Sandmarc Reveals 48mm Telephoto Lens for iPhone
California-based company Sandmarc has announced a new 48mm Telephoto Tetraprism lens designed for Apple’s latest iPhone Pro models. The lens is intended to extend the capabilities of Apple’s tetraprism telephoto camera, offering increased optical magnification for users seeking more reach in mobile photography. The lens is compatible only with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, 17 Pro, 16 Pro Max, 16 Pro, and 15 Pro Max: users with older or non-Pro iPhones are not supported by this edition and must instead use Sandmarc’s existing 58mm telephoto lens, which remains compatible with all iPhone models.
The lens mounts directly in front of the iPhone’s telephoto module, either via the company’s dedicated iPhone case or a clip-on mount included in the package. The construction features a multi-element, multi-coated glass design housed in a metal casing. The lens weighs approximately 143 grams, measures 57.3 millimeters in height, has a diameter of 40.5 millimeters, and supports 43mm filters through an adapter, allowing compatibility with Sandmarc’s variable ND and creative effect filters.
When used with the iPhone 17 Pro’s 8x tetraprism camera, the 48mm telephoto lens enables up to 16x optical zoom, equivalent to a 384mm focal length, at 24-megapixel resolution. At full 48-megapixel resolution, it achieves 8x optical zoom. On previous iPhone models, such as the iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max, the combination delivers up to 10x optical zoom.
The optical design of the new 48mm model differs from the company’s earlier 58mm telephoto lens, which was engineered for the iPhone’s primary wide camera rather than its telephoto module. As a result, the two lenses are not interchangeable across these systems. According to Sandmarc, the new lens is suitable for subjects such as landscapes, portraits, and live events where greater focal length is advantageous.
Here are some sample pictures, courtesy of Sandmarc:
The 48mm telephoto tetraprism lens includes a carrying pouch, clip-on mount, filter adapter, and front and rear lens caps. It is available for preorder at a retail price of $269.99, with shipping expected to begin by the end of November 2025.
