a housing comprising a first housing segment and a second housing segment, wherein the first housing segment and the second housing segment are moveable relative to each other so that the housing telescopes between a contracted position having a minimum length and an extended position having a maximum length, wherein the second housing segment has a perimeter that is contained within the first housing segment in both the extended position and the contracted position;

a lens at least partially disposed on a first interior surface of the housing so that (i) the lens is at least partially exposed when the housing is adjusted to have a first length that is greater than the minimum length, and (ii) the lens is hidden when the housing is adjusted to have a second length that is less than the first length;

a plurality of user-interface mechanisms, the plurality of user-interface mechanisms including a display provided on one of the first housing segment or the second housing segment, wherein the plurality of user-interface mechanisms do not include the lens;

wherein the first segment and the second segment combine to form a continuous interior volume that is defined by both the first segment and the second segment, the continuous interior volume containing a plurality of components, including a processor;

wherein the first interior surface on which the lens is disposed at least partially defines the interior volume in both the extended and contracted positions;

wherein the processor is configured to either enable, or automatically launch, an application for enabling a user to capture images with the mobile device, in response to the housing being adjusted to have at least the first length, wherein the application enables a user to operate the lens through interaction with one or more of the plurality of user-interface mechanisms; and

an actuation mechanism that is actuable by a user to cause the processor to use the lens to capture an image, wherein the actuation mechanism is positioned on a second interior surface so that the actuation mechanism is exposed when the housing is adjusted to have at least the first length.