Sandmarch Photography Edition iPhoneX lens kit review

Sandmarc Photography Edition iPhoneX lens kit review:
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I've been looking at new attachment lens on the market for iPhones for sometime. I've been getting a little tired of carrying around a 5lb camera (literally the Canon 6D plus Canon 11-24mm L lens is a little over 5lbs, I'll refer to this as the "5lb glass" from here on out). When I travel I love taking 11mm ultrawide photos and periodically uploading them to my @bordernotes instagram, but I'm looking to shed a little weight while walking aimlessly around new cities for 8 hours a day. I initially started inspecting Sony's DSC-RX100 V but at $948 I thought that's a lot closer to a replacement for my full frame SLR, and I'm looking for more of a companion to my SLR. So I started looking for companions. I knew I wanted something that left a case on the phone and was not a clip-on (which requires manual adjustment, too much work). I chose Sandmarc's iPhoneX lens (Photography Edition for $189) after reviewing:

Olloclip (which required using my iPhone without a case entirely, which I thought was a bad idea on the cobble stone streets of Europe with an all-glass iPhone)
Moment (which had no availability for the iPhoneX when I initially looked and did not include the case with the lens purchase. I got burned pre-ordering stuff in the past and no longer do so however this was a strong contender with Sandmarc)
AMIR (clip-on only)
DXO (expensive)
ExoLens (which required removing the case, bad idea with the iPhoneX)

I had not noticed BitPlay, which actually looks pretty good and as of this writing, I would consider because it's fairly similar to Sandmarc's product and has a larger selection of lens, including a Circular Polarizing Filter (CPL) which I love. I have polarizers on all my lens except unfortunately my Canon 11-24mm L.

BitPlay 7 - May still consider ordering in addition to Sandmarc. They have 6 lens to choose from, including the CPL. The only downside to Sandmarc is their Wide lens is 18mm, not 16mm (lower mm is wider and as Pontiac used to say: wider is better). Their Fisheye lens appears to be the same. Maybe Sandmarc will release a CPL.

I finally placed an order on Feb. 19 ( and received the order on Mar. 22. ) for the Sandmarc Photography Edition iPhoneX lens kit. After a few shots on each lens, I was more or less sold that I got what I wanted.

iPhone 28mm (Default lens on the camera app)

It definitely looks great. I've gotten tired of using my iPhone's default camera because software filter's alone just don't do it for me. The extra width and straight lines on the Wide lens are exactly what I was looking for, the FishEye's GoPro look is attractive too.

Taken with Canon 11-24mm L mounted on Canon 6d.

iPhoneX 28mm with Sandmarc Wide lens. (Brings down to 16mm full frame equivalent).

iPhoneX with Sandmarc FishEye lens. (10mm equivalent)

So above you can see a photo with the Canon 6D with Canon 11-24mm L lens (photo taken at 11mm), followed by a raw iPhone 28mm pic, then Sandmarc 16mm, then Sandmarc's 10mm FishEye. Overall it looks like I'll still have to carry around my Canon but I'll better able to take a wider variety of photos at night with my iPhone alone now. I'll still possibly consider Sony's RX100-V but I think the Sandmarc's lens will be a LOT of fun on ski and beach trips, or walking around Europe while taking a break from the 5lb glass.

Some fun shots:

Sandmarc's macro lens is cool too. Not practical for travel or anything really but cool anyway.