No shortage of clever iPhone camera hacks exist, but Scientific American found out that putting a drop of water on the lens of the camera creates a free magnifying glass and some cool effects.
The process is pretty simple. Place a drop of water on the phone’s lens and carefully turn the device over. The suspended drop of water acts like a magnifying glass on the lens. Scientific American adds:
- Larger, rounder droplets lead to higher magnification, and as the droplet evaporates and shrinks magnification decreases.
- The liquid lens is jiggly and sensitive to vibrations. The phone should be placed on a stable platform for maximum clarity.
That second note is a big one. It’s almost impossible to hold the phone with your hands and steady it enough to snap a picture. Still, it’s not a bad little hack considering it’s completely free. While the post talks about the iPhone specifically it should work on most camera phones. Hit up the post on Scientific American for a bunch of samples and a few more tips on using the water lens to good effect.
Transform Your iPhone Into a Microscope: Just Add Water [Scientific American]
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