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Frequently Asked Questions

Do you offer a trial or demo version of LensNode?

Yes! A trial version is now available. Go to the "Buy" page and look for the button to access the trial version.

Is Node Mill interested in "collaborating" with filmmakers and content creators?

Definitely. Shoot us a message on instagram @lens.node or email us at hello@nodemill.co

Does a LensNode Early Access license last forever?

Yes, anyone who purchased an Early Access license has a perpetual license.

Why is LensNode doing nothing when I apply it to footage?

You probably haven't activated it. You need to open it in the color tab, scroll down past all the parameters and click the license button - a popup will appear and you can enter the license information from the email you would have recieved when you purchased it. It's case-sensitive and can be very picky about each character, so make sure you copy and paste it exactly, with no incorrect capital or lowercase letters, and no spaces before or after the email or license key strings in each box.

Why is LensNode not activating when I enter my license key?

See above. You may have some incorrect characters, additional characters or missing characters in the information you are entering in the licensing popup. It's case sensitive and very particular about what is put into the system, so double check that first. If you keep having issues, contact us.

Why does LensNode deactivate and say I have run out of license seats?

Because you have probably activated all of your license seats. If you go to the email you were sent when you purchased the license, click on "view order" and sign in to LemonSqueezy, you can click on your license key and manually deactivate any licenses you aren't using, which frees them up for activation again. 

 

​Technically, our terms and conditions that you agree to when installing LensNode state that your license provides you personally with two installs on two of your personal computers. If you install it on a friend's computer, you are breaking the agreement you have made with us.

Is LensNode available for: Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, Baselight, Capture One, Lightroom, or any other video/photo editing software?

Not at this stage. We hear you though! If we get enough interest, we are definitely open to porting the plugin to other platforms. It's definitely easier said than done though, so it won't be in the near future.

Is LensNode available for the Linux version of DaVinci Resolve?

Not right now. As above, we hear you, and if we get enough interest we will look into porting it.

Will LensNode eventually include <insert lens here> as a part of its lens library? 

We want it to include as many lenses as we can get our hands on, so hopefully! As for how many lenses we add, it really is driven by demand and what our customers want. We will see where that journey takes us.

Does LensNode work with the free version of DaVinci Resolve?

Yes! It does.

How do I actually download, install and use the plugin in DaVinci Resolve?

When you purchase LensNode via LemonSqueezy, you will be sent an email with a link to license access and downloads.

 

Download the appropriate Mac or Windows package, and run the installer. Both installers are pretty straightforward. Once it is installed, open up DaVinci Resolve, pull a clip into the timeline, and go to the Color Page, third from the right at the bottom of the screen. Go to the Effects Panel in the top right, and either search, or scroll down to find LensNode. Drag LensNode into the Node Graph, right next to the Effects Panel, and make sure it is connected to the two green in and out points in the Node Graph. Now if you select LensNode in the Node Graph, the Effects Panel should show the controls for LensNode.

 

Click on the "License Manager" button at the bottom of the controls, and a popup should appear. Paste or type your email address (case-sensitive, and be careful not to add any extra spaces or other characters), and license key into the boxes and click activate. If you ever need to deactivate your license, you can click "Deactivate" in this popup.

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After that, LensNode should work. Select a color space and a lens profile, and you're off!

What lenses does LensNode currently simulate?

LensNode currently only contains some test profiles. Here is a full list as of July 2025:

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  • Asahi Super Takumar 20mm f4.5

