{
  "id": 10909510,
  "title": "Wow – add on lenses for phones are actually good now! This has got to be the end for big cameras, right?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/wow-add-on-lenses-for-phones-are-actually-good-now-this-has-got-to-be",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-30T09:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Amateur Photographer",
    "slug": "amateur-photographer",
    "url": "https://amateurphotographer.com/latest/opinion/wow-add-on-lenses-for-phones-actually-good-now-this-has-got-to-be-the-end-for-big-cameras-right/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Uncle Alan once raved about his camera purchase that came with a plethora of lenses, including a cheap 0.7x wide-angle adapter and 3 UV filters. He was disappointed with the image quality, often questioning his technique, yet others shied away from such adapters due to their low-cost, low-quality nature, which could result in various optical issues. Yet, could it be that add-on lenses have finally reached a level of quality worthy of use on smartphones? Smartphones have historically struggled to outperform long telephoto lenses found on mirrorless cameras, DSLRs, and bridge cameras. However, the Vivo X500 Pro Max, equipped with a 400mm telephoto adapter, seems to have shattered this belief. This adapter, which attaches to a bayonet fitting, increases the lens's reach four-and-a-half times, offering a range of image magnifications from 800mm to a staggering 8100mm. The 200MP sensor enhances the clarity of these images, providing a 'lossless' zoom equivalent. Even a portrait shoot with this equipment proved to be a revelation for the reporter, highlighting the potential of such add-ons in smartphones.",
  "summary": "Once ridiculed - what if telephoto and other add-on lenses are actually good enough now to replace big cameras? The post Wow – add on lenses for phones are actually good now! This has got to be the end for big cameras, right? appeared first on Amateur Photographer .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}