- PGYTech is raising money for a 2.35x teleconverter kit for the iPhone
- Combined with the iPhone’s built-in zoom, you can get 10x closer and more
- You need an iPhone 16 Pro / Pro Max or iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max
If your smartphone’s cameras don’t get you close enough to the action, invest in an accessory: the PGYTech 2.35x telephoto extender previously bundled with high-end Vivo handsets is now also available for iPhones.
Called the RetroVa Vintage Imaging Kit and currently raising funds on Kickstarter (via Android Authority), the accessory can enable up to 10x native zoom (235mm) on the iPhone 17 Pro series and 11.7x native zoom (282mm) on the iPhone 16 Pro series – combined with the built-in 2.35x zoom on the iPhone with the accessory.
It certainly seems to be popular with gamers: at the time of writing, the camera kit is well over its $10,000 goal, at $60,109 and counting. If you want one of your own, pledge $184 (approx £134 / AU$263). The post-Kickstarter price is set at $229.95 (approx £167 / AU$328).
As with any crowdfunded Kickstarter product, putting your money down doesn’t guarantee you’ll get anything back at the end of the campaign – but given that PGYTech has previously made these lenses for Vivo phones, it should know what it’s doing.
The results ‘speak for themselves’
The ‘RetroVa’ in the name comes from the styling of the clip-on case that actually holds the zoom lens, which has a bulky grip at one end. In fact, you can buy this case on its own if you want to make it easier to hold your iPhone while taking photos and video.
We were certainly impressed when we had some hands-on time with the Vivo equivalent of the set last year, describing it as “something special” in terms of accessories, with “results [that] speaks for itself” when the zoom lens is attached. However, we did notice some problems with stabilization and autofocus.
As our reviewer noted: “Honestly, when I first saw this lens, I assumed it would be a bit of a gimmick. External lens adapters for phones are nothing new, and typically result in serious image degradation. This one, however, is something special.”
Of course, it’s hard to be sure how the user experience and end results will be with the iPhone kit, but it should be more or less comparable to the Vivo. We found that the accessory could take photos and videos that looked like they were taken on a mirrorless camera, without the cost or bulk.
The RetroVa Vintage Imaging Kit is scheduled to start shipping in March 2026, so you still have time if you want to get your name (and money) down early. The set also includes extra physical camera buttons and a microSD card slot for a boost in storage.
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