Lenses, News, Zeiss

Zeiss Introduces Aatma Primes: Heritage Influence, Modern Intent

by Matthew DuclosLeave a Comment on Zeiss Introduces Aatma Primes: Heritage Influence, Modern Intent
Zeiss Introduces Aatma Primes: Heritage Influence, Modern Intent

Zeiss has announced the new Aatma Primes, a nine-lens full frame T1.5 cinema set that places the company squarely back into the conversation around vintage inspired optics. Covering focal lengths from 18mm through 135mm, Aatma is positioned as a more character forward option within Zeiss’ modern cinema lineup while retaining contemporary mechanics and workflow compatibility. In a market already dense with lenses aimed at nostalgia, Aatma presents an important consideration. Is this a meaningful refinement of Zeiss’ recent direction, or simply another option competing for attention?

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News

A New Dawn: Laowa Sunlight Anamorphic Zooms

by Frank RamirezLeave a Comment on A New Dawn: Laowa Sunlight Anamorphic Zooms
A New Dawn: Laowa Sunlight Anamorphic Zooms

Venus Optics has introduced the Laowa Sunlight 2x Full Frame Anamorphic Zoom Series, designed to make anamorphic filmmaking more versatile and accessible for full-frame users. Building on the success of the Laowa Proteus primes, these new zooms deliver the classic anamorphic look in a compact and lightweight form factor that’s easier to manage on set.

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Tutorial

Thorium-Induced Yellowing in Mid-Century Lenses – Cause, Effect, and Solutions

by Matthew Duclos1 Comment on Thorium-Induced Yellowing in Mid-Century Lenses – Cause, Effect, and Solutions
Thorium-Induced Yellowing in Mid-Century Lenses – Cause, Effect, and Solutions

Vintage camera lenses from the mid-20th century often develop a yellow or brown tint as they age. This “yellowing” results in a warm color cast and reduced light transmission, impacting image quality. At Duclos Lenses, our technicians frequently encounter this issue in classic optics across a wide variety of lens brands. This article endeavors to explain the technical causes of lens yellowing and outlines the process of de-yellowing – the restoration of clear glass – using ultraviolet (UV) light. We will delve into the physics behind the discoloration, the UV treatment procedure (sometimes called annealing or bleaching), as well as the associated effects, risks, and benefits. The intended audience is lens technicians and engineers, so we will prioritize scientifically grounded knowledge over speculative or anecdotal information.

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Canon, Canon RF, News, PL, Product Announcement

Canon CINE SERVO 11-55mm T2.95 – Built for Broadcast, Ready for Cinema

by Frank RamirezLeave a Comment on Canon CINE SERVO 11-55mm T2.95 – Built for Broadcast, Ready for Cinema
Canon CINE SERVO 11-55mm T2.95 – Built for Broadcast, Ready for Cinema

At Duclos Lenses, we have always had an eye for glass that goes beyond the look. There’s always more than meets the eyes when it comes to optics and we have an eye for spotting potential. Some might say we are optics experts. Canon’s newly announced CINE SERVO 11-55mm T2.95-3.95 PL and RF is reminiscent of a broadcast lens, but this servo is ready to rock cinema. With wide coverage, great resolving power, and suite of professional luxuries, this lens opens the door for creatives who need versatility with little compromise.

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News

HEKTOR: New Inspired Primes from Leitz Cine

by Matthew Duclos1 Comment on HEKTOR: New Inspired Primes from Leitz Cine
HEKTOR: New Inspired Primes from Leitz Cine

Leitz Cine has announced their newest lens line: the Hektor Primes, a six-lens set designed for today’s mirrorless cameras. Compact, consistent, and unapologetically character-driven, the Hektors represent a notable shift for Leitz Cine as they step into a price bracket and design philosophy aimed less at rental houses and more at working cinematographers who want artistry without sacrificing reliability or build quality.

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News, Product Announcement, Sigma, Sony E

Sigma Launches AF Cine 28-45mm T2 FF Zoom

by Matthew DuclosLeave a Comment on Sigma Launches AF Cine 28-45mm T2 FF Zoom
Sigma Launches AF Cine 28-45mm T2 FF Zoom

Sigma has officially pulled the curtain back on the 28-45mm T2 FF, the first release in its brand-new AF Cine Line. Launching November 6, 2025, this lens is more than just another short zoom; it’s Sigma’s declaration that autofocus has a place in professional cinema production. Available in L-Mount and Sony E, the 28-45mm arrives with cine-style mechanics, the optical pedigree of Sigma’s Art series, and a high-response linear actuator for fast, near-silent autofocus. For Sigma, this is both a technical showcase and a philosophical challenge to decades of manual-only cinema tradition.

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News

DZOFilm Vespid II Review: Speed, Metadata, and a Bold New Lineup

by Frank Ramirez4 Comments on DZOFilm Vespid II Review: Speed, Metadata, and a Bold New Lineup
DZOFilm Vespid II Review: Speed, Metadata, and a Bold New Lineup

The Vespid II primes arrive with more than just a fresh coat of paint. DZOFilm has taken the core appeal of the original Vespid series and supercharged it with faster apertures, metadata support, and a refined lineup built for modern filmmaking. These lenses are not simply a sequel, they are a bold statement that DZOFilm is listening to creators and pushing their designs into territory once reserved for higher end cinema glass.

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Leica, Leitz, Lenses, LPL, News, Product Announcement

Leitz Expands Hugo Line: Adds 40mm T1.5

by Frank RamirezLeave a Comment on Leitz Expands Hugo Line: Adds 40mm T1.5
Leitz Expands Hugo Line: Adds 40mm T1.5

Leitz Cine quietly expanded its HUGO series this week with the announcement of a brand new 40mm T1.5 lens. Revealed on August 25, the addition rounds the set out to a total of 14 focal lengths spanning 18mm through 135mm.

