Apple iPhone as a real camera: Professional kit with teleconverter for better zoom now crowdfunding
Smartphone camera kits were first invented by Xiaomi in China, but have since become commonplace for Vivo and Oppo, at least for high-end flagship phones such as the Vivo X300 Pro and the Oppo Find X9 Pro. The trend has reached California: As a leaker recently suggested, Apple also appears to be testing external teleconverters as an optional zoom extension for improved image quality when photographing distant objects. Such an accessory may make an appearance alongside the iPhone 18 Pro generation later this year.
Those who already own an iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max can now pre-order a corresponding accessory kit, developed by the creators of the Vivo X300 Pro Kit, which comes in two versions with a wide range of optional accessories. The Retrova basic camera kit can be ordered on Kickstarter for $72 (plus $18 shipping) and consists of an iPhone case with a detachable camera grip. The all-in-one kit, priced at $184 (plus $18 shipping), additionally includes a 2.35x telephoto extender, a filter adapter ring and other accessories such as a carrying strap and tripod mount.
Teleconverter with up to 12x zoom
The camera grip features a two-stage shutter button for focusing and shooting, a multi-function button, a zoom rocker, and a control dial for adjusting settings such as exposure and ISO. Unlike the camera kits for Vivo and Oppo flagship phones, Retrova also includes a microSD card slot on the bottom, allowing you to write ProRes video recordings directly to the memory card at speeds up to 312 MB/s. The teleconverter, which screws onto the front of the telephoto lenses, transforms the iPhone 17 Pro's 4x telephoto lens into a 235mm equivalent 10x optical zoom. Using the iPhone 16 Pro's 5x telephoto lens, the 2.35x magnification factor results in a 282mm equivalent 12x telephoto lens.
App with filters und pro mode
Optional extras include a 2x teleconverter, a 62mm/67mm filter adapter ring, remote controls, and fill lights that attach magnetically to the center of the camera kit case. The manufacturer's camera app features a retro GUI that also comes with various filters and a full pro mode for manual control when taking photos and filming. The camera grip also contains a 300 mAh battery, which appears to be primarily used for functionality, not as a power bank for the docked iPhones.
Availability and disclaimer
PGYTech promises delivery in March (camera grip) and April (complete kit). However, delays or even losses of invested capital are always a possibility with crowdfunding platforms, even if we consider this to be rather unlikely in this case, given that PGYTech is a well-known manufacturer of accessories for cameras and smartphones. It remains to be seen whether the telephoto lens will deliver good quality, but the promise is professional optics made of extra-low dispersion glass with 13 elements. Another promise is a simple upgrade of the kit to the iPhone 18 Pro generation expected later this year, simply by replacing the protective case.
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