Skip to main content

Zeiss & ExoLens’ new case protects your phone while using accessory lenses

zeiss exolens case
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Zeiss and ExoLens are expanding their partnership today with a new iPhone 7 case that is compatible with the latest Pro line of Zeiss mobile optics. Up until now, only a bracket was available, and so this is the first true case capable of supporting the Pro Zeiss lenses.

As smartphone cameras are becoming higher quality with more advanced features and capabilities, one area where the phones themselves have struggled to advance is in the optics. There is only so much room on a thin phone to put a compact lens. This has led to the rise of more powerful and higher quality accessory lenses that can be attached to a phone.

Recommended Videos

One of these systems, the ExoLens, features a partnership between famed optic manufacturer Zeiss and ExoLens. In the last year the team announced a series of high-end lenses designed for the ExoLens system by Zeiss, the PRO mobile lenses featured the first ever aspherical lens for iPhone. The catch was that there were no phone cases compatible with the new lenses, so in order to use the lenses, users would have to remove the case — risking damage to the phone in the event of an accident.

But that issue has now been addressed with the newly announced ExoLens Case, which as you may have guessed, allows users to protect their phone while still retaining the ability to mount their PRO Zeiss lenses to the phone.

The company is touting the new case as being low profile, but still rugged and durable enough to protect your phone from damage while you are using your PRO Zeiss Optics lenses for photos or video. Despite these lenses and the ExoLens system being marketed toward cinematographers and advanced photographers, the case itself is actually very affordable.

The ExoLens case is now available for the iPhone 7 and retails for $50. According to ExoLens, there will be an iPhone 7 Plus version to come later this year as well, but at this point, there is no time frame set for that. You can learn more about the ExoLens case over on its website, here.

Anthony Thurston
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Anthony is an internationally published photographer based in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Specializing primarily in…
Finally, a chocolate iPhone case that you can actually eat
finally a chocolate iphone case that you can actually eat 11 chcoloate

Digital Trends is packed with carefully curated collections of cases for iPhones and other smartphones, but up to now, none of the featured cases have been edible. Even those "chocolate" cases you see advertised are merely plastic representations of the tasty treat loved by so many.

Not a big surprise, you might say, as the primary purpose of a smartphone case is to protect the device from scuffs and scrapes, not to satisfy your stomach in an appetite emergency.

Read more
Apple’s Smart Battery Cases for the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro are here
How to Hide Apps on an iPhone.

Apple's official Smart Battery Cases for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max are finally here. The new phones were launched to the public in September, but official battery cases for the phones were absent from Apple's lineup -- until now.

The new cases don't look all that different from previous generations, offering a relatively large bump on the back, where the extra battery is stored. The main difference, of course, is that the cases have a square camera cutout instead of an oval one to accommodate for the new shape of the camera cutouts on the iPhone.

Read more
The Canon EOS R100 mirrorless is ideal for beginners — $170 off today
Canon EOS R100 mirrorless camera with lens attached

If you don't want to spend the money on a high-end DSLR camera, mirrorless cameras are an excellent alternative. But they, too, can be expensive, at least normally. Right now, thanks to a bevy of Prime Big Deal Days discounts, the best camera deals, in general, and super great Prime Day camera deals there are a ton of offers available. So, it's a great time to shop if you've been on the fence. However, we wanted to call out a great deal for novice photographers on the Canon EOS R100 mirrorless camera. Normally $600, it's just $429 right now as part of the event, saving you over $170. The bundle includes the RF-S18-45mm lens. Again, a great starting point for casual or novice photographers.

 
Why shop this Canon EOS R100 mirrorless camera deal for Prime Big Deal Days?

Read more