Cell phone cameras have gotten ridiculously good ridiculously fast, but there's still some shots that are hard to capture with a camera phone. Like macro photos. But if you're itching to get a close-up shot and only have your phone handy, try this tip using only a drop of water.
Using an eyedropper, toothpick, or some similar tool, drip a small bead of water right onto the lens of your iPhone. Tension should keep the bead in place, and the water acts like a magnifying glass, giving you a close-up view of your subject.
Website Tested, from the Mythbusters guys Jamie & Adam, put this easy tip through the ringer and found that you really can get great, in-focus close-up shots with your cell phone camera:
Chekc out the tutorial on Tested for some tips on getting this technique right—like how you need to flip your phone over quickly to keep the bead of water from sliding off the lens ring.
Oh, and if you're worried about damage, since water and electronics don't usually mix, you can relax. The iPhone's water sensor isn't anywhere near the camera lens, and short contant like this isn't likely to do any harm.
(Images: Tested)
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Shouldn't we really just advise people to buy a proper camera if they're interested in taking more than quick-and-dirty pics?
Water sensor location be damned, why on earth would you intentionally put water on a $600 smart phone?
I am having a hard time thinking of anything more pointless than this.
Wow, this is one of the worst suggestions I've seen here. They actually make lenses you can attach to your iPhone that will probably do less damage.
http://craziestgadgets.com/2011/11/28/rotating-iphone-lens-dial/
Yeah, I'm with Closertotheocean on this one - I don't think this is a very good idea.
Right, put water on an electronic device far away from it's water sensor and you're A-ok. I don't care if Mythbusters said it, it's a dumb idea for people who don't know better.
If you need to be taking crazy macro shots you should probably upgrade from a bloody camera phone.
I think they put the idea through the "wringer" not through the "ringer." Unless it's a pun.
This cannot end well...
Yeah, no.
Has April Fool's Day been moved to July?!
as a mobile technician for apple PLEASE DON'T DO THIS. and as for that liquid indicator? it's about a 1/2 inch away. its not far away at all. Yes we can tell when its wet. No we won't replaced it for free. Don't do this. Just buy an ollo clip.
also "short contact" is contact. and a little bit of liquid damage--still liquid damage.
Get an ez macro lens
what i'm confused about is that most smart phones now take pretty decent macro photos for what they are... i have loads of great macro photos from an iPhone... I don't think you need to try any extra tricks? =/
You can also just hold a small magnifying glass up to the camera lens. I have one that came with an eyeglasses repair kit and it lives in my camera bag. That said, my camera takes bad macro pics... My smartphone does not. And I have an HTV Vivid, so if I was dumb enough to try this, I would ruin the speaker and microphone adjacent to my camera lens. Such a bad idea. I can't imagine any sort of macro emergency situation that would call for putting water on your phone.
Dumb idea. Get a real camera or find a better way to take macro shots. Or give money to Nikon and Canon so they can continue to make excellent cameras.
On a side note, I can't hold my tongue (fingers?) anymore on this:
OK, I need to be the grammar/spelling police for a second. AT needs to hire a proof reader or make their writers do a some re-reads before they post. "Chekc" is easy enough to spot. I've been seeing a lot of misspellings lately and sometimes I can't let it go. Doesn't everybody read and re-read their posts/comments before posting? or am I just a crazy person...? (and yeah, I'm sure I made plenty of grammar mistakes in this post!)
If you have a buck to spare here's how to make a iPhone macro lens with $1.
Yikes. Very bad idea. You can void your warranty on your phone if water gets in the lens.
You can buy a macro/wide angle lens for iPhones on Photojojo, I think it was under $40. Better clarity & safer.
Everyone needs to chill!
A drop of water isn't going to do any harm to your phone. Not even a little bit. Electronics are vulnerable to water only because it can cause short circuiting if the electronics are powered. The lens is well-sealed glass; the water isn't getting through the phone's case into the sensitive internals. Water also doesn't mean instant death for electronics. Most electronics can survive a dip in a pool or a trip through the washing machine, as long as they are dried properly before they are turned on again.
The iPhone specifically has its "water sensor" (water-sensitive paper) located inside the headphone jack, while most other smart phones have their water sensors attached to the battery compartment. A drop of water on the outside of the case isn't going to trigger the sensor paper, and it's not going to void the warranty.
If you're still uncomfortable, you don't have to try it, but for no reason is this a "dumb" or even a bad idea.
@nanoinfinity - Really?? You honestly think that if your iPhone falls in a swimming pool or goes through the washing machine, it'll be okay? Good luck with that.
I think I'll take the advice of the Apple technician further upthread, thanks.
"Ringer" for "wringer," "chekc" for "check," and "contant" for "contact." What is happening to dear old AT?
umm...
My iPhone went for a dip in a sink full of water and was "fine". The touch screen was a bit dodgy, but it saw me through for another six months. Until I dropped it in a car park and shattered the screen. Even then it still worked as a phone, and it was a good three months before I eventually replaced it.
All that said, I don't think i would intentionally have at my phone with the wet stuff.