Tilta Khronos Accessories for iPhone 16 Field Review CineD

Accessories manufacturer Tilta has a new ecosystem of accessories for the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the iPhone 16 Pro, called Khronos, that helps expand mobile phone usage as a formidable filmmaking device. There are a ton of different parts within the Khronos ecosystem, so let’s jump right in and review the variety of builds you can create with these parts.

It is no surprise that we are now in a place where the vast R&D resources of general services tech companies are going head-to-head with established but smaller camera manufacturers. That the phone can now compete with the mirrorless camera is not something I’m going to devote much space to in this review. What I will say is that more accessories and app creation on the software side have now turned the humble phone into a viable filmmaking tool.

I am a Local 600 Union Director of Photography with a few strong opinions, and the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 Pro Max have slowly changed my mind about the place for a tool like this in the film and television community. While filming an episode of “Challenge Accepted with Michelle Khare,” due to a mechanical failure, we found ourselves having to hike out of the jungle. I took out my iPhone as another camera to help capture the scene. Several of those shots made the episode alongside my trusty Canon C300MKIII and C70 and helped add to the adventure’s unscripted nature.

On the hardware and software side, phones have improved. However, phones don’t hold up particularly well to long shoot days (lack of changeable battery and media capacity), the addition of on-camera lights, and timecode devices or audio. Phones don’t have a ton of space for accessories or any mounting points, for that matter. Tilta, with their Khronos system (named after the Greek word for “time”?), plans to address a few of those challenges head-on.

Tilta Khronos for iPhone 16 – initial impressions

I think when you open the box of the Tilta Khronos for the first time, you’ll be as impressed as I was. Tilta has made many individual products fit easily with one another. They built an ecosystem out of thin air. Real work went into this, and I was immediately struck by that when I first opened the box.

The space-age look of Tilta’s products is evident, and the exterior of the Khronos ecosystem is certainly not subtle. From afar, an iPhone rigged up in the Ultimate kit barely reads as a phone and instead seems like some kind of high-tech tricorder from Star Trek. It’s undeniably cool, but it does detract a bit from the phone’s ability to blend in while gathering content — something to keep in mind.

If you purchase the $499 Ultimate kit, you get a ton of goodies:

• Khronos iPhone 16 Pro Max Case (Case is available in five colors)
• Cooling System
• Focus PD Handle
• Mini LED Panel
• ARCA Quick Release Adapter
• Quick Release USB-C Hub
• Circular Wooden Handle
• SSD Holder and Filter Tray
• ND 0.6 and 1.2 Filters
• Black & White Mist 1/4 Filters

I would be hard-pressed to think of something else that should be included in this list. Considering the price point, it feels complete, and that’s a nice touch. The Khronos case does add a bit of overall weight (an additional 2.45oz/69.5g) to your phone in a way that a case from a brand like OtterBox does not, but that weight increase doesn’t make it uncomfortable to hold. I do notice the weight more in my pockets though — especially with a Pro Max-sized iPhone. I’m sure that weight would be less noticeable on the smaller iPhone variants.

Beyond that list, Tilta has also created a variety of ND strengths and filter types and even adapters for different lens options like the T-mount and M-mount (although M-mount optics from Moment will vignette on the iPhone 15/16). If I absolutely had to think of other accessory options for this system, I wouldn’t mind a slightly softer LED panel or clip-on diffusion pieces for that light, but I’m nit-picking here.

Interestingly, Tilta has updated the early Khronos iPhone case backing to move it away from a card holder design to a built-in stand/grip. I much prefer the new stand design personally as you really only could fit a credit card or two in the initial version, so this update is a welcome improvement.

Back to the T-mount adapter for a moment – this adapter won’t work with the Moment optics, and you’ll need to source compatible T-mount lenses from Fotorgear. Unfortunately, the definition of “T-Mount” is sliding all over the place these days, so please make sure to check compatibility with the Khronos T-mount adapter before purchasing a new lens.

The real centerpiece of the Khronos system is the lockable connection points scattered about the phone case – most of which are electronic contact points that feed power to accessories such as the LED light. You press a small button, place the given accessory into the slots, and then lock the accessory with a tiny lever. Of course, this is a proprietary connection system developed by Tilta and isn’t built around a universal 1/4″-20 or NATO rail solution, so I’m curious if Tilta would ever open this up for 3rd party solutions. Time will tell.

You have to be careful with these lockable connection points – especially the handles. Double-check to ensure they are clicked into place and locked, or you risk something coming loose during a quick move.

