iPhone Gains Vivo and Oppo’s Telephoto Extender Tech
▼ Summary
– PGYTech, known for official telephoto extenders for Vivo and Oppo phones, has launched a Kickstarter for a similar accessory kit designed for iPhones.
– The “RetroVa Vintage Imaging Kit” includes a custom case, a slide-on grip with a battery and manual controls, and a 2.35x telephoto lens extender.
– This iPhone version is unique for including a microSD slot, but the telephoto lens only functions within PGYTech’s own camera app, not Apple’s.
– The kit is available for iPhone 16 Pro/Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max, with a retail price of $229.95 and an early-bird discount on Kickstarter.
– Based on prior testing of similar hardware, the telephoto extender’s performance is excellent, but the case’s build quality has been a concern relative to the price.
A new Kickstarter campaign is bringing a popular telephoto extender system, previously exclusive to top-tier Vivo and Oppo smartphones, directly to iPhone users. The accessory maker PGYTech, which developed the official lens kits for those Android flagships, has unveiled the RetroVa Vintage Imaging Kit for the latest iPhone Pro models. This comprehensive package includes a custom protective case, a slide-on camera grip with a built-in battery and manual controls, and a 2.35x telephoto lens extender. A notable first for this type of kit is the inclusion of a microSD card slot for expanded storage.
The system is designed for the iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, and the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro models. However, because this is a third-party accessory, the enhanced telephoto functionality will only operate within PGYTech’s proprietary camera application and will not integrate with Apple’s native Camera app. While other manufacturers have offered clip-on lenses for iPhones, few have delivered such an all-in-one hardware solution combining a case, grip, and lens into a single ecosystem.
The performance potential is significant based on prior experience with PGYTech’s hardware. Hands-on testing with the Vivo X200 Ultra and Oppo Find X9 Pro versions revealed the telephoto extender to be extraordinary, dramatically enhancing optical reach with minimal quality loss. The accompanying grip was also praised for its convenience, adding physical shutter buttons and improved handling. That said, the build quality of the companion cases in those earlier kits was sometimes found to be lackluster, which raises a question about the value proposition given the $229.95 retail price.
Early Kickstarter backers can secure the complete RetroVa kit at a reduced pledge of $184. For users interested only in the case and camera grip without the telephoto lens, a less expensive option is also available. This launch represents a compelling, though premium, avenue for iPhone photography enthusiasts seeking to push the boundaries of their device’s optical capabilities beyond the native hardware.
(Source: The Verge)
