How to make a great macro lens for your phone for $2

Nowadays you can buy all sorts of smartphone lenses: from $35 crappy super-zoom to high-end, $200 Zeiss lenses. But if you feel like doing a fun little DIY project, you can make your own smartphone macro lens and only spend $2 on it. In this video, Chris Notap will show you how.

You will need

For this project, you need only three things you most likely already have at home:

• An old point-and-shoot camera, film or digital – come on, I bet you have at least one lying around. If not, you can get one for as low as $2 at your local thrift store or on eBay.
• A popsicle stick
• A rubber band

As for the tools, you’ll need a hot glue gun and a screwdriver.

How to make the lens

Start by dismantling the camera and taking the lens out, as you’ll only need the lens for this project.

Then, take the popsicle stick and cut about a third of it. Lay the popsicle stick and the lens on a flat surface and add a little bit of hot glue to hold them together.

Finally, put the rubber band around your phone and tuck the popsicle stick under it so it holds the lens in place. And you’re good to go!

Here are a couple test shots Chris took with this setup, and in the video, you can also see how it performs when filming with a smartphone:

Sea salt

Tiny camera screw

Coin detail

Screwdriver tip

Now, I know you can get a set of three smartphone lenses for, like, $5. But there are still upsides to going with the DIY approach. First, the lenses from an old film or digital cameras are in most cases higher quality than the cheap smartphone lenses. Second, it can be a nice way to repurpose an old camera that’s been collecting dust for ages. And third – well, it’s fun.

[How to make ● Close-up Macro Phone Camera Lens ( for $2 ! ) via Make]