Unleash your mobile creative spirit with these amazing tools

Tired of the look and feel of regular video or feeling limited by the various, what I call the “L&Ls” (Looks & Luts) you can apply to video? I found a few amazing tools for my toolkit that has sparked my creativity… Moment lenses.

My Lenses: 1.33x Anamorphic, 58mm, 18mm Wide, Macro

There are the thousands of clip-on, multi-function plastic/plexiglass lenses flooding the inter-webs at dirt-cheap prices, and only last a couple of weeks. No, Moment lenses are pro-quality lenses.

The build quality of all Moment lenses is unmatched by anything else I have come across. The lens bodies are solid, built with aerospace-grade metal and the same hand-polished glass used for high-end 4K film lenses. They work with the latest Apple, Google, Samsung, and OnePlus devices. But definitely check out their website to make sure.

In order to use the lenses, you will need to invest in a Moment case which is very reasonably priced and also solid in build, and provides the twist-and-lock mount that the lenses attach to.

Case & Mounting Frame

My favorite is the Anamorphic Lense. It’s amazing how the wide view, top and bottom black bars (cinemascoping) with interesting lens flaring in either blue or gold, provides options in shooting creatively.

Anamorphic lenses are designed to squeeze a wider field of view by compressing the image horizontally. When the footage is played back, it is de-squeezed to restore the original aspect ratio, resulting in a wider and more cinematic look.

For the larger SLR and large format cameras, Anamorphic lenses can cost thousands of dollars and obviously, that isn’t something the average creator is willing to invest in right away.

Moment has provided mobile device creators a top of the line alternative in not just anamorphic, but also in wide, macro and others.

Moment M-Series – 1.33x Anamorphic Lens – Blue Flare:

CLICK TO VIEW

Just some of the highlights;

Works with a 67mm filter and our Lens Filter Mount
Mounts over the Wide lens on your camera phone and over the Tele on some phones
1.33x anamorphic gives you an organic look.
Emulates 2.40:1 Cinemascope.
A model with a Gold Flare versus or Blue Flare (think Michael Bay films)

You will need the moment app, or some other software to process the video and have to learn a lot about how to math aspect ratios and resolutions of the video. If not you’ll be looking at some very unflattering vertically smooshed video.

Here are some tips for shooting video with an anamorphic lens:

When shooting with an anamorphic lens, you need to make sure your camera settings are set correctly the App helps with this. Essentially, the camera shoots in a 4:3 aspect ratio to capture the squeezed image. Then de-squeezes it into a 16:9 aspect ratio effectively crop the image top and bottom and delivers a wider horizontal view of your scene.
Focus correctly – You need to focus on the center of the frame, as this is where the image is least distorted. You may also need to use a wider aperture to compensate for the extra glass in the lens, which can make the image less sharp.
Use the right accessories – You may need to use a tripod or a gimbal to stabilize your shots.
Embrace lens flares – Anamorphic lenses are known for producing lens flares, which can add to the cinematic look of your footage. However, you should be careful not to overdo it, as too many lens flares can distract from the story.

This little guy and it’s Moment siblings, have made me explore more of how I approach shooting. I may want to use to enhance the emotional side of video or introduce a different angle to express a point more effectively.

Finally, there is the Pro Camera App by Moment. A definite must have with all of their lenses. The App is a solid camera app for video or photo, utilizing all of the capabilites that your phone offers. More importantly, it also handles the heavy lift of adjusting for lens correction and de-squeezing the anamorphic lens data. You only need select the lens are using in the app before shooting. The software will ensure any lens corrections are applied.

In conclusion, with the right lens, camera settings, focus, accessories, and creative choices, you can super-charge the creation of stunning and memorable footage that stands out from the crowd.