Probe LensUpdated a month ago

Probe Lens – Getting Started | SANDMARC

Everything you need to set up and start shooting with the SANDMARC Probe Lens — a 12-inch pro-filmmaking lens that captures immersive close-up perspectives previously only possible with cinema-grade camera setups.

2.1× Magnification

16mm Focal length

106° Field of view

346mm Length (12 inches)

258g Weight

▶ Video Tutorial

Watch the full getting started video for a guided walkthrough of the SANDMARC Probe Lens — setup, Macro Control, the focus wheel, and filming techniques.

1 Compatibility

The Probe Lens is compatible with all iPhone models. It attaches via the threaded mount on a SANDMARC case — a case is required for use. The Probe Lens does not include a clip mount and cannot be used without a compatible SANDMARC case.

⚠️ A SANDMARC case is required. The Probe Lens screws directly into the threaded lens mount on a SANDMARC case. It cannot be used with a clip mount or without a case. Cases are sold separately.

⚠️ iPhone 13 Pro and later: Macro Control must be disabled in Settings → Camera before use. If left enabled, the iPhone will automatically switch cameras when you get close to a subject, preventing the lens from working correctly. See Section 3 for step-by-step instructions.

ℹ️ For the highest level of sharpness, SANDMARC recommends using the main 1× camera. The Probe Lens works on any rear camera, but the main wide-angle sensor delivers the best image quality.

2 Camera Location Guide

The SANDMARC case aligns the Probe Lens over the wide-angle (1×) camera. Select your iPhone model below to confirm the position.

Model	Cameras	Wide Camera (1×) — Mount Here
iPhone 17 Pro Max	3 rear cameras	Bottom Camera
iPhone 17 Pro	3 rear cameras	Bottom Camera
iPhone 17 Air	1 rear camera	Bottom Camera
iPhone 17	2 rear cameras	Bottom Camera

Model	Cameras	Wide Camera (1×) — Mount Here
iPhone 16 Pro Max	3 rear cameras	Bottom Camera
iPhone 16 Pro	3 rear cameras	Bottom Camera
iPhone 16 Plus	2 rear cameras	Bottom Camera
iPhone 16	2 rear cameras	Bottom Camera

Model	Cameras	Wide Camera (1×) — Mount Here
iPhone 15 Pro Max	3 rear cameras	Bottom Camera
iPhone 15 Pro	3 rear cameras	Bottom Camera
iPhone 15 Plus	2 rear cameras	Bottom Camera
iPhone 15	2 rear cameras	Bottom Camera

Model	Cameras	Wide Camera (1×) — Mount Here
iPhone 14 Pro Max	3 rear cameras	Bottom Camera
iPhone 14 Pro	3 rear cameras	Bottom Camera
iPhone 14 Plus	2 rear cameras	Bottom Camera
iPhone 14	2 rear cameras	Bottom Camera

Model	Cameras	Wide Camera (1×) — Mount Here
iPhone 13 Pro Max	3 rear cameras	Bottom Camera
iPhone 13 Pro	3 rear cameras	Bottom Camera
iPhone 13 Mini	2 rear cameras	Bottom Camera
iPhone 13	2 rear cameras	Bottom Camera

Model	Cameras	Wide Camera (1×) — Mount Here
iPhone 12 Pro Max	3 rear cameras	Middle Camera
iPhone 12 Pro	3 rear cameras	Middle Camera
iPhone 12 Mini	2 rear cameras	Bottom Camera
iPhone 12	2 rear cameras	Bottom Camera

Model	Cameras	Wide Camera (1×) — Mount Here
iPhone 11 Pro Max	3 rear cameras	Middle Camera
iPhone 11 Pro	3 rear cameras	Middle Camera
iPhone 11	2 rear cameras	Bottom Camera

ℹ️ Quick check: Open Camera and tap 1× — that's your wide-angle camera. The SANDMARC case aligns the Probe Lens over this camera automatically. For the sharpest results, keep Camera set to 1× throughout your shoot.

3 First Time Setup

Follow these steps before your first shoot. The Macro Control setting is the most important on iPhone 13 Pro and later — skipping it will cause the camera to switch lenses automatically as soon as you get close to a subject.

Charge the LED light

Before your first shoot, charge the built-in LED ring light via the USB-C port on the barrel of the lens. The LED has two brightness settings (high and low) and should be charged before any indoor or close-up work where ambient light is limited.

Disable Macro Control (iPhone 13 Pro and later)

Go to Settings → Camera and turn off Macro Control. This prevents iPhone from automatically switching to the ultrawide camera when it detects a close subject — which would bypass the Probe Lens entirely.

⚠️ If you skip this step, the image will go blurry or switch cameras when you bring the lens close to your subject.

Screw the lens onto your SANDMARC case

Thread the Probe Lens into the aluminium lens mount on your SANDMARC case. Hand-tighten only — do not over-torque. The lens is heavy (258g / 12 inches), so ensure the connection is secure before shooting.

Open Camera and set to 1×

Open the Camera app and set it to 1×. For the sharpest results, keep the zoom at 1× throughout — any additional digital zoom will soften the image.

Adjust the focus wheel

The Probe Lens has an adjustable focus wheel on the outer rim of the barrel. Rotate it while watching your screen to dial in sharpness. The focus wheel is designed for use while moving — adjust it continuously as you push the lens through or over your subject.

Turn on the LED light and shoot

Activate the built-in LED light before filming. Use the high setting for dark environments and low for brighter scenes. Move the lens slowly and deliberately — see Section 5 for full filming techniques and tips.

