Moment 58mm T-Series Review: Vintage Character on an iPhone 17 Pro

1. Introduction

When I upgraded to the iPhone 13 Pro in 2021, I quickly found myself missing the 2x optical zoom of my previous iPhone X, which had a lens equivalent to a 52mm lens. I had started shooting film with a 50mm lens, and it quickly became one of my favourite focal lengths due to its ability to focus on subjects while still capturing some of the surrounding background. Last year, Moment sent me their new 58mm T-Series Lens. I had purchased the M-Series a few years prior, and I was excited to finally have that latest, improved T-Series version optimized for recent phones. Recently, I got the iPhone 17 Pro along with a Moment case, and I knew that the first lens I wanted to try was the 58mm.

When I read Moment article iPhone 17 Pro with Moment Lenses | Compatibility & Example Images, I realized that with modern phones such as the iPhone 17 Pro the Moment 58mm tends to act more like a vintage lens (and it's a good thing) so I thought, how does the Moment 58mm T-Series holds against a real vintage lens such as my Rokkor 58mm f/1.4 from 1973?

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2. Why "58 mm" Doesn't Mean the Same Thing on a Phone vs Film?

2.1. Focal length isn't universal

Firstly, let's talk about the focal length. The Moment 58mm is not really equivalent to a 58mm on a full-frame camera (35mm). You'll soon find out from the comparison shots. Why? It's fairly simple, really.

2.2. The Moment origin story

Back in the days of the iPhone 6S, Moment made the 60mm M-Series (no longer existing). This was to provide users with a telephoto lens when iPhones featured a single lens. Over the years, Apple added more cameras to the iPhone while improving them with larger sensors and wider apertures. With the iPhone XS, Moment released an updated version of their 58mm. It was designed to double the focal length of the main wide iPhone camera (around 28mm). Using the Moment 58mm lens, compared to the standard 2x on the iPhone XS, gave a shallower depth of field and better image quality, since you could achieve a similar focal length with the main lens's larger aperture (f/1.7) rather than the telephoto's (f/2.4).

2.3. Why the modern iPhone changes the FOV

So what happened between the iPhone XS and iPhone 14 Pro? Bigger lenses, wider apertures, larger sensor. Moment had to reengineer their entire lineup and brought the modern T-Series Lens. Alongside releasing new lenses (macro, fisheye), they kept the ones we loved (Wide 18mm, Anamorphic, 58mm). However, from one iPhone generation to another, Apple sometimes changes the focal length (the main wide on the X was 28mm, the main on the 13 Pro was 26mm, etc.). So, depending on which iPhone you use, you will get a different field of view when mounting a Moment Lens. On the iPhone 17 Pro, the main wide lens is equivalent to 24mm. But do not worry, you don't have to remember any of that. Simply remember that when using the Moment 58mm on your main iPhone camera, it doubles the reach (commonly known as 2x).

You might be wondering why you would want to use the Moment lens even though the iPhones 15/16/17 Pro already have a 2x zoom function. To clarify, the 2x zoom on your iPhone is actually a smart crop from the 48MP main sensor, which is equivalent to a 24mm lens. When you double that, you get an effective focal length of 48mm, which is roughly equivalent to 50mm, but the final image resolution is reduced to 12MP. In contrast, using the Moment 58mm lens allows you to capture images at 48MP with a true 2x zoom and achieves a much shallower depth of field.

3. The Two Lenses and Their Characters

It's important to note that when you attach any lenses to your iPhone, you are essentially shooting through an additional lens. This alters your focal length, but unfortunately, it also introduces physical limitations, leading to issues such as unwanted chromatic aberration, softness, and colour fringing. Over the years, Moment has made significant improvements to correct these imperfections; however, in certain situations, these issues can still be noticeable.

Some of those imperfections remind me of legacy lenses. What are legacy lenses? Old lenses used on film cameras that, thanks to mirrorless cameras, can be adapted to modern cameras. Those lenses use older technology, which can lead to similar imperfections. These days, those lenses are sought after by filmmakers and photographers alike because they bring characters and help reduce the clinical sharpness of modern sensors.

When I use the Moment 58mm T-Series lens on my iPhone 17 Pro, it feels similar to using something like my Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 on my Canon R5C: it's not clinically perfect, not sharp edge to edge, but it has what we now like to call characters, like being softer wide open or producing a slightly different colour rendition. Overall, a more filmic look.

I've decided to compare the Moment 58mm T-Series lens with my Rokkor 58mm f/1.4. I am quite familiar with this lens, knowing its strengths (colour rendition, bokeh) and weaknesses (soft focus at f/1.4, chromatic aberrations, blooming highlights when wide open).

The Moment 58mm lens mounted on the main iPhone camera provides an equivalent focal length of approximately 50mm. Thanks to the wide aperture of the main lens (f/1.7), you can effectively separate your subject from the background, creating a genuine shallow depth of field. By "genuine," I mean optical depth of field as opposed to the more commonly known Portrait Mode, which uses artificial software to achieve a similar effect.

