Tilta has officially announced its new Nucleus Autofocus Adapter. The Nucleus Autofocus Adapter brings modern autofocus performance to manual PL mount cinema lenses. Unlike common LiDAR solutions, the adapter leverages the camera’s native autofocus system to drive lens focus and aperture adjustments.
According to Tilta, filmmakers love the character of vintage and cinema glass but sometimes avoid them due to their manual focus limitations. Tilta wanted to bridge this gap by combining the look and character of these lenses with the speed and convenience of modern autofocus control.
This system uses the camera’s native phase-detection autofocus and translates that data directly to external motors through the Nucleus-M II Wireless Control System. A built-in lens library allows for fast and easy calibration, while the adapter intercepts AF data to drive the motor with accurate, responsive focus. The system is also compatible with both the Nucleus-M II motor and the Nano II motor. When using the system with two wireless motors, users can adjust the iris via the camera’s electronic control.
Unlike the competing Viltrox NexusFocus F1 adapter, you don’t require an app for lens data entry and calibration. Everything can be done directly on the adapter.
Lens data can be edited and shared across devices as the adapter unit’s built-in storage stores lens data, which can also be accessed on Nucleus series hand-unit when connected.
For traditional workflows, the Nucleus-M II FIZ unit can override autofocus so that a 1st AC cvan pull focus manually. The E-mount Autofocus Adapter is compatible with select Sony cameras including the FX2, FX3, FX30, FX6 and FX9. It won’t work with the BURANO. Sony E-mount will be supported first, followed by Canon RF mount support. Further mounts should come in the future, including Leica L and Nikon Z.
It’s not an entirely new concept
The Tilta Nucleus Autofocus Adapter. adapter builds on previous concepts that enabled AF with manual stills lenses.
Products like the Fotodiox PRONTO and Techart PRO Autofocus Adapters that give you AF-S capabilities when using manual focus Leica M Mount Lenses on various camera systems have been around for quite a long time, but they have severe limitations.
We have also seen cinema lenses with AF capabilities, including Sigma’s 28-45mm T2 Cine zoom lens, and AF anamorphic lenses from companies such as Blazar and Sirui.
Of course, there have been quite a few so-called “cine lenses” with AF before, but a lot of them were still lenses that have a manual aperture and the word cine tacked on.
In fact, if you go back 14 years, Sony released the 18-252mm T3.9-T6.8 zoom lens that was for FZ mount that featured AF. This was arguably the first cinema zoom with AF capabilities, albeit not very good ones!
I reviewed that lens at the time on the site.
Canon also had a few Cine Zooms, such as the Cine-Servo 17-120mm T2.95-3.9 Lens (Canon RF), that could do Dual-Pixel CMOS AF II when combined with compatible cameras such as the EOS C400.
The trouble with most of the cine lens solutions that enable AF is the lack of hard stops and the fly-by-wire focusing system that is utilized. This makes manual focusing tricky to do.
No Variable ND solution
An issue with the Nucleus Autofocus Adapter is that if you are using it with a mirrorless hybrid or smaller-sized digital cinema camera that doesn’t have built-in ND, you are going to have to use a matte box and ND with a lot of cine lenses. Although in saying that, there are a lot of smaller-sized cine lenses on the market that allow you to attach common-sized variable ND filters.
I think a lot of shooters, especially those using mirrorless hybrids or smaller-sized digital cinema cameras that don’t have built-in ND, would have liked to have seen a solution that features a rear-mounted variable ND filter. I imagine that there could be some limitations or technical reasons why the Nucleus Autofocus Adapter doesn’t include one.
Increased Footprint
With smaller-sized digital cinema cameras or mirrorless hybrids, you are going to increase your camera’s footprint, as you need to add motors, rods, and power for the adapter. This is something you need to keep in mind.
If you are just using a single motor, then you can get away with making it slightly smaller.
Pricing & Availability
Preorders start at $269 USD are are now open. The Tilta Nucleus Auto Focus Adapter (E to PL) starts at $269 USD, which is a 10% discount from February 5th through April 6th with shipping beginning after April 7th.
You can also buy it in a Dual Nano II Motor Kit for $449 USD.
Competition
Competition comes in the form of the Viltrox NexusFocus F1 adapter.
The NexusFocus F1 Adapter was launched on Kickstarter on the 15th of January. Here are the prices:
- Super Early Bird Kit: $5,499HKD / $699 USD (Limited to 10 Kits)
- Early Bird Kit: $6,299HKD / $799 USD (Limited to 200 Kits)
- Early Access Kit A – Dual Motor: $6,999HKD / $899 USD (Limited to 2000 Kits)
- Early Access Kit B – Triple Motor: $8,199HKD / $1,049 USD
After the Kickstarter ends, the retail prices will be:
- $8,599HKD / $1,099 USD (dual motor kit)
- $10,199HKD / $1,299 USD (triple motor kit)
The estimated delivery for the adapter is March 2026.
