Feature Guide
Lens Rotation & Open Access
Every month we open up a curated selection of premium lenses for wider access — giving you a window into exceptional glass without needing the next tier up.
What Is Lens Rotation?
Lens Rotation is CineTraits' way of temporarily opening up premium lenses to a wider audience. Each month, we select a handful of lenses from higher tiers and make them freely accessible — either to everyone (Open Access) or to Indie tier members. It's a chance to explore glass you might not normally have access to, without needing to upgrade your subscription.
Lens Rotation overview video — coming soon
Open Access vs Indie Access
There are two levels of rotation. Open Access lenses are unlocked for every logged-in user, including those on the free tier — full test imagery, character traits, and comparison data become available for the duration of the rotation. Indie Access lenses are opened up specifically for Indie tier members, giving them a window into Hollywood-tier content they wouldn't normally see.
Spotting a Rotated Lens — The Badges
Rotated lenses are easy to spot. Each rotation type has its own colour-coded badge with a rotating arrow icon — so you'll always know at a glance what's currently open. Below is exactly what each badge looks like across the site.
Open Access — temporarily free for any logged-in user.
Hollywood lens opened up to Indie tier members for the rotation period.
Upcoming — access opens at the start of the next rotation window.
How Long Do Rotations Last?
Each rotation runs for a set window — typically around a month. Once the rotation period ends, the lens returns to its original tier. You'll always be able to see which lenses are currently in rotation from the Discover page and the Database, where they're clearly marked with the badges shown above.
Why We Do This
We believe the best way to appreciate great glass is to see it. Lens Rotation lets us showcase exceptional lenses — vintage, modern, anamorphic — without requiring every user to hold a top-tier subscription. It's not about opening the floodgates; it's about carefully curating a selection each month that highlights something special, whether that's a legendary cinema lens or a hidden gem that deserves more attention.
Featured rotation lenses montage
What You Can Do During a Rotation
While a lens is in rotation, you get the same access a subscriber at that tier would have. That means full test imagery across all f-stops, character trait badges, side-by-side comparison capability, and access to the lens detail page with all its test data. The only difference is that the access is temporary — so make the most of it while it's open.
Walkthrough: exploring a rotated lens — coming soon
Finding Rotated Lenses
Rotated lenses are easy to spot — look for the rotating arrow badges shown above in the Discover grid and Database. You can also filter specifically for rotated lenses to see what's currently available. Keep an eye on the Public Hub and our blog for monthly rotation announcements.
Screenshot of the Discover grid with rotation badges visible
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