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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TLS Partners with Duclos Lenses to Support U.S. Customers

TLS Partners with Duclos Lenses to Support U.S. Customers

Famed lens rehousing organization, True Lens Service, based in the UK has had great success re-purposing vintage cinema lenses for a modern, demanding production environment. Their mechanical design and craftsmanship is second to none which makes for some very desirable combinations of old glass in new housings. In order to keep their lenses working diligently and to support their customers who live and work in the U.S, TLS has chosen Duclos Lenses to manage the repair and maintenance of their lenses to the highest standards.

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How do we decide the value of a lens?

How do we decide the value of a lens?

 A popular topic of discussion these days is whether or not certain lenses are worth their huge price tags. Moreover is there a justified correlation between a lens’ price and how “good” it is. It’s an apt time to continue this conversation since there are more lenses to choose from than ever. Also, there are some seriously high-performing cine lenses at price points that are within reach of so many filmmakers. The number of “affordable,” full frame, super speed, cinema lenses alone is incredible (Canon CN-E, Sigma Cine, Tokina Vista, Zeiss CP.2, Rokinon XEEN). It’s an exciting time to be a DP. It can also be an overwhelming time to be a DP especially if you are an aspiring cinematographer who is just scratching the surface of all the lens options out there. Continue reading “How do we decide the value of a lens?”