- PGYTech is raising funds 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, you can invest in an accessory: the PGYTech 2.35x telephoto extender add-on previously bundled with high-end Vivo handsets is now available for iPhones as well.
Called the RetroVa Vintage Imaging Kit and currently raising funds on Kickstarter (via Android Authority), the accessory can enable up to 10x native zoom (235 mm) on the iPhone 17 Pro series and 11.7x native zoom (282 mm) on the iPhone 16 Pro series – combining the 2.35x zoom of the accessory with the built-in zoom on the iPhones.
It certainly seems to be popular with punters: at the time of writing the camera kit is way beyond its target goal of $10,000, at $60,109 and counting. If you want one of your own, you need to pledge $184 (about £134 / AU$263). The post-Kickstarter price is set at $229.95 (about £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 handsets, 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 shooting photos and video.
We were certainly impressed when we had some hands-on time with the Vivo equivalent of the kit last year, describing it as “something special” as far as accessories go, with “results [that] speak for themselves” when the zoom lens is attached. We did note some issues with stabilization and autofocus, however.
As our reviewer noted: “Honestly, when I first saw this lens, I presumed it was going to be a bit of a gimmick. External lens adapters for phones are nothing new, and typically, they result in serious image degradation. This one, though, is something special.”
Of course, it’s difficult to be sure about what the user experience and end results will be like with the iPhone kit, but it should be more or less comparable to the Vivo one. We found the accessory could capture photos and videos that looked like they were taken on a mirrorless camera, without the expense or the bulk.
The RetroVa Vintage Imaging Kit is scheduled to start shipping in March 2026, so you’ve still got time if you want to put down your name (and money) early. The kit also includes extra physical camera buttons and a microSD card slot for a storage boost.
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