the right place, wrap the two ends around the lens with tape to secure its position. Tape type depends on holder material.

Step 13 of 29
Front view: notice how the blu-tack fill up space around the lens

Front view: notice how the blu-tack fill up space around the lens

Step 14 of 29

The following steps are not really necessary but I want it to look nice and stay on the phone corner really nicely :-P

Step 15 of 29
Cut another corner strip from iPad box. Main purpose: to make a holder that will wrap around the phone corner nicely.

Cut another corner strip from iPad box. Main purpose: to make a holder that will wrap around the phone corner nicely.

Step 16 of 29
Stick it to the holder with double-sided tape so that both sides got a nice tap.

Stick it to the holder with double-sided tape so that both sides got a nice tap.

Step 17 of 29
Another unnecessary step: cut two small pieces of plastic to cover the white-tack that fills the space between the lens and the holder.

Another unnecessary step: cut two small pieces of plastic to cover the white-tack that fills the space between the lens and the holder.

Step 18 of 29
The best thing: no need to take off the bumper!

The best thing: no need to take off the bumper!

Step 19 of 29
Another advantage is...when the new iPhone is out,  you can reuse parts to make one that fits!

Another advantage is...when the new iPhone is out, you can reuse parts to make one that fits!

Step 20 of 29
Find a nice box to keep your lens! Remember to put in padding!

Find a nice box to keep your lens! Remember to put in padding!

Step 21 of 29
P.S.:  To make the lens stay on more securely, I've added a piece of foam on the bottom of the Blu-tack around the lens. It now stays on really securely. .

P.S.: To make the lens stay on more securely, I've added a piece of foam on the bottom of the Blu-tack around the lens. It now stays on really securely. .

Step 22 of 29

Here are some photos taken with the DIY macro lens

Step 23 of 29
A 2.4mm screwdriver and a tiny screw

A 2.4mm screwdriver and a tiny screw

Step 24 of 29
Skin of my wrist

Skin of my wrist

Step 25 of 29
Small print on the back of iPad box (left bottom corner)

Small print on the back of iPad box (left bottom corner)

Step 26 of 29
Step 27 of 29
Step 28 of 29
Step 29 of 29

Special thanks to my mom who has done the crafty parts! :D

You're Done!
Start over

This guide was made by:
Joanna Lam
joannalaforet.wordpress.com
Follow
Following

Explore more great guides:

Photography
DIY Wide Angle Lens for iPhone...for Free

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

by Joanna Lam

102
13
4.7k
Food
Make Pumpkin Gnocchi

How to Make Pumpkin Gnocchi

by Kathy Gori

339
9
1.9k
Desserts
Make Green Tea Cookies

How to Make Green Tea Cookies

by Creative Traveler

298
15
1k
Technology
Make an Apple-Esque Floating iPhone Dock for $10

How to Make an Apple-Esque Floating iPhone Dock for $10

by Drew Everett

622
42
18.5k
Arts & Crafts
Make a Leather iPhone Flip Wallet

How to Make a Leather iPhone Flip Wallet

by Attila Acs

2.4k
133
49.9k
Technology
Make an iPod Dock

How to Make an iPod Dock

by Albert G.

546
59
10.1k
Tweet
Share:
Alex Cofelt

Omg perf

Alex Cofelt 3 months ago

Lucy Whitten

How incredible *,* I'm astounded!

Lucy Whitten 5 months ago

Joanna Lam

Saw your pic. Nice eye :P

Joanna Lam (author) 5 months ago

Yarden Henik

btw, result on my instagram: yardenik

Yarden Henik 5 months ago

Yarden Henik

I did it, and its great! Without the frame though, but its ok. I used a very bad camera so the lens is just a piece of tiny plastic, and it is still great!

Yarden Henik 5 months ago

Joanna Lam

Dani, Blu tack will do the magic. Just use Blu tack to fill whatever gap :P

Joanna Lam (author) 9 months ago

Dani Kellner

I NEED to try this.... My friends are gonna be all "DID UR PHONE COME LIKE THAT?" no but it is an iphone 3gs.... do u have any tips for a 3g iphone? since it is curved? on the edges, unlike the 4. thx, dani kellner

Dani Kellner 9 months ago

Load More

Old camera

Blu-tack

Scissors

Tapes

iPad box insert (or any bendable cards)

Screwdriver

Double-sided tape

Sponge / foam

  • Download
  • Explore Guides
  • Blog
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Privacy

©2013 Heavy Bits, Inc. | All guides ©2013 their respective authors

Sign In

Or use your email address

Create an Account Forgot Password?

Create a New Account

Join Snapguide and share what you know. Already have an account? Sign in here.

Why be old fashioned?
It's easier to sign in with:





By submitting this form you agree to Snapguide's
Terms of Service & Privacy Policy