ExoLens and Zeiss team up for new series of iPhone lenses

posted Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 11:49 AM EDT

ExoLens, a company that makes lenses to attach to Apple iPhones, has announced a partnership with Zeiss to release a new series of three high-quality add-on lenses that utilize Zeiss optics.

The ExoLens with optics by Zeiss series of lenses will include wide-angle, telephoto, and macro lenses. The wide-angle and telephoto lenses "offer excellent image performance with outstanding edge-to-edge contrast." The macro lens features the ability to zoom, which is "unique" for this kind of accessory lens.

These new lenses incorporate Zeiss' T* anti-reflective coating, which "minimizes reflections at the glass-to-air surfaces and improves the transmission of light." According to Zeiss' head of the Zeiss Consumer Optics business group, Dr. Winfried Scherle, "The lenses of ExoLens with optics by Zeiss are the best currently available on the market. We have achieved the best possible technical balance between a small size, low weight, and high image quality."

Attaching these new lenses requires the use of the ExoLens mounting bracket, which is available in iPhone 6/6s and iPhone 6 Plus/6s Plus configurations.

Pricing information for the new set of lenses is not yet available, but the current ExoLens set for iPhone 6/6s costs $129.95 and comes with a machined aluminum bracket with tripod mount, super wide-angle lens, telephoto lens, telephoto lens hood, a set of lens caps, and a microfiber lens bag. The ExoLens set for the iPhone 6 Plus/6s Plus comes with the same items plus 2 TPU sleeves for dual device compatibility and costs $149.95.

Including a macro lens and higher quality optics, I think that it is safe to assume that these new Zeiss-branded lenses will come at an increased cost when they launch late during the second quarter of this year, though we'll just have to wait and see. There will be additional updates and information available soon.