The HUGO series quickly grabbed attention among cinematographers for the pleasing rendering they impart on the image and as more robust build than the M 0.8 primes that they replaced. Much of the glass in the series comes from Leica M rangefinder optics, known for their signature character and natural falloff toward the edges. While Leica does not currently make a 40mm in their M line, this lens was developed with support from Leica Camera designers to ensure it matched the spirit of the series.

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Tutorial

Understanding Shims in Cinema Lenses

by Matthew Duclos1 Comment on Understanding Shims in Cinema Lenses
Understanding Shims in Cinema Lenses

Over the past decade, the world of cinema optics has opened up. Lens manufacturers, responding to the growing demand for flexibility, have embraced modularity—giving end-users the option to swap mounts, service mechanical components, and yes, even adjust their own back focus. This accessibility is a win for the working cinematographer, but with it comes a flood of assumptions and, frankly, some dangerous misinformation. Grab a cup of coffee and read on for a more in-depth understanding of this commonly misrepresented feature.

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Accessories, Lenses, News, Opinion

A Sticky Situation: How to Properly Store Cinema Lenses

by Frank Ramirez2 Comments on A Sticky Situation: How to Properly Store Cinema Lenses
A Sticky Situation: How to Properly Store Cinema Lenses

It’s late in the afternoon and I am sitting at my desk casually culling images for upcoming posts when I suddenly get called out to the service room. I walk in to see Michelle and Paul Duclos standing around a plastic bag on the desk with strange looks on their faces and pointing at me to open it. As I pull the plastic off, I come to realize what has them taken aback. A sad sight. Placed in the bag was a Canon K35 zoom that was completely caked with mushy deteriorated foam the same texture and stickiness of a toasted marshmallow.

My first thought: This is going to make a great story. The second: I need gloves.

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Laowa, Lenses, News, Product Announcement

Laowa’s 10mm Zero-D Cine Prime Gets a PL Mount

by Matthew DuclosLeave a Comment on Laowa’s 10mm Zero-D Cine Prime Gets a PL Mount
Laowa’s 10mm Zero-D Cine Prime Gets a PL Mount

Laowa has added a long-awaited piece to their expanding ultra-wide cine arsenal: a factory-built PL-mount version of the 10mm T2.9 Zero-D VV Cine. With support confirmed for professional motion picture cameras, this release rounds out what is arguably one of the most complete ultra-wide full-frame prime sets in recent memory. But while the optics remain unchanged, the mount matters.

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Lenses, News, Product Announcement, Tokina

Tokina Caps the Vista-P Line With New 180mm T1.9

by Matthew DuclosLeave a Comment on Tokina Caps the Vista-P Line With New 180mm T1.9
Tokina Caps the Vista-P Line With New 180mm T1.9

Tokina has expanded its character-forward “Portrait” edition of the Vista-P lineup with a new 180mm T1.9—the series’ first telephoto focal length. Pre-orders are now open, with shipments expected to begin in October 2025. Here’s how it fits into Tokina’s growing cinema lens ecosystem.

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Lenses, News, Product Announcement, Sigma

SIGMA Aizu Primes: A Love Letter to the Art of Cinematography

by Matthew Duclos1 Comment on SIGMA Aizu Primes: A Love Letter to the Art of Cinematography
SIGMA Aizu Primes: A Love Letter to the Art of Cinematography

SIGMA’s latest foray into high-end cinema optics comes with a respectable technical achievement. The newly announced Aizu Prime Line is not just another set of fast cine primes. It’s the first complete set of full-frame T1.3 cinema lenses, an achievement that places SIGMA in rare company and challenges long-standing norms in lens design.

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Canon RF, Fuji X, Laowa, Lenses, News, PL, Product Announcement, Sony E

Mind-Bending Perspective: Laowa’s New 8-15mm T2.9 Zoom Fisheye

by Frank RamirezLeave a Comment on Mind-Bending Perspective: Laowa’s New 8-15mm T2.9 Zoom Fisheye
Mind-Bending Perspective: Laowa’s New 8-15mm T2.9 Zoom Fisheye

When you hear the name Laowa, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Normally, and I’ll say this with the utmost respect, weird lenses. Laowa always goes against the norms, choosing innovation over following trends. They consistently deliver tools that at first seem niche or strange, but quickly prove themselves as must-haves once you see the results. I’ve always appreciated that approach. It’s a bit like that middle-school idea that not trying to be popular ends up making you stand out anyway.

Now comes the Laowa 8-15mm T2.9 Fisheye Zoom, their latest ultra-wide cine lens, and a potential game-changer for AR and VR creators. This lens fills a noticeable gap left by a certain lens with a red ring, which was widely used in immersive production workflows. The question is whether this new Laowa offering is simply trying to replicate what came before, or if it’s pushing things forward on its own terms.

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DZOFILM, Lenses, News, Product Announcement

Impressionist Cinema: DZO Announces the Arles Lustre Primes

by Matthew DuclosLeave a Comment on Impressionist Cinema: DZO Announces the Arles Lustre Primes
Impressionist Cinema: DZO Announces the Arles Lustre Primes

DZOFILM is no stranger to high-speed glass. Their original Arles T1.4 primes offered a technically sharp, mechanically sound set of modern cine lenses that made few artistic claims but plenty of practical ones. Now, with the announcement of the Arles Lustre series, DZO takes a different tack—aiming straight for the hearts (and eyes) of cinematographers chasing mood, texture, and a brushstroke of nostalgia.

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