Tilta Nucleus Nano II Announced – First Look

by Francesco AndreolaApril 19^th, 2023

At NAB 2023, Tilta announced the second version of their budget-friendly Nucleus Nano wireless lens control system. The hand unit and motors of the Tilta Nucleus Nano II sport a completely fresh design with built-in lens, camera, and gimbal control features. Prices start at $299.

The Tilta Nucleus Nano wireless follow focus system was released back in 2017 as an affordable alternative to the more professional Nucleus M (our review here). Then, in October last year, the company teased the advent of the Nucleus Nano II.

Now, on the show floor at NAB 2023, they finally seem ready to release additional information about this product. We met up with Nick from Tilta to learn more about the enhancements they made to the second-iteration, Nucleus Nano. Let’s take a closer look!

Tilta Nucleus Nano II – main features

The Tilta Nucleus Nano II inherits the legacy of the original Nucleus Nano, but takes its functionality one step further. The system has been completely redesigned from scratch to combine lens, camera, and gimbal control into a single device. Upon launch, the Nucleus Nano II is compatible with selected Sony, Blackmagic and Canon cameras as well as the popular DJI RS 2 and RS 3 Pro gimbals.

The hand unit now integrates a touchscreen interface that clearly displays the lens and camera settings, while offering a more intuitive and responsive way of adjusting parameters. This represents a very nice improvement over the old, barely readable display of the original Nano. The accessory packs an internal rechargeable battery that should keep the device running for about 7 hours.

Tilta also developed a dedicated handle that attaches to the hand wheel and adds an additional joystick, while a zoom toggle is directly integrated in the hand wheel for multiple lens axis control. The system is retro-compatible with the original Nano and Nucleus M motors, as well as the Tilta Mirage VND motor.

This means, for example, that you can have full FIZ (focus/iris/zoom) control on a cinema lens, while, at the same time, you can remotely adjust the intensity of the variable ND filter of the Tilta Mirage Matte Box. Moreover, lens calibration profiles can now be stored in the hand unit.

According to Tilta, the new Nucleus Nano II motors feature an auto-adjustable torque design that delivers approximately 5x more torque than the original series. The tedious Micro USB power port of the original Nano motor has finally been replaced by a modern USB-C interface, and the new motors also support daisy-chain for full FIZ lens control. I personally would have loved to see some sort of locking connector for the power cable, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Tilta Gravity Motorized Lighting Control System

Along with the Nucleus Nano II, Tilta also introduced the Gravity Motorized Lighting System. It consists of a motorized light yoke that can be wirelessly controlled using the Nucleus Nano II handle, which can control up to 12 motorized heads.

To accommodate fixtures of different brands, sizes, and weights, the Gravity Motorized Lighting System will be available in several options. A V-mount battery is required to power the system. The head is free to rotate 360° with a maximum pan speed of 90°/s, has a tilt range spanning between -50° and 90° and its maximum tilt speed is 45°/s. 

Price and availability

The Tilta Nucleus Nano II is currently on display at Tilta’s booth (C6730) at NAB 2023 and will start shipping in June. Pricing starts at $299, which is essentially the same price as the original version. Finally, the company will also offer different kits with multiple motors and accessories, although details have not been disclosed yet.

For more information, please visit Tilta’s website here.

Have you ever used the original Tilta Nucleus Nano? What do you think about the new design of the Nucleus Nano II? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!