The Optrix PhotoProX ($149.95 direct) is a rugged, waterproof iPhone case that includes add-on lenses that extend the capabilities of the phone’s built-in camera. This version of the case includes a flat lens (designed to protect the phone lens from damage), a macro lens for close focus, a telephoto lens to tighten the field of view, and a fish-eye lens to capture ultra wide-angle photos. It’s a bit pricey, but if you’re willing to forgo the fish-eye and telephoto add-ons you can get the same case with the flat and macro lenses for $99.95.

The case is mostly transparent, with red trim and a black cradle that holds an iPhone 5( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window), 5s( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window), 5c( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window), or a 5^th generation iPod touch. The case is rated to survive drops from 30 feet and survive the pressures of underwater depths of 33 feet. We weren’t able to drop it from quite that height, but it survived a tumble down a staircase with no issues and the phone was completely dry after spending some time in the case submerged in the kitchen sink.

The real interest to photographers like myself are the add-on lenses that the case supports. Each screws into a port on the back, with an O-ring seal to prevent leakage. The flat lens doesn’t do anything to photos, consider it a protective filter, but the kit includes three additional lenses that do change the way that the iPhone’s camera works.

The macro lens is, in my eye, the most useful. It allows the camera to focus much closer than it normally could. Even with the iPhone’s tiny image sensor, focusing on something this close blurs the background of photos. Don’t expect the tack-sharp macro shots that you’ll get from a dedicated SLR lens like the Pentax HD DA 35mm F2.8 Macro Limited($396.95 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window). But I really loved the watercolor-like effect that it brought to a tight shot of some flowers.

The fishe-eye add-on captures a much wider field of view than the standard phone lens as you can see in the image above, and it adds the circular distortion for which these type of optics are famous. Finally, the telephoto lens tightens the field of view, but it looks like it’s the weakest of the bunch from an optical standpoint. It introduces some pretty extreme distortion (a straight edge at the left side of the frame curves noticeably inward when the lens is used) and really sucks the sharpness away when compared to what the phone can capture without an add-on lens.

The case has some issues too. Its rugged design does protect the phone from water and drops, but it’s not exactly comfortable in your pocket. Using the touch screen also becomes a chore; the hard plastic cover doesn’t sit flush, so it pops up and away from the screen as you swipe through documents, which is downright uncomfortable. It doesn’t cut off access to the power, the volume controls, or the Home button, but it prevents you from flipping the mute switch on the side of the phone. This is definitely a case you’ll want to use in order to get a macro shot or when you are going diving, not every day. This limits its overall usefulness, which is a shame given its price.

I really did like the results from the macro add-on lens (shown above), although the telephoto lens (which delivers about 2x magnification) seems like it does more harm than good—it’s easy enough to crop the 8-megapixel images that the iPhone captures; even a 4-megapixel shot is plenty for sharing online. The fish-eye effect is one that you’ll either love or hate, but it’s one that you can’t replicate—only imitate—without the conversion lens. If you’re in love with fish-eye, and willing to deal with a bulky, uncomfortable case, the OptixPro is worth consideration. But if you’re not, consider saving $50 and going for the version that omits the telephoto and fish-eye add-ons. And there are other add-on lens systems to consider. We’ve not yet tested it, but the iPro from renowned German optics company Schneider is another option. It’s more expensive to buy the case and all five available add-on lenses ($229), but you have the option of buying them à la carte. The iPro case sells for $49 and the Series 2 Macro Lens is $39, which is a bit less than the comparable kit from Optrix.