At Home with Tech

Are you frustrated when you search to buy a product, and it doesn’t seem to exist? Welcome to my world. 

A couple years back I decided that I wanted to give extra protection to the three camera lenses on the back of my iPhone 15 Pro Max. The obvious solution was a case with a removable cover for the lenses.

Sure, I know the iPhone’s lenses are coated with a layer of synthetic sapphire. Yes, they’re supposed to be totally scratch resistant. Every Apple genius I’ve talked with has confirmed there’s no need to worry about the lenses. (Just don’t point a diamond-tipped drill bit at them.)

iPhone Cases Should Offer More Lens Protection
As a result of this collective consensus, just about every iPhone case leaves this part of the iPhone entirely unprotected (except for a raised rim).

But this doesn’t feel quite right to me. Other camera lenses (for ‘traditional’ cameras) are offered the protection from a lens cap.

I simply want a similar safeguard for my iPhone.

Case Closed?
First off, I shunned the option to buy those clear, pop-on caps for each iPhone lens. Sure, they may protect the lens, but I think these caps must degrade the resulting quality of the iPhone pictures.The good news is I eventually found an iPhone case with a little ‘door’ over the lenses that I could simply flip open. 

It’s the UBMag XT case made by SUPCASE, and it was exactly what I needed. That is… until the frame recently started to crack and separate. (To be fair, I got almost two years of protection from my SUPCASE. Maybe that’s all anyone should expect.)

So, I began my search for a replacement. I decided to look for a different brand that might offer a more durable case.

Sliding Towards Disappointment
After extensive Googling, here’s what I came up with:

• Were there any more cases with flippy doors out there?
  No, none that I could find. 
• What about cases with little plastic sliding doors to protect the lenses?
  Yes, there were a few cases like that on Amazon.

But unfortunately, all those cases with a sliding door received mediocre reviews. It felt like I’d find these cases at the bottom of a Cracker Jacks box. 

I was not inspired.

A New iPhone Case Category Emerges
No flippy-door cases. Cheaply made ‘sliding’-door cases. Now what?

My little research project had revealed that today’s iPhone case market has seemly matured into a mind-numbing number of inexpensive options from unknown brands that are impossible to properly assess. And I’m not even talking about my (unreasonable?) need to cover up my iPhone’s camera lenses.

So, with hundreds of iPhone cases to choose from, there wasn’t one for Barrett? 

Well, not entirely. Across my journey, I accidentally came upon a solution built for a different requirement.

iPhone Cases Designed to Mount External Lenses
I discovered an iPhone case market for add-on lenses that enhance an iPhone’s photographic chops. (You mount these ‘mini’ premium lenses on top of an iPhone’s native lens using a specialized iPhone case or a clip.) 

Now, you may think that’s a freaky concept. Why would anyone want to start bolting a Frankensteinian lens on top of their uber-svelte iPhone?

The answer is the massive 48-megapixel camera sensor that iPhones now use for the main 1X camera. That feature attracts certain photographers and filmmakers. With better glass, an iPhone can be upgraded beyond its original photographic parameters.

You can buy telephoto, anamorphic, fisheye and macro lenses to push your iPhone closer into DSLR/mirrorless camera territory without spending thousands of dollars more.

No, I wasn’t looking to do any of this. (Not exactly.) But when I realized a class of iPhone cases exists designed to house these add-on lenses, I decided to take a closer look. 

The structural design of these cases recesses the iPhone’s native lenses, creating the necessary clearance to attach an external lens.

More importantly, this lens-mount design also creates the solve for my lens protection obsession. Even though the iPhone’s lenses are still exposed, they’re perfectly cocooned within their circular openings.

Eureka!

Case Brands to Consider
I discovered these seven companies that manufacture iPhone lenses and their associated lens-mount cases:

• Freewell
• Moment
• Neewer
• PolarPro
• Reeflex  
• SANDMARC 
• ShiftCam

None of the cases from these companies are designed with a flippy or sliding door for the base iPhone lenses. I finally had to let that dream go.

But this case category has its own advantages. Here are some important differentiators:

Lens Cap from Freewell
Freewell is the only brand to offer an actual pop-off lens cap for its iPhone case. (It’s magnetic.)

Lens Plate from PolorPro
The PolarPro LiteChaser case with a defender plate offers a slide in-and-out lens cover. (It does the same job as a lens cap.)

Protection Vs. Speed
These two options would satisfy my need to cover and protect my iPhone’s camera lenses. But even though I found what I was looking for, I still wasn’t satisfied. Why?

I realized that from a usability perspective, every time I wanted to use my iPhone camera, I would have to first remove the lens cap or defender plate and put it in my pocket. Only then could I turn my attention back towards taking the picture or video.

And that extra step takes a few seconds. Is it such a big deal? Yes, in fact, I think it is.

Often, when I take a photo, it’s very much in the moment… meaning the perfect image is right in front of me. A few seconds later is often too late. The moment is gone.

Spending any time fiddling with a removable lens cover would contribute to me missing that moment. (A flippy door or slide-aside solution is so much faster.)

Plus, there’s the added baggage of forever having to keep track of the little black cover and worrying about losing it.

All my enthusiasm drained away again. Even though I found what I was looking for, I realized it still wasn’t right for me.

So, now what?

Hello, SANDMARC
Yes, I had to compromise on my definition of ‘protection.’ 

Even without a lens cap or removable plate, these ‘pro’ cases still protect the native iPhone lenses with their lens-mount design. And that’s a big step in the right direction for me.

One company’s marketing tuned particularly well into my lens protection concerns. 

It’s SANDMARC. 

This brand from San Diego makes a variety of travel bags and iPhone gear and specifically promotes its iPhone Pro Case as “a case designed to protect your iPhone camera.”

SANDMARC’s website hooked me with this line: “Whether you’re a photographer or not, this is the case to get for the everyday.”

Huh.

The tank-like 17mm lens mount block is aluminum, and the case is designed for MagSafe wireless charging.
(Note – The leather version of this case is not MagSafe.)

Nice.

SANDMARC’s Pro Case costs $45, which is double the cost of most cases out there. That said, it does have a microfiber inner lining and metal buttons.

Plus, if it does the job, I’m fine with that price point.

And after many hours of research, I decided that I had finally reached my destination. Click.

My SANDMARC iPhone Pro Case was shortly on its way with free shipping.

Runner Ups
A few of the other brands did come close to reaching the finish line but ultimately fell short.

• Moment
  This brand is perhaps the best known in this market. I just didn’t like the half-twist mount solution for the T-series mobile lenses as much. It didn’t seem quite as secure. (Yes, I can’t hide that I was already wanting a Frankenstein lens.)
• Reeflex
  I originally decided that this was the case for me. But I had a question about shipping costs from Italy. Reeflex’s website promised amazing customer service (though only through email). I tried twice with my question but never heard anything back. This is certainly not a good way to begin a relationship with a company. So, I bailed.
• ShiftCam
  I just couldn’t get beyond the fabric finish of their case. Maybe that’s cool, and yes, it’s great that it’s machine washable. But I’m not going to do that. 

Lens Protection Achieved!
All that mattered is I finally found the right case for Barrett. I’ve introduced my new SANDMARC iPhone Pro Case to my iPhone, and I’m satisfied with this new union. 

My iPhone’s camera lenses are doing just fine sitting recessed in the case. Mission accomplished.

End of story? Well, not quite.

A New Lens Comes Next
This SANDMARC case also offers my iPhone a new superpower if I simply screw in any of those nifty, little add-on lenses. I think you’ve already guessed where this is going.

Next time – Barrett goes microscopic!

My new case is already taking me on a new photographic journey…