The Vktech 60x microscope attachment for the Galaxy S4 is a cool way to spend $17

The best part about having a really popular phone is all the crazy third-party accessories that get built for it. I did a little shopping at Amazon last week, and one of the things I picked up was this Vktech 60x microscope attachment for the Galaxy S4.

It's a simple concept. You have a plastic case back, and over the camera cut-out there's a threaded ring. A tubular lens body and LED light attachment screws into it, giving you 60x optical zoom and illumination so you can take some wild close-up shots of anything that fits under the lens. The lens tube and LED assembly comes with a tiny pleather carrying pouch to keep it from getting grungy in your pocket or bag.

The lens tube is easy to screw on and off, the case is easy to snap on and off, but neither will fly apart during normal use. It's a little tricky to get focused, but I've found a solution that seems to work. Zoom your camera app the whole way in to 4x, and extend the focusing tube the whole way. Place the end of the tube on whatever it is you're taking a picture of, and slowly slide the tube back into the body until you get a clear picture. The area of crisp focus is small, but there's enough detail that you can crop out the center and still have an interesting picture.

Needless to say, I've been having a ball with it taking all sorts of pictures of everything I can get my hands on. Hit the break to see some of the shots. You can pick up your own Vktech 60x microscope kit from Amazon for $16.79.

Pictures of the kit itself, in a mobile-friendly format:

  

  

  

  

  

Now for the cool stuff. Pictures taken with the 60x microscope attachment and the stock Galaxy S4 camera.

  

  

  

  

  

  

In order, from top to bottom and left to right:

• AT&T Nano-SIM card
• Fresh maple leaf
• Dead black cherry leaf
• Thomas Jefferson's eye from a $2 bill
• Great seal of the US from a $1 silver certificate
• Red potpourri from my wife's underwear drawer
• OMG PENTILE from the Moto X
• Super LCD from the HTC One
• Red flannel bathrobe
• A thumbtack
• Human beard hair from somewhere
• Velcro