Business
Moment Lens : The Perfect Accessory For the Casual Photographer In All Of Us
Moment is aware of mobile photography’s significance in today’s world and has created what I think are some of the best mobile lens attachments on the market. The newest iterations of the Moment lens and case, dubbed the Moment 2.0 or V2 is what I’ve tested vigorously, almost cruelly (my phone died about 8 times during a city wide photo run), but with a great, guiltless pleasure. We live in a time where mobile photography has become an integral part of our daily lives. Personally, I can’t remember a day where I don’t stop to take a photo, which leads me to say that life is, well ironically, full of rare, snappable moments. Though professional cameras still have a dominating spot in the expanding world of photography, mobile cameras are rapidly improving. We carry phones everywhere we go, its versatility is unparalleled, and the fact that we can whip it out to take a picture or record with unprecedented speed makes me feel that mobile cameras might just be more important. The phone is the instrument of choice for the casual photographer in all of us.
Moment has done a fantastic job with these lenses. The size and quality makes it a perfect accessory for the traveler, but also for the everyday person stumbling onto or looking for any photo opportunity. Moment now has a battery case as well, also equipped with its new mounting system, because phones do deplete when you’re on a photo run. They also offer external shutter buttons, travel cases, and other accessories all on their website. As of this “moment” (get it), I’ve yet to see any other mobile lenses on the market that’s been made with such attention to detail, and really I have to say again, the craftsmanship on each Moment lens is masterful. If you’re looking to spice up your Instagram page, add to your repertoire, or get your feet wet in the glorious art of photography, these lenses are beautiful, valuable options.
We’ll take a look at all four of their lenses and compare photos I’ve taken using them. Please note, unless stated, all of these photos were taken with an iPhone 7 Plus, and are completely unaltered and unfiltered in any way. Results will vary depending on your mobile device.
First Impressions
During the unboxing, I picked up one of the microfiber pouches at random, and when I dropped the Moment lens onto my hand, I was immediately impressed. There is a solidness to them. The glass lens themselves were huge and attractive. The weight felt really nice and professional. Taking a few shots with the lens mounted were fine. The weight wasn’t noticeable at all. But, I felt they had to be removed once you put your phone away, lest you wanted a big ole glass eye protruding from your pocket. The rubber lens caps are sturdy and easy to keep clean. Cheap rubber attracts dust and hair, but these were stress free. Also, the pouches that the lenses come in doubles as a microfiber wipe for the lenses themselves. I thought that was really cool. It’s all in the details!
The Case and Mounting Surface
The new lenses have a completely redesigned mounting interface. Whereas the previous Moment lenses attached via a mounting clip, these new lenses twist 180 degrees onto Moment’s lens interface found only on their new (and gorgeous) photo cases. This allows a few things to happen. For one, there is zero chance of user error. There is no need to attach a mounting plate, like with the Olloclip or Insignia clip on lenses, nor is there the adjustment issue you find often with said clip ons. Personally, I find the clip on lenses to be a bit frustrating in getting them to sit right and still, and because they are universal, there is a noticeable lack in photo quality. But Moment’s mounting system is super thin, yet rigid, so there’s no lens movement or shifting, resulting in no distortion, vignetting or corner cropping. It is an airtight system, and also allows for easy lens swaps to fit the nature of your photo.
18mm Wide Lens
This is marketed as their bestseller. It allows the camera a wider angle without distorting the shapes. I found this to be the easiest and most versatile Moment lens to use, great for landscapes, narrow spaces, foodie photos, and everything in between. The wide angle gives it just enough of an edge to capture everything I wanted in a photo while retaining the same vision I had for the photo. This lens also underwent the most redesign for the 2.0 lineup, sporting new aspherical glass with the intent being to eliminate distortion and clipped corners. I realized very early on that this was going to be my daily driver, my bread and butter, my go-to for photos. I love that the Moment lens is so subtle, but it adds depth and power, traits of a well taken photo. A wise friend said in the simplest way, “I like the wide lens. It takes the same picture, but wide.” See for yourself!
Taken with the Moment 18mm Wide Lens of the historic Delancey St. in Society Hill, Philadelphia, PA.
Delancey St. in Philadelphia taken from an iPhone 7 Plus without a lens.
No lens shot of a shelf of pickled tomatoes at The Twisted Tail, Philadelphia, PA
Taken with the Wide Lens 18mm. Notice that it is at the same position and distance, but there is an extra jar. I thought it was a subtle, but demonstrative nod to what the lens does.
