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Camera equipment

Amazing pictures with your iphone 11 and a polarizing filter

I have never been using big professional cameras and was still able to take amazing pictures. First, I have used compact cameras. Then, in 2018, using my Samsung Galaxy S9 phone, I started to realize that modern phone cameras seem to be as good and was wondering if it would still be worthwhile carrying a compact camera on a trip. While I had some doubts still with the Samsung S9, all doubts were blown away in 2019 with the iPhone 11. I have compared the picture quality of my iPhone 11 to the one of my Sony compact camera (on my iMac) and I have realized that the picture quality of the iPhone is equally good - sometimes even better. Hence, I have decided to go only with the iPhone 11 from then on. That being said, I had to make sure to be able to use my polarization filter even with the iPhone 11 which made me buy the accessories below.

Adapter ring with polarizing filter*

Modern cellphone with special case, e.g. iPhone 11

Compact camera

* see below items needed to equip the iPhone 11 with a polarization filter

Currently used phone camera: iPhone 11

 

The iPhone 11 has 3 lenses:

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1) Regular lens - mostly used, best quality

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2) Wide angle lens - nice feature, less quality, distorted picture

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3) Zoom lens - pretty useful in some situation

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The best quality seems delivered by the regular lens. As I have described above, the quality of the pictures taken is at such a high level that I have decided to get rid of my extra compact camera. I thought it is no longer worth to carry and extra camera during my trips. The advantage of having the pictures right away available to share them via social media (be it Whatsapp, Instagram, Facebook or any other social media platform or service) comes on top. Also, with most phones, the pictures you take get automatically loaded into a cloud service (Google Pictures for Android phones and iCloud for Apple iPhones). This alone are advantages most compact cameras do not offer. With the Apple iPhone 11, also videos look stunning - 4K resolution with great video stabilization software.

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Is the iPhone 11 worth its price?

 

To me: Yes it is! It's not cheap, but considering you won't need an extra camera, it's definitrely worth it.

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Currently used phone case: ULANZI phone case for adapter ring

 

In order to attach an adapter ring (and ultimately a filter) to your iPhone 11, you must use a special case. The phone case from ULANZI is the perfect match! It allows you to screw filters on all three lenses. The case is very robust. It is made of metal in the upper part (where the adapter ring gets screwed onto the lenses) and flexible plastic in the rest (like typical phone cases). There are some other versions available online, but the quality of this one is convincing.

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I always use my iPhone 11 with the ULANZI phone case whenever I travel, so I can attach my adapter ring with filter. On regular days (when you are not on a photo opportunity hunt), I am using a regular silicone phone case (which is a bit slimmer).

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When I bought this case in late 2019, the only shop offering it was Amazon.

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Currently used adapter ring: ULANZI adapter ring for filter

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Next, you need the adapter ring which you can screw onto the ULANZI phone case.Of course, ULANZI is also offering that adapter ring. It's pretty slim and perfectly fits onto the ULANZI phone case and with any 52 mm filter. No need for a bigger filter, the small lens is anyway not using it entirely.

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As you can see, there are also other phone case version (like the wooden one blow) available.

 

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Currently used polarizing filter: Hoya 55 mm polarization filter

 

After you have attached the adapter ring on the special phone case, you can finally attach the filter. Don't screw it too firmly onto the adapter ring (it happened to me that I cannot get it off anymore). There are linear and circular polarizing filters on the market. While circular polarizing filters are needed for more sophisticated SLR cameras, a linear filter will do for your iPhone 11.

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Important:

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There are countless different manufacturers and models on the market. It is important to chose a polarizing filter which does not have a tinted glass. Some of the polarizing filters I had bought were changing the picture quality to a brownish picture. This is not nice, especially when taking pictures at white sand beaches with turquoise waters, blue skies and white scattered clouds. The perfect scenery gets then tinted in a slightly brownish colour. Unfortunately, from the pictures online, you cannot identify whether the filter is a "clear one" or a "brownish one". I can ensure you that the linear polarizing filter from Hoya below is fine. It really allows me to take amazing shots without any unwanted brownish colouring.

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