REVIEW – I have been interested in macro photography since I was a kid and my dad won a photo contest for a close-up picture of a dandelion flower. My own macro photography is now done on products for my reviews. But I still enjoy trying to capture extreme close-up shots of flowers and nature. While the latest smartphones can easily capture close shots, you might still need extra help getting those microscope-type pics. The APEXEL 120X Jewelers Loupe Microscope is designed to do that. Let’s get up close and personal with it!
What is it?
The APEXEL 120X Jewelers Loupe Microscope is a camera accessory for your phone that adds a 120X lens for macro photography. This lens can also be used without a phone like a jeweler’s loupe.
What’s included?
- APEXEL 120X Observation Lens
- Phone mount
- Field of view adapter
- Eye cup
- USB-C charging cable
- Drawstring pouch
- Polishing cloth
- EVA pads
Design and features
Like APEXEL’s other lens kits, the 120X Jewelers Loupe Microscope comes with a lens holder. This universal holder is designed to be used with most phones and features a sliding lens holder that enables it to line up with the phone’s camera lens.
A small screw at the top of the lens holder can be loosened to allow the holder to slide back and forth along the holder’s rails for adjustability.
The holder is lined with soft pads to prevent scratching your device.
It also has clips that stretch apart so that you can fit it on the back of your phone.
I’m testing the APEXEL 120X Jewelers Loupe Microscope with my iPhone 16 Pro Max.
The lens itself comes with a protective cover on the back side of the lens that screws into the holder, but it doesn’t come with a cover for the front of the lens. 🙁 It does have a built-in light ring around it though.
And a built-in battery that you charge via the USB-C port.
A power button on the side turns the LED light ring on/off as well as cycling between brightness modes. Not shown is an M button that cycles between lighting modes: cold, warm, UV, half circle, and full circle.
To install the APEXEL 120X Jewelers Loupe Microscope into the holder, you remove the protective cap from the bottom side.
Then you screw in the field of view adapter.
Finally, you screw in the lens.
It’s best to line up the holder over the correct lens on the back of your phone before you actually attach the field of view adapter and 120X lens. Otherwise, you’ll have a heck of a time getting everything to line up properly. For iPhones with 3 lenses like the Max and Pro, the correct lens to use is the bottom left lens, which is the main lens.
You’ll want to use the built-in light to help you see your subject.
Photo examples
Like pretty much all of these smartphone magnifying lenses, it’s not easy to get a clear image of your subject by handholding the phone. Every tiny movement of the phone will cause the subject to go out of focus. And you can’t just set the lens on top of the subject because it will block all of the light. With that said, here are a couple of examples. Click for the full image.
I wish this lens kit came with some type of stand to make it easier to focus and take sharper images.
You can use it in other ways too
Included in the package is a silicone eye cup that you can use to convert the APEXEL lens into a jeweler’s loupe.
Hey, I look like Mad Eye Moody from Harry Potter! Use it this way to see things up close but without the ability to take pics.
What I like about the APEXEL 120X Observation Lens
- Enables extreme close-up photography
- Univeral phone mount enables use with a variety of phones
- Can also be used like a loupe
What needs to be improved?
- Needs a lens cap
- Could also use some type of stand for easier focusing
- Some phones like my iPhone 16 Pro Max can already zoom in almost as close as the APEXEL so your mileage may vary with how useful this add-on lens might be
Final thoughts
The APEXEL 120X Jewelers Loupe Microscope is a fun and affordable accessory for anyone interested in extreme close-up photography or inspecting tiny details. The universal phone mount makes it compatible with most smartphones, and the built-in light ring is a helpful feature for illuminating your subject. Plus, the ability to use it as a jeweler’s loupe adds extra versatility.
However, it’s not without its challenges. The lack of a front lens cap feels like an oversight, and the absence of a stand makes it tricky to capture sharp images without some trial and error. If you’re planning to use it for photography, you’ll need patience and a steady hand (or maybe a DIY stand solution). Also, some of the latest phones already have really great macro capability, making this accessory unnecessary.
Price: $49.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by APEXEL. APEXEL did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
