I hinted at this in a previous post and it finally arrived last week!
The Moment 240 mm mobile lens was yet another reward for myself.
On May 11, I achieved three smoke-free years after an almost 54 year habit.
Each year on my anniversary, I spoil myself with items from various wish lists. This year, it was the mobile phone camera gearlist that got fulfilled.
This lens works with the 4x native zoom in my iPhone and creates a true optical 8x zoom.
The phone does have an 8x zoom, but it’s not a true optical zoom, so although great photos can be captured with that, there are a few issues with clarity – especially with birds and wildlife.
After I’ve practiced more with this lens and my new mini tripod (if it’ll hold the weight of my phone with this lens attached), I’ll share a few photos in a future post.
For size reference, here’s the lens in my hand:
It’s well made and heavy, so a tripod (which I supplied from my wish list ahead of the arrival of the lens) is definitely needed.
The 8x zoom on my iPhone 17pro requires either a very steady hand or a tripod. Macro and night photography require the same.
I have a full-sized tripod in Texas. Here at home, I have a compact table top tripod. Neither of these is of any use to me when I’m out for my morning walks because I choose to not carry anything with me besides my house keys, my phone, and my headset. If it isn’t light weight and doesn’t fit in a fanny pack, my jacket pocket or the slim pockets of my exercise pants, it doesn’t go with me.
Recently, while searching other phone camera gear on Amazon, I came across this tripod made by Lamicall that folds flat. When folded up, it’s thinner than my phone, and isn’t much bigger overall than the palm of my hand.
I read the reviews and when anything I’m interested in has a 4.5 out of 5 star reviews from many customers, I’m interested. This little gadget met my requirements in every way, so I ordered it.
The tripod sets up quickly and easily (instructions are included but not required). It includes a strong extra magnet to attach to the back of the phone case. The magnet on the tripod itself is very strong, and held my phone easily, but I attached the extra magnet for additional security.
With a slight tilt back, it doesn’t tip and can also be attached to standard tripods.
The day after it arrived and a day later, I gave it a test run onmy morning walks.
Because I was the only one out at that early hour, I had to be my subject. Modeling is definitely not in my skill set nor in my comfort zone. That said, I was anxious to try out my new gadget, so pose I did.
Trying to pose a “candid” shotThe shadows were strong on this bright morning
For both of the above photos, I used the timer for shutter release.
The next two photos are the same scene. I used the new tripod and a wireless bluetoothed shutter release.
Shot at 1xSame scene shot at 8x
I’m anxious to see how it works when my next gear item arrives.
Can you guess what that might be?
**Note: I’m not affiliated with, nor do I get paid by the brands/web sites I mention in my posts. I simply hope to pre-answer any possible questionsabout the gear I use.
Some days the baking stars all align and I know from the time that I see this exact meringue stiffness that my macarons will be perfect.
The lemon macs from the merengue in my feature photo turned out nicely.
As I’ve said in previous posts about these divas of cookies, my ocd-ish personality loves the attention to detail and perfection that’s required in every step.
My Monday posts will now focus on happiness. The goal is to start each week on a positive note.
I ’ve recently been seeing lots of clever memes from a Facebook page called “Hippie World”.
The memes are ai generated, so aren’t subject to copyright (I figured as much, but checked anyways to be sure).
Because, when I was a teenager, I was a wannabe hippie, because I’ve been an avid walker for many years, and because many of the songs referenced are on my walking playlists, this one spoke to me:
Radically Retired 