TLS has introduced their new Helix65 75mm T3.8 Macro 1:1, a dedicated large-format macro cinema lens designed to integrate with the company’s Vega65 prime series while offering true 1:1 reproduction and a compact mechanical design.
The Helix65 offers true 1:1 macro reproduction, a 65mm image circle, internal focusing, a 95mm front diameter, and an LPL mount. TLS describes the lens as delivering “excellent centre sharpness, with a subtle fall-off toward the corners,” which may prove useful for cinematographers who want a macro option that feels less clinically flat and more visually integrated with narrative work.
True Macro, Not Just Close Focus
The headline feature here is true 1:1 magnification. That means the subject can be reproduced life-size on the sensor, which is very different from a standard prime with a respectable close-focus distance.
TLS lists the minimum object distance at 8 inches. As always, that number should be understood correctly: it is measured from the film plane, not from the front of the lens. Since the Helix65 is approximately 4.53 inches long, the actual working distance at minimum focus is only a few inches from the front of the lens. That proximity can be both creatively useful and practically annoying, depending on the shot. Lighting, shadows, subject movement, and camera support all become more critical at that scale.
Built Around Large Format
The Helix65 is specified with a 65mm image circle, even at close focus. That makes it a proper large-format macro option rather than a smaller-format lens stretched beyond its comfort zone.
For productions already using TLS Vega65 primes, this is likely the main appeal. Macro lenses often become oddballs in a lens package. They may solve the close-up requirement, but they rarely feel mechanically or aesthetically connected to the rest of the set. TLS states that the Helix65 pairs with the Vega65 range, though without testing, that should be taken as the manufacturer’s intent rather than a verified match.
In practice, the question of matching is also a little more nuanced with macro work. A true macro shot often lives in a very different visual environment from a normal scene: different depth of field, different lighting approach, different subject scale, and often a completely different visual priority. Exact matching may matter less than having a lens that behaves predictably and does not feel completely foreign within the package.
Mechanical Design Choices
TLS has an excellent reputation for mechanical design, and that matters a great deal here. Macro work is unforgiving. At 1:1 magnification, even tiny focus adjustments can have a dramatic effect on the image.
The Helix65 uses a cam-driven focus system — which is admittedly a slightly funny name considering there is no actual helical focus thread involved — and TLS states that its non-linear cam design provides nearly 300 degrees of focus rotation with evenly distributed focus scales and zero backlash. That kind of focus travel is not just a luxury on a macro lens. It is a necessity for controlled, repeatable work at extremely close distances.
The lens also uses internal focusing, which keeps the physical length of the lens constant throughout the focus range. That is especially useful on set when working with matte boxes, motors, remote heads, or tightly balanced camera builds. It also prevents the front of the lens from extending toward a subject that may already be only a few inches away.
The Helix65 will be available exclusively in LPL mount. That makes sense given the large-format design, but it is worth pointing out that the rear optical group protrudes behind the LPL mount. That could put the rear optics very close to internal ND systems in certain cameras.
As with any lens that reaches deeply into the mount cavity, camera compatibility should be confirmed before committing to a build. This is not necessarily a problem, but it is something ACs, rental houses, and owner-operators should pay attention to.
Image Character
TLS describes the Helix65 as having strong center sharpness with a subtle falloff toward the corners. That is worth noting. Many modern macro lenses are designed to be highly corrected, flat, and clinical. That can be valuable for technical imaging, but it is not always the most pleasing approach for cinematography.
A bit of edge falloff is not inherently good or bad. It depends entirely on the image, the subject, and the DP’s intent. But it does suggest that TLS may be aiming for something more visually natural than a purely forensic macro optic.
The Helix65 also features a 16-blade circular iris, which should help maintain rounder out-of-focus highlights as the lens is stopped down. At macro distances, bokeh is not a minor characteristic. It can dominate the entire frame even at smaller apertures.
Pricing and Availability
The TLS Helix65 75mm T3.8 Macro 1:1 is priced at £9,835. TLS has not announced a delivery timeline at the time of writing.
For cinematographers already working with TLS Vega65 primes, the Helix65 looks like a logical specialty addition rather than a general-purpose macro solution. Its value is not simply that it focuses close. It is the combination of large-format coverage, true 1:1 reproduction, TLS mechanics, compact dimensions, and practical integration with an existing Vega65 package. And for all your TLS and cine lens service needs, contact Duclos Lenses.
As always – Tech Specs for lens geeks:
Specifications
| Focal Length | 75mm |
| T-Stop | T3.8 |
| Macro Ratio | 1:1 |
| Mount | LPL |
| Minimum Object Distance | 8 in. |
| Image Circle | 65mm |
| Front Diameter | 95mm |
| Length | 4.53 inches / 115.08mm |
| Weight | 1.374kg / 1 lb 6 oz |