ℹ️ Recommended app: SANDMARC recommends shooting with the Blackmagic Camera app for maximum quality and control. It supports RAW capture, manual focus, and frame rate settings that the standard Camera app does not expose.

4 Mounting & Stability

The Probe Lens is a professional filmmaking tool that requires both the correct mount and the right support gear to get stable, usable footage.

Required

Case Mount

The Probe Lens threads directly into the aluminium lens mount on a SANDMARC case. This is the only mounting option — no clip mount is included or compatible. The case is sold separately.

Required for: All use — no alternative mount available

Strongly Recommended

Cinema Slider

The Probe Lens is designed for smooth push-in and pull-out movement. The SANDMARC Cinema Slider provides controlled, linear motion across the full length of the lens. Hand-holding a 12-inch lens introduces significant shake — the slider is the best way to eliminate it.

Best for: Smooth push-through and tracking shots

Also Compatible

Tripod / Creator Grip

For static close-up shots, a tripod provides a stable base while you adjust the focus wheel. The Creator Grip adds a handle for better control when hand-holding the lens for exploratory movement shots.

Best for: Static shots, exploratory handheld moves

💡 The longer the lens, the more any hand movement is amplified at the tip. Even small tremors will be clearly visible in footage shot at 2.1×. A Cinema Slider eliminates this entirely by constraining movement to a single controlled axis.

5 Filming Tips

The Probe Lens is built for movement — the shots that make it shine are push-throughs, ride-alongs, and angles no standard camera can reach. These techniques and tips will get you there faster.

Shot Types

Push through an object

Slide the lens through a gap, sleeve, or opening to reveal what's on the other side. A jacket zipper being closed, the inside of a bag, a piece of food being cut open — the viewer gets a bug's-eye view of something they've never seen this way.

Follow natural movement

Track alongside a moving subject — a page being turned, a zip being pulled, a bug walking. Let the lens follow the motion rather than holding still. This creates the immersive, in-the-scene quality the Probe Lens is known for.

Ride the rim of an object

Sweep the tip of the lens along the edge of a flat surface — a keyboard, a book, a plate. The wide 106° field of view combined with the close focus distance creates a dramatic low-angle perspective over familiar objects.

Camera & Settings Tips

Move slowly, speed up in post

At 2.1× magnification, fast movement looks jarring and gives the eye no time to focus. Shoot at a deliberately slow pace — then in post-production, speed the clip up to 2× for a natural-looking pace with far fewer visible shakes.

Use Action Mode

iPhone's Action Mode applies aggressive electronic stabilisation and helps smooth out remaining tremors when hand-holding the lens. Note that it shoots at a lower resolution — weigh that against the stability benefit depending on your project.

Shoot RAW for colour grading

For professional work, shoot in RAW or ProRes using the Blackmagic Camera app. This gives you maximum flexibility in post for colour grading, exposure correction, and sharpening — particularly important when lighting conditions change mid-shot.

Use fill lights

The built-in LED ring light illuminates your immediate subject, but it can cast shadows on the surrounding scene. Use a fill light — such as the SANDMARC RGB Light — to control shadows and achieve even coverage across your entire shot.

Adjust focus continuously

The focus distance changes as you push the lens closer or further from your subject. Use the focus wheel on the barrel to pull focus in real time as you move. This technique — known as a focus pull — is a defining characteristic of professional probe lens footage.

Use the Cinema Slider traction dial

If using the SANDMARC Cinema Slider, adjust the traction dial to control resistance. Looser = easier movement for quick passes; tighter = more resistance for controlled, slow push-ins. Find the tension that matches your shot speed.

6 Probe Lens vs Macro Lenses

Both the Probe Lens and the SANDMARC Macro lenses capture close-up detail — but they are fundamentally different tools designed for different creative outcomes.

The Macro 25mm and 100mm are photography lenses — they mount close to the camera and produce sharp, static close-up images with beautiful shallow depth of field. They're ideal for photos of flowers, food, jewellery, insects, and any subject where you want a traditionally beautiful macro result.

The Probe Lens is a filmmaking lens. Its 12-inch barrel is specifically designed to be inserted into spaces, pushed through gaps, and moved around objects. It produces a notably wider depth of field than a traditional macro lens — keeping more of the scene in focus even at close distances — which is intentional, since it's meant to be used in motion. It is not optimised for still photography.

	Macro 25mm	Macro 100mm	Probe Lens
Primary use	Still photography	Still photography	Video / filmmaking
Magnification	10×	12×	2.1×
Length	Short (attaches close to camera)	Short (attaches close to camera)	346mm (12 inches)
Depth of field	Very shallow	Very shallow	Wide — more of scene in focus
Focus control	iPhone autofocus	iPhone autofocus	Manual focus wheel on barrel
Best for	Flowers, food, jewellery, textures	Insects, delicate subjects at safe distance	Push-throughs, tracking shots, immersive video
Mount	Case or clip	Case or clip	Case only (required)

ℹ️ Not sure which to choose? If you're a photographer who wants sharp, detailed close-up shots of small subjects — choose a Macro lens. If you're a filmmaker who wants immersive, cinematic movement shots that take the viewer somewhere they couldn't go with a standard camera — choose the Probe Lens.

7 What's Included

Everything in the box.

1 Probe Lens (346mm) with built-in LED ring light & adjustable focus wheel
2 Lens Pouch (doubles as microfiber cleaning cloth)
3 Front & Rear Lens Caps
4 USB-C Charging Cable (for LED light)

💡 A SANDMARC case is not included and is sold separately — it is required to use the Probe Lens. A clip mount is not compatible with this lens. The SANDMARC Cinema Slider is also sold separately and strongly recommended for smooth movement shots.

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