There is a separately available Khronos “adjustable handle” accessory that has a 1/4″-20 point on either end and a NATO rail for mounting the Nano II or another NATO-based accessory, so that might be helpful if you are trying to mount non-Tilta accessories to this ecosystem.

Of course, this kit works vertically and horizontally according to your production needs.

The Focus PD Handle

I’m going to single out a few of these accessory pieces, starting with the Focus PD Handle. This handle has a built-in battery (chargeable over USB-C), and the overall device clicks into the Khronos cage and connects to the Blackmagic Camera App.

It is also the heaviest piece in the system and could be purchased a la carte for $149 if you don’t want it as part of the kit. Given the weight, this was the piece I was most nervous about breaking free unexpectedly from the single connection point, and I wish there were another connection point just for added stability and safety.

Connecting the Focus PD Handle is easy by simply scrolling in the Blackmagic Camera App settings to “accessories.” If the handle is turned on (long press the record button), it pops up in the menu and is good to go. Unfortunately, you have to connect within the app each time. It won’t auto-connect when you turn on the handle and open the app.

This handle works very well in conjunction with the Blackmagic Camera App. Hitting the record button or pulling focus all feels seamless. Yes, there is the tiniest delay, but it’s almost imperceptible when using the handle for operating. The zoom functionality doesn’t work quite as well. Hopefully, that will be updated in future software.

The 3.5mm audio port works perfectly when the handle is connected to the phone over the integrated USB-C cable. (I tested it with the RØDE VideoMicro Shotgun Microphone.) I used the Khronos cold shoe to connect the mic, and you need to be a bit careful that the 3.5mm cable doesn’t cross over the iPhone’s camera lenses; otherwise, this setup worked very well.

In case you missed it, here is an article where we discuss the Blackmagic Camera App in more detail.

This piece of the kit is a home run generally with the exception of the zoom functionality.

USB-C Hub

Another standout is the rugged USB-C Hub, designed to play nicely with other devices over USB-C, HDMI, or 3.5mm audio out. The Hub is $79 as a standalone purchase, and it is another accessory that is incredibly useful in a host of situations.

You can connect the handle to the Hub with a USB-C cable from the handle side.

In the past, when I purchased this accessory from manufacturers, not in the film or TV space, I always ended up regretting that decision. Tilta, though, clearly made this Hub with filmmakers in mind. I used it with an external SSD drive during testing and found the ARCA Quick Release Plate useful for connecting to tripods or a gimbal.

The perfect user

Journalists, social media managers, quick-turnaround media professionals, and event-coverage folks will find much to like here in the Khronos ecosystem.

Of course, cost is a consideration here. An investment in this accessory system could nearly double the overall cost of your camera rig (phone included), and, at that point, you are very close to the price point of a mirrorless camera body. This is something to keep in mind when budgeting out your rig.

As the iPhone, in particular, receives pro-friendly updates like ProRes, external recording, and LOG, I can’t help but think the user base for this kit is only going to increase over time.

Conclusion

A big question remains — what happens when a new iPhone comes out?

Easy. Future compatibility with upcoming phone designs is ensured by simply swapping out the camera cage and perhaps the affordable filters/lens adapters. As a result, I’m comforted by the knowledge that this system won’t be obsolete anytime soon.

The look of the Khronos system certainly draws interest and mostly friendly questions in public – which could help brand yourself as a professional or annoying if you are trying to stay stealthy while filming. Of course, the smaller you make the overall rig, the more incognito you are.

With the Khronos ecosystem, Tilta has embraced the fact that phones are now capable filmmaking devices. Standout accessories include the handle and the Hub. In general, this entire system is well thought out, and I’m excited to see Tilta Khronos evolve over time. (Pun intended.)

Pricing and competitors

Tilta has broken down the Khronos ecosystem into three colors: White, Space Gray, and Black (though there are more color options for the phone cage), and into several kits: Ultimate, Advanced, Basic, and Lightweight, covering both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. All these kits are available for the previous generation iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max too.

If you don’t have one of those four iPhone phone types, you are out of luck for now. Each Tilta Khronos kit for the iPhone 16 Pro Max/Max is available for the following price points as of publishing:

There is no price difference between the Tilta Khronos iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max compatible kits, but the iPhone 15 kits tend to be on sale, versus the newer iPhone 16 kits.

SmallRig, Moment, Freewell, Neewer, and even memory manufacturer Sandisk have accessory cages for different versions of the iPhone 15 and 16, though Tilta’s offerings tend to be pricier. In fairness, you are getting more components with Tilta’s system.

What do you think about the new Tilta Khronos Ecosystem for the iPhone 16? Will you be adding some or all of the Khronos accessories to your kit? Let us know in the comments below!