No lens shot of The Twisted Tail, Philadelphia, PA
Taken from the same position with the Moment Wide Lens 18mm
25mm Macro Lens
Moment’s Macro lens 25mm definitely has the most limitations, and is the hardest to use, but it is my personal favorite. This Moment lens lets you take photos of small objects with amazing clarity and with an almost artistic result. But, because the lens has to be so close to the subject that it’s touching, its usability is mostly limited to stationary objects under good lighting. But the results are fantastic. As pictured, the details captured, unseen by the naked eye, adds great texture to these photos. It isn’t a lens I’d use every day, but it’s one that’s just quirky enough that I always have fun when I do.
Get up close and personal with the Macro 25mm lens! This is a super close up of a morning glory flower, which was about the size of a nickel.
60mm Tele Photo Lens
This lens is used mainly for portrait photos. It provides a natural 2x zoom without any loss of picture quality, which is important for phones because they operate on digital zooms (as opposed to the more powerful optical zooms found on many professional cameras). Similar to the portrait mode function on the iPhone 7 Plus, the Telephoto is used for focusing onto a subject while leaving the background soft. If you have an iPhone 7 Plus, you could choose to forego the Telephoto Lens, but what the lens does is it allows you to further zoom in, while portrait mode does not, and you can record videos. If those are important to you, then this is a good lens to have! If you don’t own a phone with a portrait mode, then the Tele Photo lens is a great lens to have!
The Twisted Tail, Philadelphia, PA taken with a 60mm Moment Lens
No lens shot of the entrance to the Centre Square in City Hall, Philadelphia, PA
Same shot with the Moment Telephoto 2x Lens
170 degree Superfish Lens
The Superfish lens is perfect for capturing a lot of detail in small spaces due to its unique distortion quality, granting it a 170 degree field of vision. What I found to be most impressive about this particular fisheye lens is that it completely eliminates vignetting, which occurred on virtually every other fisheye lens I’ve tried to date. Also, because of the new mounting system, photo quality remains constant throughout the entire photo. On other lenses, there would be blurring as it gets closer to the edges. The Superfish lens really stands out in these aspects, so snap one on and take those big group selfies and sunsets! Photos taken by Vu Do.
Marshes at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge without the Superfish lens.
Marshes at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge taken with the Superfish lens
Graphic design subscription services like No Limit Creatives are popular among small businesses to get quick and quality designs. However, just like any other platform, it has its downsides. So, if you’re looking for No Limit Creatives alternatives, here is a list we made to help make the job easier for you.
Penji — Best Overall Alternative
If you’re looking for a reliable graphic service from start to finish, Penji is a great alternative. Penji significantly improves upon the things that No Limit Creatives lacks in comparison — turnaround time, user dashboard experience, and offers a consistent designer who helps your brand over time.
Why it Stands Out:
The biggest issues with No Limit Creatives are slow turnaround times and designs that lack brand cohesion. With Penji, you get consistent communication, consistent pricing, and over 120 design types without all the hassle.
Pros:
- Quick turnaround time (24-48 hours)
- A designer learns your style
- Easy user dashboard
- Consistent monthly pricing with no hidden fees
- 120+ types of designs (ads, branding, web, social, and more)
Cons:
- No communication through chatting with the designers
- No video/animation capability
GraphicsZoo — Best for Revision and Version Tracking
GraphicsZoo is a good alternative if you want more say in your revisions and need brand consistency across the board. GraphicsZoo can help with easy version tracking, making team collaboration simple.
Why it Stands Out:
If you’re struggling to get changes made or keep things on brand, GraphicsZoo gives you the tools necessary to do so.
Pros:
- Tracks versions and revisions in detail
- Team collaboration made easy
- Dedicated Design Team
Cons:
- Turnaround may vary depending on order
- The interface could be more modern
Content Beta — Best for SaaS and Tech Brands
If you’re a software or tech company that needs more modern design visual offerings like product explainer videos, UI design mockups, and onboarding videos, then Content Beta works best for you. Unlike No Limit Creatives, which primarily focuses on graphics, Content Beta specializes in design and video.
Why it Stands Out:
If you’re working on product videos, app UI, or anything tech-related, this is the choice for specialized help.
Pros:
- UI/UX combined services
- Great for explainer videos of products
- Video/design in one package
Cons:
- Non-ideal for basic branding or print materials
- Could be costly for smaller teams
SmartSites — Best for Marketing + Design Services
SmartSites is a marketing agency first and foremost. They provide SEO/PPC/web services along with graphic design so if you’re looking for heavy assistance in creative strategies as well as marketing brands and messaging, SmartSites is a suitable match.
Why it Stands Out:
If you want design solutions with tangible marketing results, then SmartSites provides you the growth potential to back it up.
