At Inter BEE 2025, we spoke with Phil Ma, Marketing Director at Tilta, about the company’s upcoming Nucleus Auto Focus Adapter. This lens mount adapter integrates with the Nucleus-M II Wireless Control System (review here) to convert manual cinema lenses into autofocus lenses using the camera’s native phase-detection AF data. The system features a built-in lens library to eliminate calibration for supported lenses, a button-press toggle between autofocus and manual control, and face/eye tracking support. Initial release will support Sony E-mount, with Canon RF-mount and L-mount versions planned for the future. The adapter represents Tilta’s attempt to bridge the gap between classic manual cinema glass and modern autofocus workflows without requiring LiDAR systems or complex external sensors. According to Phil, the design philosophy centers on ease of use, with pre-calibrated profiles for common lens models stored in the adapter’s database. Users can select their lens from the library and begin shooting immediately, or manually calibrate unsupported lenses if needed. Unlike autofocus solutions that rely on external ranging technologies, the Nucleus Auto Focus Adapter pulls AF data directly from the camera sensor via the mount connection. This information then travels through Tilta’s standard 7-pin to 7-pin cable to the Nucleus-M II motors, which execute focus adjustments. The approach depends entirely on the host camera’s autofocus capabilities, meaning performance will vary based on the specific camera body and its AF implementation. At IBC 2025, we have seen something similar presented by Viltrox. When those systems become available, it will be interesting to...
Published By: CineD - Yesterday