Hey everyone! I recently made the jump to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and honestly, I am blown away by the camera system so far. That 200MP main sensor is a beast, and the zoom capabilities are just fun to play with. However, as much as I love the native hardware, I’m looking to push my mobile photography a bit further, especially when it comes to specialized shots like extreme macros and cinematic video.
I’ve been doing a lot of landscape and street photography lately, but I feel like I’m hitting a bit of a wall with the built-in ultra-wide lens—it's good, but I’d love to get that extra bit of perspective without the heavy distortion at the edges. I’m also really interested in getting into anamorphic video to get those natural lens flares and that wide-screen cinema look without just cropping my 16:9 footage in post-processing.
I’ve looked into brands like Moment and Sandmarc, but I’m a little confused about the mounting situation for the S24 Ultra specifically. Since the camera island is so large and the lenses are spaced out, I’m worried about vignetting or the attachment not sitting perfectly flush. I’m also curious if anyone has found a high-quality mounting plate or a specific case that doesn't feel like a brick in the pocket but still holds the glass securely.
I’m willing to invest around $200-$300 for a solid setup because I don’t want to put cheap plastic lenses over such a high-end sensor; that just seems like a waste of the phone's potential. Has anyone here experimented with the new T-Series lenses or any other high-end glass on their S24 Ultra yet? Which specific lens attachments gave you the most 'pro' feel, and did you run into any issues with the phone's autofocus or the laser AF sensor being blocked by the mounts?
sooo i totally get the frustration with the S24U's layout. honestly, that massive 200MP sensor is a blessing and a curse cuz most cheap glass just turns your edges into total mush. if ur serious about that 'pro' look without the heavy distortion, you gotta look at how the glass sits relative to the sensor.
I've tried many setups over the years, and for this specific phone, I'd suggest looking at these two options instead of the usual suspects:
1. Sandmarc Wide Lens - Edition + Sandmarc Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Leather Case:
- Pros: The glass quality is actually insane. Ngl, it has some of the best edge-to-edge sharpness I've seen on a mobile mount. The leather case is pretty sleek too, not a total brick in the pocket.
- Cons: It uses a 17mm thread mount. It's solid, but if you dont get it perfectly flush, you might see some slight vignetting on the primary sensor due to the sheer size of the S24U optics.
2. Beastgrip Pro Universal Rig with Beastgrip 1.55X Anamorphic Lens MK2:
- Pros: This is the 'god tier' for cinematic video. It has an internal 58mm filter mount so you can stack ND filters for that proper motion blur. Since the rig is adjustable, it wont block your laser AF sensor if you calibrate it right.
- Cons: It is HUGE. Seriously, it's a full-on rig, so it’s definitely not for casual street snaps.
Basically, if u want to avoid that cheap plastic feel, Sandmarc is the way for street photography. But if ur doing serious video, the Beastgrip rig is worth the extra bulk imo. gl with the shots! 👍
Yo, jumping in here real quick! So i actually had a bit of a scare last month shooting some B-roll for a local car show... i had a cheap clip-on lens literally fly off when i bumped into a tripod. Almost lost my whole S24 Ultra. Since then, ive been SUPER careful about my mounting setup because let's face it, that phone is expensive and so is high-quality glass.
If you want that 'pro' feel without worrying about vignetting or the mount shifting, i HIGHLY recommend looking at the SmallRig Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Mobile Video Cage. Honestly, it's the safest way to mount anything. It’s basically a tank, but the design is smart enough that it doesn’t block the laser AF or the mics. Plus, the backplate is interchangeable so you can use 17mm threaded lenses or T-series stuff without worrying about alignment issues with that massive 200MP sensor.
Since you mentioned street and landscape, i’ve been really satisfied with the ShiftCam 75mm Long Range Macro Lens. It gives you that specialized macro look without having to get 1cm away from the subject, which is great for street details. For the anamorphic stuff, the Freewell Sherpa 1.55x Anamorphic Lens Blue Flare is awesome for that wide-screen cinema look you're after. I found that using a rigid cage instead of a snap-on case keeps the lens perfectly flush, so you don't get that annoying edge-mush that happens when the glass isn't centered.
It might push your budget close to that $300 limit once you get the cage and a couple of lenses, but tbh it's worth it for the peace of mind. Ngl, seeing a $100 lens dangling by a flimsy plastic clip is a nightmare lol. Investing in a solid mounting system first is the best move you can make... everything else just clicks into place after that. gl!
Basically, big sensors need high-end glass or you'll lose detail. In my experience, the Moment T-Series 1.33x Anamorphic Lens is the gold standard for that cinematic look. You definitely gotta use the Moment Case for Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra to ensure the mount doesn't shift and block your laser AF sensor. It's a bit pricey but worth it to avoid weird vignetting.
TL;DR: Use Moment T-Series Lenses and their proprietary case!
Saving this whole thread. So much good info here you guys are awesome.