LensMode: Quick Lens Effects for Blender

📌 Product Information

• Version: 1.0.0

• Author: Nobuhle Cairo

• Blender Version: 4.0+

🧠 Overview

LensMode is a professional Blender add-on that delivers realistic camera lens effects through automated compositor node setup.

It features 15+ real-world lens presets, physically-based distortion using the Brown–Conrady model, and full manual control over optical imperfections — all within a non-destructive workflow.

Perfect for achieving cinematic realism directly inside Blender.

⚙️ Core Technology

• 📐 Brown–Conrady distortion model (industry standard)

• 🔗 Automatic compositor node generation

• 📷 Integrated with Blender Camera properties

• 🎯 Real lens profiles based on real-world specifications

• ♻️ Fully non-destructive (can be toggled on/off anytime)

📦 Installation

1. Download the lensmode.zip file

2. Open Blender → Edit > Preferences → Add-ons

3. Click Install...

4. Select the .zip file

5. Enable LensMode

✅ Optional check:
Window → Toggle System Console → ensure no errors

⚡ Quick Start

1. Select your camera in the scene

2. Press N to open the sidebar

3. Open the LensMode tab

4. Enable LensMode ☑️

5. Click Load Preset and choose a lens
   (e.g., Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L)

6. Switch to Compositor Workspace

7. Press F12 to render 🎬

🎛️ Manual Controls

📐 Distortion Panel

• K1, K2, K3 → Radial distortion

• P1, P2 → Tangential distortion

🌈 Optical Effects

• Chromatic Aberration → Color fringing

• Vignette → Edge darkening

🎞️ Anamorphic Controls

(Available when anamorphic lens is selected)

• Squeeze Factor → Horizontal compression (1.0x – 2.5x)

🧪 Checklist (Validation Workflow)

Use this to verify everything works correctly:

1. Install addon (no errors)

2. Create scene with default camera

3. Enable LensMode

4. Apply preset: Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II

5. Open compositor → nodes should appear automatically

6. Render → barrel distortion should be visible

7. Adjust K1 → confirm real-time update

8. Apply Cooke Anamorphic/i 25mm

9. Confirm anamorphic node appears

10. Disable LensMode → nodes removed

11. Re-enable → nodes restored

🧩 Compositor Node System

LensMode automatically creates and connects:

• LensMode_Distortion → Barrel / pincushion distortion

• LensMode_ChromaSplit / Combine → Chromatic aberration

• LensMode_VignetteMask → Edge darkening

• LensMode_AnamorphicSqueeze → Anamorphic scaling

📍 All nodes are placed between:
Render Layers → Composite

🎯 Included Lens Presets

📷 Canon

• EF 24mm f/1.4L II

• EF 50mm f/1.2L

• EF 85mm f/1.2L II

• EF 8–15mm Fisheye

🔍 Zeiss

• Otus 55mm f/1.4

• Distagon 15mm f/2.8

🎬 Cooke

• Anamorphic/i 25mm, 40mm, 50mm

🎥 Panavision

• C-Series 40mm

🧪 Sigma

• 15mm f/2.8 EX DG Fisheye

📼 Vintage

• Helios 44-2 58mm f/2

⚡ Features

• 15+ real-world lens presets 📷

• Physically accurate distortion model

• Chromatic aberration simulation 🌈

• Vignette control 🌑

• Anamorphic squeeze (1.0x – 2.5x) 🎞️

• Automatic compositor setup

• Non-destructive workflow ♻️

• Sidebar UI (N-panel)

🧠 Tips & Notes

• Works with camera objects only

• Effects visible in rendered output (F12)

• Compositor nodes are auto-managed — no manual setup needed

⚙️ Technical Requirements

• Blender 4.0+

• Camera object in scene

• Compositor enabled (auto-enabled by addon)

📞 Support

For support, feedback, or feature requests:
Inbox us on home page console.

🎥 LensMode

See your renders through real lenses. ✨