Duclos Lenses Develops New Synthetic Coating Technology

Duclos Lenses Develops New Synthetic Coating Technology

There’s a fine line between innovation and indulgence in the world of cinema optics. Every so often, a new “look” emerges – not from the meticulous engineering of glass and coatings, but from the collective mood of an industry chasing something intangible. Character. Texture. Imperfection. Or, as it’s now being called – vibe. This year, Duclos Lenses leans into that ambiguity with the introduction of a groundbreaking new product.

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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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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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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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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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Canon VCM L Lenses for Filmmaking: A Complete Review for Hybrid Video Creators

Canon VCM L Lenses for Filmmaking: A Complete Review for Hybrid Video Creators

Canon has long been a trusted name in both photography and cinematography, but it’s been a while since we’ve highlighted any new releases from the brand. The last time we dove into their products, it was nearly two years ago, with the CN-E Flex Zoom lenses. Since then, Canon has been relatively quiet, especially as other brands have adapted to the mirrorless market. However, Canon recently launched the VCM L hybrid lenses, a series designed with promising features that could be particularly useful for video creators. The question is, how do they hold up for filmmaking, and more importantly, can they be Cine-Modded?

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The Bun-G-Ring: A New Way to Mount Filters?

The Bun-G-Ring: A New Way to Mount Filters?

In the fast-paced world of filmmaking, particularly on tight and chaotic sets, every second counts. That’s why the introduction of the Bun-G-Ring, a new filter-mounting system, could offer some relief—at least for those frustrated with the time-consuming task of taping filters in place. While not exactly a revolutionary new category of equipment, the Bun-G-Ring promises a more secure, faster, and reusable solution for mounting filters to your lens—no tape required. The question is, does the industry really need yet another filter system, or does the Bun-G-Ring offer something uniquely useful, particularly for documentary filmmakers?

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Cooke Adds 21mm T1.4 to S8/i Line

Cooke Adds 21mm T1.4 to S8/i Line

Cooke Optics has just expanded their acclaimed S8/i Full Frame (FF) lens range with the addition of the highly anticipated 21mm T1.4. This new focal length extends the versatility of the S8/i line, enabling cinematographers to capture stunning wide-angle shots while maintaining the signature look that Cooke is known for.

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Lens Guide: Compact Full Frame Cine Primes

Lens Guide: Compact Full Frame Cine Primes

What an exciting past couple of years we’ve had right? I mean regarding lenses. You got that? Okay good.

Yes, even in the past year alone we have had some incredible new products come out that have showcased the evolution of the cinema lens technology. Compact full frame cinema lenses have gained popularity for their portability, optical quality, and ability to deliver stunning visuals without compromising on performance. Never before have quality optics and this much variation between them been accessible to filmmakers. We pulled a few options in this category from our inventory to take a look at what they have to offer you.

To preface, this list only contains a few of the many Full-Frame/Vista Vision lenses on the market. Including s35 and even anamorphic lenses for sale would be exhausting and we don’t have enough coffee around today. We’ll save them for future blogs though. Stay tuned for that.

Now, let’s dive in.

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Sirui Nightwalker 16mm & 75mm T1.2 Primes

Sirui Nightwalker 16mm & 75mm T1.2 Primes

Enter the Void

Sirui has expanded its Nightwalker lineup with two new additions designed to enhance the creative capabilities of filmmakers and content creators alike. With a plethora of mount options including: Sony E, Canon RF, Fuji X, Micro Four Thirds, and L-Mount versions, these primes appear to be the Swiss army knives of the affordable compact cine lens category.

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NiSi Adds 18mm, 40mm, and 135mm Primes to Athena Line

NiSi Adds 18mm, 40mm, and 135mm Primes to Athena Line

Duclos Lenses is excited to announce the availability for pre-order of three new lenses in the NiSi Athena Prime series: the 18mm T2.2, 40mm T1.9, and 135mm T2.2. These lenses expand the Athena Prime range, offering cinematographers enhanced creative flexibility and compatibility with mirrorless cinema cameras.

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Rental Referral Initiative from Duclos Lenses

Rental Referral Initiative from Duclos Lenses

I’ve added a simple new feature to the Duclos Lenses website that allows visitors to see a short list of rental houses that have specific lens models available for rental. At a time when our industry is at a moral deficit, this new feature is tiny gesture, a modest attempt at helping the businesses that have been so kind to us over the last twenty years. If you’re a rental house or have friends at rental houses, read on and help spread the word!

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