Pros:
- Agency full-service: design/se0/PPC/web solutions
- Good for branding long haul
- A lot of strategic thinking help
Cons:
- Not unlimited graphic designs subscription program
- Should avoid if you only need design work
TLDR: Penji is the best graphic design service for startups because you get unlimited designs, 24-48 hour turnarounds, and flexible pricing that won’t drain your budget. Unlike premium agencies or inconsistent freelancers, Penji scales with your startup.
The best graphic design service for startups is Penji. For $499/month, get unlimited design requests delivered in 24-48 hours with a dedicated team that understands startup urgency. No contracts, no per-project fees, just reliable design support.
Startups burn through design work fast. One week, you need social posts. Next week, you’re updating your pitch deck. Then suddenly, you need a one-pager for investors. Freelancers cost too much per project, and full-time designers? Not in the budget yet. Here’s the graphic design service for startups that comes in, giving you unlimited work for predictable monthly costs.
Top Design Services Startups Actually Use
1. Penji
When you’re hunting for the best graphic design service for startups, you need speed, variety, and affordability all at once. Penji nails all three. Their design as a service platform gives you unlimited designs for $499/month with 24-48 hour turnarounds.
Why Penji works so well for startups:
They handle everything. Logos, pitch decks, social campaigns, you name it. No per-project charges. Your monthly rate stays flat whether you submit two requests or twenty.
Your dedicated team at Penji learns your brand fast. They remember your preferences for future projects instead of treating every request like the first time.
The creative support scales from simple graphics to complete brand guides. You don’t get forced into higher pricing tiers when your needs grow.
No contracts. You can pause when cash is tight and restart when you’re ready. Perfect for unpredictable startup budgets.
Startups choose Penji when they need graphic design services that match their pace without the agency price tag.
2. Superside
Superside brings agency-quality work through a subscription model. They’re great if you’ve raised significant funding and need premium creative for major campaigns. But plans start around $3,000-$5,000 monthly. Too steep for most early-stage startups.
3. Kimp
Kimp offers subscription design with multiple tiers starting around $500/month. They’re decent for basic needs. The catch? Turnaround times can stretch to 48-72 hours, and their design variety feels more limited than what Penji offers.
Conclusion
The best graphic design service for startups matches your speed and budget without compromise. Penji’s graphic design services handle everything from quick social posts to complex branding work. All for one flat monthly rate that makes financial planning actually possible.
Get Design Support That Moves at Startup Speed
Try Penji today and see why thousands of startups trust them for unlimited design work. Get your first project delivered in 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Penji better than hiring a freelancer?
Freelancers charge per project and often have slow turnarounds. Penji gives you unlimited designs for one flat monthly rate with 24-48 hour delivery. No chasing invoices or waiting for availability.
How much does Penji cost compared to other services?
Penji starts at $499/month for unlimited designs. Superside costs $3,000-$5,000 monthly. Quality freelancers charge $100-$200 per project, which adds up fast when you’re launching.
Can I get revisions with Penji?
Yes. Unlimited revisions are included in your monthly subscription. Keep requesting changes until the design is exactly what you need.
Graphic design is a huge part of managing an ecommerce business. It attracts prospects and website visitors, builds a strong brand identity, and establishes authority and credibility. If you want your brand to possess all these, you need to explore these five best graphic design services for e-commerce businesses:
Penji
A leading name in the graphic design subscription landscape, Penji offers unlimited graphic design and revisions for a flat monthly rate. This allows ecommerce businesses to get all the landing pages, ad creatives, product packaging, and other visuals they need without breaking the bank. Penji also offers a quick turnaround time of 24 to 48 hours, making it ideal for multiple product launches or regular email campaigns.
Flocksy
Boasting a team of designers, writers, and video editors, Flocky is an excellent option for ecommerce businesses looking for a reliable design partner. Like Penji, it delivers within 24 to 48 hours with fixed-rate pricing plans. Also included in the plans are unlimited revisions, so you can get the exact designs you need.
ManyPixels
Another graphic design subscription platform that’s built for ecommerce businesses, ManyPixels lets you send as many design requests as you can in a month. Its higher-tier plans match you with a dedicated designer to provide consistent visual assets for your online store.
Duck.Design
Whether your business is on Amazon, Shopify, or DTC (direct-to-consumer), Duck.Design is an excellent graphic design service for ecommerce businesses. It also offers unlimited graphic design services for flat monthly rates. Like ManyPixels and Penji, it delivers in 1 to 2 business days.
DotYeti
A rising start in the unlimited graphic design landscape, DotYeti is well-suited for ecommerce businesses looking for quality, fast, and affordable designs. You can send requests for infographics, packaging design, landing page designs, ad creatives, and many more.
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art
September 21, 2017 at 5:24 pm
Cool stuff man! Keep it coming!