Last updated: August 1, 2026
Photograph: A securely fitted smartphone lens can provide additional reach for travel and wildlife photography. Photo: Umang & Meet/Pexels.
A smartphone can be a practical camera for photographing the Churchill tundra, nearby polar bears, wider landscapes and general moments during the tour. Many recent phones already include wide-angle, standard and telephoto cameras.
Attachable smartphone lenses can provide additional options. However, they work differently from the interchangeable lenses used with DSLR and mirrorless cameras. Most smartphone attachments provide one fixed view or magnification rather than a continuous 70–200 mm optical zoom.
The most important consideration is compatibility. A lens must fit your exact smartphone model, align with the correct camera and remain secure while you are using it. Before buying one, take your phone and its current case to a knowledgeable camera shop whenever possible.
Before purchasing another lens, check which cameras your phone already includes. Depending on the model, you may have:
A recent phone with a dedicated optical telephoto camera may already be sufficient for many photographs during the tour. Learn how to switch between the cameras before travelling, and avoid relying entirely on high digital-zoom settings, which can reduce image detail.
A wide-angle attachment helps include more of the landscape in the photograph. It may be useful for broad tundra scenes, photographs inside the Tundra Buggy and animals that appear relatively close to the vehicle.
Many smartphones already have a good ultrawide camera, so ask whether an attachment would produce a meaningful improvement over the camera built into your phone.
See a 16 mm ShiftCam wide-angle smartphone lens at Best Buy Canada
Guest note: This lens requires a compatible mounting system, which is sold separately. Confirm the complete equipment required before purchasing.
Attachable lenses advertised at approximately 58–60 mm provide modest optical magnification. They may be useful for portraits, nearby bears and general travel photography.
These lenses should not be confused with a full-size camera’s 70–200 mm zoom lens. A 58–60 mm smartphone attachment generally will not provide enough reach for a small animal that is far across the tundra.
See a 60 mm ShiftCam telephoto smartphone lens at Staples Canada
Guest note: Ask which mount or phone case is required. The lens alone may not include everything needed to attach it to your phone.
Some universal smartphone kits are advertised by magnification, such as 12× or 18×, rather than by an equivalent focal length. These can provide more reach for distant wildlife, but they are generally larger and more sensitive to movement and alignment.
A universal clip may fit many phones, but that does not necessarily mean it will align correctly with every camera in a multi-camera phone. Test the lens on your exact phone before relying on it for the tour.
See an Apexel 18× telephoto smartphone lens kit at Henry’s
Guest note: Very high advertised magnification does not automatically mean better image quality. Sharpness, stability, autofocus and accurate alignment are equally important.
Specialized 240 mm smartphone lenses are among the closest mobile equivalents to a traditional wildlife telephoto lens. These are fixed-focal-length attachments rather than continuous zoom lenses.
The strongest results generally come from a system designed to mount over the phone’s built-in telephoto or periscope camera. These products require a compatible phone case or mounting system and may work best with selected flagship smartphones.
See the ShiftCam 240 mm Super Zoom Tele system
See the Moment SuperTele 240 mm Mobile Lens
Guest note: Do not order a 240 mm attachment until the manufacturer or retailer has confirmed compatibility with your exact phone model. Some systems work only with selected phones, and a separate case, mount or camera application may be required.
Bring your smartphone and the case you normally use. Explain that you will be photographing wildlife from a Tundra Buggy and would like more optical reach without carrying a full DSLR or mirrorless camera system.
You can say:
I am looking for a securely mounted smartphone telephoto lens for photographing polar bears and other wildlife from a Tundra Buggy. Which lens is fully compatible with my exact phone, and what effective optical reach will it provide?
Ask the camera shop to confirm the following:
Metro Vancouver guests may wish to take their phone to a specialist camera retailer and ask for advice before ordering an attachment online.
Kerrisdale Cameras has locations in Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam and Langley. Product availability varies, so call the nearest location before visiting and explain that you are looking for a smartphone wildlife-photography lens.
Visit the Kerrisdale Cameras website
Henry’s, Best Buy Canada, Staples Canada and Vistek also list selected smartphone lenses online. Inventory and compatibility can change, so use the product links in this article as examples rather than as a guarantee that a particular item will suit your phone.
A longer telephoto attachment makes every small hand movement more noticeable. A secure photographic grip, wrist strap or compact support can make the phone easier to hold and reduce the chance of dropping it.
See an example of a smartphone grip and compact support at London Drugs
Guest note: A large tripod or monopod may be awkward in a shared vehicle. Please contact Aspire Canada Tours before bringing substantial support equipment.
Use the phone’s built-in wide, standard and optical telephoto cameras. This is the simplest setup and allows you to respond quickly when wildlife appears.
Consider a securely fitted 58–60 mm attachment or a carefully tested universal telephoto lens. This may help with moderately distant subjects, but it will not replace a dedicated wildlife camera.
Ask about a phone-specific 200–240 mm-class system that mounts over the phone’s optical telephoto camera. Confirm compatibility, mounting, camera-app requirements and stabilization before purchasing.
A dedicated DSLR or mirrorless camera with a stabilized telephoto lens remains the more reliable choice. A 70–200 mm lens is versatile for wider wildlife scenes and relatively close bears, while a lens extending beyond 200 mm provides more reach for distant bears, Arctic foxes and birds.
Do not wait until the tour to use the attachment for the first time. Before leaving home:
The best equipment is equipment you can operate comfortably and quickly. Wildlife may appear with little warning, and a complicated attachment is of limited value if it takes several minutes to align.
Polar bears and other wildlife move freely across a large natural environment. Distances and viewing conditions vary, and wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. No smartphone lens can guarantee a particular photograph.
A well-fitted telephoto attachment can extend the usefulness of a smartphone, particularly for guests who do not wish to carry a dedicated camera. Choose the lens for your exact phone, test it before travelling and keep the overall setup simple enough to enjoy the day itself.
Learn more about the Churchill Polar Bear Tour