This Case Makes Your iPhone Look and Function Like a Vintage Camera

Mar 10, 2025

Jaron Schneider

A person holds a smartphone with a camera attachment designed to mimic a vintage camera style. The phone's lenses are visible in the device. The person wears a brown coat and hat and looks into the distance.

The Retro DMF Photography Kit from Fotogear is a multi-part case that not only looks the part of a vintage camera but also adds control dials and a shutter that make it function like one, too.

Fotogear makes all manner of photography accessories and smartphone add-ons, including an all-in-one light painting stick that PetaPixel featured in 2018. As seen by Yanko Design, its latest is a rather elaborate multi-part iPhone case that it describes as “an ingenious combination of the aesthetics of vintage cameras and modern technology.”

A smartphone with a retro camera case, featuring a black textured grip and silver accents. The design includes buttons and dials resembling a vintage camera, with a partially visible lens.

Using elements that are clearly inspired from the likes of Leica and Fujifilm, the case has a metal textured frame, leather back panel, and customizable dials. Fotogear also made it so the casing around the iPhone’s lenses is compatible with its line of lenses and filters, further expanding its usability.

Two iPhones in metallic and leather camera-style cases. One shows the back with camera lenses exposed, and the other shows the front with a photo app open, displaying an image of a waterfront cityscape.

Designed for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, The Retro DMF Photography Kit has an upper and lower split design that fits around the phone. Fotogear says this not only gives it a more vintage camera appearance but also provides “greater protection.” There are two versions of the case — both of which are included: one with the set of dials, shutter button, and integrated cold shoe and another that is a cleaner, smaller design that provides access to the Camera Control button.

A hand holding a rectangular, retro-style camera with a prominent red shutter button on top. Below are two images: one shows a close-up of the camera's buttons, and the other is a technical diagram of the camera's layout.

When the case is installed, it still works with some Magsafe accessories thanks to a magnetic ring and it also works in tandem with two other specialized accessories: a handle that adds a grip to the right side of the phone and a cold shoe mount that pairs with the version of the case without one built-in. It’s not clear if MagSafe charging is still supported, however.

A sleek smartphone camera attachment with a metallic finish and a red shutter button. It features a leather grip and is shown mounted on two phones, one displaying a cityscape at night and the other with visible camera lenses.

In the Fotogear camera app, photographers can customize the functions of the lever around the shutter button and the two function dials (or what Fotogear calls knobs). These can be set to change exposure compensation, filters, ratios, focus peaking, and a few other features that give the photo-taking experience on iPhone more tactility. All of these controls are driven by a Bluetooth connection.

The Fotogear Retro DMF Photography Kit is currently available for pre-order through the company’s website. Both the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max versions cost $199 and include the center case, both top bar options, the handle, the optional cold shoe, a 67mm filter adapter, and a lanyard. The company didn’t specify a promised delivery date.