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Periscope lenses in smartphones have gained widespread popularity in recent years.
They're now a standard feature in the latest flagship models, including the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Google Pixel 8 Pro, and OPPO Reno10 Pro+.
What’s the big deal about periscope lenses?
Are these really such a gamechanger?
In this article, we unpack all there is to know about periscope lenses, including how it works and how it differs from a telephoto lens.
We’ll cover:
Simply put, a periscope lens is a lens that is designed to provide extra optical zoom capabilities on your smartphone without making it bulkier.
Think about professional photographers who carry large cameras with long lenses that allow them to zoom in on objects from a distance.
Now, imagine that extended lens being incorporated into a compact smartphone – that's your periscope lens!
If you’re interested in the science of how it works, periscope lenses consist of a unique arrangement of mirrors (either horizontally or vertically) to bend and reflect light at a 90-degree angle.
This allows the camera to capture images with a longer focal length, eliminating the need for a long lens.
Before periscope lenses were a thing, you’d typically find telephoto lenses in smartphones.
What’s the difference between telephoto lenses vs periscope lenses?
Here’s a quick summary:
| Periscope lens | Telephoto lens | |
Design
|
Utilises mirrors to redirect the light path to achieve zoom without extending the camera’s physical length | Uses a series of optical elements to achieve zoom by extending the camera’s physical length |
| Zoom range | 5x to 10x zoom or more | 2x to 3x zoom |
| Image sensors | Smaller | Bigger |
| Weight | Lighter | Heavier |
What can a periscope lens be used for?
We previously mentioned that periscope lenses are typically used to capture faraway subjects.
Besides that, it can also be used for a variety of photography situations such as:
Portrait photography (create a bokeh effect)
Macro photography (close-up shots on tiny subjects)
Travelling (taking nature or lifestyle shots)
Life events and concerts (zoom in on your favourite celebrities and singers)
Stargazing and astronomy
Casual and social photography
Here’s an example of a subject taken with two smartphones – one with a periscope camera and one without a periscope camera.
As you can see, a periscope lens allows you to snap subjects that are at a great distance, while still being able to capture the finer details without losing quality!
Periscope lenses are such a gamechanger – as you can see from our pictures, they give you way better results as compared to traditional telephoto lenses.
Want to get a phone with a periscope lens, and level up your photography?
Shop the latest phones with a periscope lens:
