Quick question - do you already have a mounting case?? Tbh the Sandmarc Anamorphic Lens - Edition Pro is amazing and includes a mount which helps stay under that $200 budget!!

sooo, with the 15 Pro, you basically gotta worry about sensor size. Older lenses made for smaller sensors will literally ruin your shots with vignetting. This is why mount alignment is everything... even a millimeter off and ur sharpness tanksss. I'd be cautious with cheap plastic clip-ons cuz they slip easily and could scratch that big camera bump. To stay under that $200 budget, here is what I recommend: 1. ShiftCam Universal Lens Mount: It's around $40. It's way more secure than a basic clip but cheaper than buying a whole new ecosystem case for every phone upgrade.
2. ShiftCam LensUltra 1.33x Anamorphic: This runs about $110-120. The fluorite glass is actually incredible for the price point and keeps things sharp across the frame.
3. Apexel 10x Macro Lens: Since ur tight on cash, this is a decent $30-40 option for nature stuff. It's surprisingly high-quality glass for a budget brand. Total sits right around $190. It's a solid middle-ground between cheap plastic and the $300+ pro kits. Just double-check ur alignment every time you swap glass or it wont look right! gl!

I've tried many setups over the years and honestly, I have to disagree with the idea that you have to buy into a proprietary ecosystem like Moment just to get sharp results. The brand tax on their mounts really eats into your glass budget fast. In my experience, a DIY rig approach works way better for the iPhone 15 Pro. My tip is to skip the specialized phone cases and grab a <a href=" https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=SmallRig+ iPhone+15+Pro+Video+Cage&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p4624852.m570.l1311&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&siteid=0&campid=5337998953&customid=22&toolid=10001&mkevt=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">SmallRig iPhone 15 Pro Video Cage with the 17mm threaded backplate. This opens up a world of options. I've been getting incredibly sharp results using the Neewer 1.55x Anamorphic Lens and the Reeflex Pro Series Macro 10x Lens without any of that annoying vignetting. Because the cage holds everything so rigid, you dont get the sag or alignment issues that plague clip-ons or even some of the snap-in cases. Plus, you'll actually be able to afford both lenses and the mount while staying under that $200 limit. It might feel a bit bulkier for daily use, but the flexibility to swap between different 17mm glass brands is a total game changer for the price.

Just caught up on this thread and honestly everyone is spot on about the alignment issues with the 15 Pro sensor. Tbh, the consensus is you either go the Moment T-series route for the best glass or find a mounting system that wont break the bank. If you want to stay under that $200 budget without the premium Moment tax, I would seriously check out Freewell. Their Sherpa system is super underrated for real-world use. Quick tips:

• Go for a 1.55x anamorphic instead of 1.33x if you want that super wide cinema look on the 15 Pro sensor.
• Use a macro with a longer focal length so you dont shadow your subject. I recommend checking out the iPhone+15+Pro&linkCode=osi&------123456890?5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Freewell Sherpa Series Case iPhone 15 Pro paired with the Freewell 1.55x Anamorphic Blue Lens. For nature shots, the Reeflex Pro Series Macro 75mm Lens is amazing because it lets you stay a few inches back while getting insane detail. It keeps everything sharp without those vignetting issues everyone is worried about.

In my experience, you should definitely check out the T-Series glass from Moment. Be careful tho, you MUST get the iPhone+15+Pro&linkCode=osi&------123456890?5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Moment Case for iPhone 15 Pro to avoid alignment issues and vignetting. I use the Moment 1.33x Anamorphic Lens - T-Series and the Moment 10x Macro Lens - T-Series... they're super sharp on the new sensor. Basically, the T-series is designed specifically for that bigger lens bump. gl!

I've been doing a ton of research because I just got my 15 Pro too and ngl the options are kinda overwhelming. Tbh it seems like the market is split between the lifestyle brands and the more rig-heavy setups. From what I can tell, the biggest issue with the 15 Pro is the sheer size of the sensor. If the glass isnt big enough, your gonna get that dark ring around your photos even if the mount is perfectly straight. I've been looking into some alternatives that might fit the budget:

• Sirui 1.33x Anamorphic Lens
• iPhone+15+Pro&linkCode=osi&------123456890?5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">SmallRig Mobile Video Cage for iPhone 15 Pro
• Struman Optics Macro Lens The Sirui stuff is interesting because they've been in the lens game for ages, so their quality control is usually pretty solid for the price. I've heard that using a dedicated cage like the SmallRig one is better than a clip because it basically turns your phone into a tiny cinema camera and keeps the alignment locked in place. I'm still a bit of a newbie with this stuff though, so I'm wondering if anyone has tried mixing and matching different brands on a single cage? Does the thread size usually match up or do you need specific adapters for every lens?