  • Asahi Super Takumar 105mm f2.8

  • Asahi Super Takumar 135mm f3.5

  • Voigtlander Nokton Classsic 40mm f1.4

  • Canon Rangefinder "Dream Lens" 50mm f0.95

  • Canon nFD 50mm f1.4

  • Cooke Panchro i/Classic 21mm T2.2

  • Cooke Panchro i/Classic 32mm T2.2

  • Cooke Panchro i/Classic 40mm T2.2

  • Cooke Panchro i/Classic 50mm T2.2

  • Cooke Panchro i/Classic 75mm T2.2

  • Cooke Panchro i/Classic 100mm T2.2

  • Cooke S4 14mm T2

  • Cooke S4 18mm T2

  • Cooke S4 25mm T2

  • Cooke S4 32mm T2

  • Cooke S4 40mm T2

  • Cooke S4 50mm T2

  • Cooke S4 75mm T2

  • Cooke S4 100mm T2

  • Cooke S4 135mm T2

  • Helios 44-2 (MMZ 1973) 58mm f2.0

  • LOMO Illumina MK1 S35 18mm T1.3

  • LOMO Illumina MK1 S35 25mm T1.3

  • LOMO Illumina MK1 S35 35mm T1.3

  • LOMO Illumina MK1 S35 50mm T1.3

  • LOMO Illumina MK1 S35 85mm T1.3

  • Lensbaby 'Obscura 16' 16mm f22

  • Lensbaby 'Obscura 16' 16mm f45

  • Lensbaby 'Obscura 16' 16mm f90

  • MIR-1SH (VOMZ 1990) 37mm f2.8

  • Tribe7 Blackwing7 20.7mm (X-Tuned) T1.9

  • Tribe7 Blackwing7 27mm (X-Tuned) T1.9

  • Tribe7 Blackwing7 37mm (X-Tuned) T1.9

  • Tribe7 Blackwing7 47mm (X-Tuned) T1.9

  • Tribe7 Blackwing7 57mm (X-Tuned) T1.9

  • Tribe7 Blackwing7 77mm (X-Tuned) T1.8

  • Tribe7 Blackwing7 107mm (X-Tuned) T1.8

  • Tribe7 Blackwing7 137mm (X-Tuned) T1.9​

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As well as an assortment of 7 custom-built Node Mill profiles, and some effects that approximate those found in some popular films:

  • Civil War (Alex Garland, 2024)

  • Sinners (Ryan Coogler, 2025)

Do you have plans to integrate X new feature or Y lens characteristic?

Yes, many. If you have any suggestions, support us by purchasing the plugin and let us know in our Discord or via email! Ultimately, we want LensNode to provide users with many many options and tools, and that includes a large library of lens profiles.

Are real lenses being used to make the lens profiles for LensNode?

Yes, we use a specialised method of capturing imagery with real lenses that we then do our best to simulate with the features LensNode has. Of course, this is simulation, and doesn't remove the need for real-world lenses, not does it match them absolutely 1:1, but we think there are quite a few great use cases for lens simulation, plus it's heaps of fun!

What does LensNode do? I can't tell the difference between before and after.

If you can't really see the difference, this plugin is probably not for you. Lens characteristics in the real world are subtle. Maybe more subtle than some would lead you to believe. If anything, LensNode provides you with the ability to make those characteristics more obvious than they otherwise would be on a real lens. Look a bit closer and with more scrutiny if you're strugging to see the difference. We promise, it's there!

Who is this for? Why would anyone want to emulate a lens?

1. Let's say you're an emerging filmmaker and you don't have heaps of resources.​

Maybe you have cheap, boring, but sharp and reliable lenses that are fast. Maybe they’re Sony G Masters on your A7SIII, or Sigma Art or Canon L lenses on your prosumer cinema camera. You shoot your short film and you want it to look a bit more interesting, so you use this plugin to dial in a lens look, in post.

 

Maybe you shot your short film on Cooke Panchro lenses and your low budget production is out of money, but you need to do a pickup shot - you can do the pickup shot with boring lenses and then use this plugin to approximate a match of your clean lenses to the Cookes in post.

 

Maybe you just have no money and want to have some fun making your low budget music video or videography shots look better. This plugin also lets you do that.

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Maybe you just want to spice up some drone, phone, 360 or action camera footage.

2. Let's say you're intermediate filmmaker.​

You can afford nice lenses, but you don’t want to commit to anything for the shoot, and want to dial in a look after the fact. Maybe you do use the lenses you want to use, but there’s a crash-cam shot that you want to use a cheaper camera and lens for, or a B-camera that you need to run simultaneously and can’t afford a second set of lenses for the entire shoot. This plugin helps to maybe solve that problem. Perhaps you have one weird and wild shot that you want to use a Sony FX6's phase detect autofocus for, but to do that you have to use autofocus lenses that are a bit boring in terms of lens character. LensNode to the rescue.

3. Let's say you're a professional:​

You have access to whatever you want, but you want options in post. You don’t want to use real filters, or vintage lenses, or anamorphics, because they’re difficult to work with sometimes and might limit you in other ways. Maybe they’re too heavy and cumbersome, maybe they don’t work with other equipment you want to use, or some rigging you have to do. Maybe you want to create a look that doesn’t exist by shooting on a super fast modern lens and then making it look like a particular vintage lens that’s quite slow in real life. LensNode even lets you exaggerate lenses that are already really funky using its Overdrive feature.

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LensNode gives you options and flexibility. The Netflix series Sex Education was shot on Arri Zeiss Master Primes and made to look vintage in post by a talented colorist. David Fincher's Mindhunter was shot on spherical Leica Summilux-C lenses and then given anamorphic character in post. Roger Deakins often talks about shooting on the best lens you can get and then making it look interesting by adding filtration and other effects. If it’s good enough for Roger Deakins or David Fincher, it’s good enough for us!

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