4. Into the Woods

I decided to hike through a forest trail leading to a subalpine lake on Vancouver Island to compare the Moment 58mm lens on the iPhone 17 Pro against the Rokkor 58mm lens mounted on my Minolta SRT-101, loaded with a roll of Fujifilm 400. I captured each composition side-by-side with both cameras.

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The idea was to show the strengths and weaknesses of both lenses in a challenging environment (spotty light, wide dynamic range, low light, etc.).

I rated Fujifilm 400 at 200 and shot normally to have cleaner shadows. Unfortunately, the light meter on my Minolta decided not to work that day, so I had to rely on a light meter app on my phone, which sometimes didn't give me the perfect metering.

On the iPhone, I shot with the Moment Pro App Mark 2 that was just released, and chose Apple ProRaw 48mpx. I then edited the images in Lightroom Classic, leaving the chromatic aberrations and colour fringing as is to show you real results. However, for one image, I did correct these to show you what's possible.

Tip: With the Moment Pro Camera App Mark 2, you can select the Moment lens you are using, and that information will appear in Lightroom metadata.

5. Field Results — Side-by-Side Comparisons

Field of View

The first thing you might have seen is how different the field of view is despite having the same "number" on the lens (58mm). By now, we know that the iPhone you are using will give you different results. And although I'm quite used to my Rokkor 58mm lens, I sometimes found it too close for some compositions. Usually, I would take a few steps back and reframe, but for this article, I shot both angles from the same position to show you a clear comparison. Regardless, both lenses allow you to frame a subject or scene while still including some elements of the background.

Sharpness

Although I shoot ProRaw, once in Lightroom I removed the ProRaw profile and use one of my own to minimize Apple ProRaw processing as much as possible.

The Moment 58mm produces sharp images from corner to corner, which is great.

Tip: When shooting a close-up subject or portrait, make sure to tap to focus or use manual focusing for a tack-sharp subject!

Depth of Field

Since using the Moment 58mm on my iPhone 13 Pro, the shallow depth of field has always impressed me the most. On the iPhone 17 Pro, it's even better thanks to a larger sensor. And if shot appropriately, it can really remove the "shot on a phone" look.

Usability

I was surprised by the size of the Moment 58mm T-Series lens. Compared to the previous M-Series or even other T-Series lenses, it's a massive lens made of high-quality metal and glass. However, when mounted on the iPhone 17 Pro, it remains comfortable to use. While shooting horizontally, I find it's helpful to rest my hand beneath the lens for added stability. Additionally, mounting and unmounting the lens is fast and easy; just align and twist, and you're ready to shoot.

6. Pros and Cons of the Moment 58mm on the iPhone 17 Pro

Let's talk about the Pros and Cons of the Moment 58mm lens on the iPhone 17 Pro.

Pros:

This lens is beautifully designed and feels premium. You can attach any 67mm filter when using the filter adapter; I often use a polarizer.

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While the iPhone does have a native 2x zoom, it's important to note that it is a smart crop enabled by Apple's computational photography techniques. As a result, you won't achieve a shallower depth of field, and the final image will be 12MP.

In contrast, when using the Moment Lens, you get a similar focal length while retaining the full 48 MP resolution. This allows for more cropping in post-processing and a significantly shallower depth of field.

It fits in my pocket. My Moment 58mm lens is always tucked away in my jacket pocket. Even if I don't have my camera bag with me (which is rare, but it does happen), I still carry one of my favourite focal lengths. The 58mm lens helps reduce the clinical sharpness of modern sensors and the processed look often produced by iPhones.

Cons:

Chromatic aberrations and colour fringing can be particularly strong in certain situations, such as when shooting trees and branches against a bright sky. However, some of these issues can be corrected in Lightroom or similar software.

The angle of the sun in relation to the lens can cause a strong purple or magenta flare, especially in the lower part of the image. This flare can be minimized by using a 67mm filter with an adapter, which acts somewhat like a lens hood. Without a filter, I often had to shield the lens with my hand, being careful not to let my hand appear in the shot.

Additionally, the depth of field is not always uniform, particularly at the edges of the image.

7. Final Thoughts

The Moment 58mm lens T-Series is a best-seller, and it's easy to see why. It's a beautifully designed lens that Moment has refined over the years. While it may not be technically perfect, that's part of its charm. The shallow depth of field it offers is fantastic, and when looking at some images captured with it, it's hard to believe they were taken with a phone. This lens now resides in my jacket pocket, always ready for use wherever I go; my own little vintage lens for my iPhone.

Who is it for?

iPhone 15/16/17 Users: Enhance your iPhone with an additional third lens, ideal for close ups and portraits.

Experience optical shallow depth of field instead of just relying on Portrait Mode. Transform the iPhone's look and add classic character to your images.

This lens is perfect for portrait photographers and travel photographers who want to travel light while still achieving extra reach.