This Lens Could Cost $35,000. It Doesn’t. - The DZOFilm Arles Primes

Summary

In this review, the DZ Rless Cinema lenses are compared to high-end Hollywood lenses like the Cook S8i and Zeiss Supreme Prime series. Offering incredible value at just 6% of the cost of these premium lenses, the DZ Rless lenses deliver impressive build quality, excellent image performance, and versatile sensor coverage. With smooth focus and aperture rings, minimal distortion, and round bokeh, these lenses provide a cinematic look on a budget, making them a compelling choice for independent filmmakers and video producers seeking high-quality, professional-grade results without the hefty price tag.

Takeaways

• 😀 The DZ rless Cinema lenses offer similar image quality, build, and specifications to high-end Hollywood lenses but at a fraction of the price.
• 😀 These lenses are comparable to the Cook S8i ($35,000) and Zeiss Supreme Prime ($20,000) lenses, with similar visual characteristics and performance.
• 😀 The lenses offer Vista Vision sensor coverage, meaning they can cover sensors larger than full-frame, making them versatile across different camera setups.
• 😀 The DZ lenses feature a very smooth aperture ring (T1.4 to T22) and a precise, smooth focus ring, making them easy to use for cinematic shots.
• 😀 The lenses perform exceptionally well at wide apertures (T1.4), producing minimal vignette, a rare trait for fast lenses.
• 😀 The image quality is clinically sharp with minimal distortion, and close-focus performance outperforms many higher-priced lenses.
• 😀 The lens produces pleasing, round bokeh balls, with fewer geometric shapes or cat-eye effects, especially when compared to expensive alternatives like Cook S8i.
• 😀 Despite being highly sharp, the lenses retain a cinematic softness in the background blur, providing an overall smooth aesthetic.
• 😀 The lenses are almost free of focus breathing, which is a significant advantage for filmmakers aiming for consistent focus pulls.
• 😀 The final production lenses will reduce any noticeable color shift between different focal lengths to less than 100 Kelvin, making them color consistent across shots.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The video focuses on reviewing a budget-friendly cinema lens set that offers comparable quality to expensive Hollywood lenses, such as the Cook S8i and Zeiss Supreme Prime lenses, but at a fraction of the cost.

How much do the lenses reviewed in the video cost compared to high-end Hollywood lenses?

The reviewed lenses cost approximately 6% of the price of the high-end Cook S8i lenses, which are priced around $35,000 each. These lenses are priced much lower, around $200 to $300 per lens, offering a significant value proposition.

What is Vista Vision sensor coverage, and why is it important?

Vista Vision sensor coverage means the lens can cover a sensor larger than full frame. This allows the lens to be used on high-end cinema cameras as well as smaller formats like APS-C or micro 43, making it versatile for different camera systems.

What type of cameras are compatible with the lenses reviewed?

These lenses can be used on high-end Hollywood cinema cameras, such as those costing over $100,000, as well as on more affordable cameras like the Fujifilm GFX100, which shoots in Vista Vision format.

What is the significance of the lens build quality in the review?

The build quality is described as exceptional, with features like a PL mount, smooth aperture and focus rings, and robust construction. These features are designed for professional use and contribute to the lenses' overall cinematic feel.

What is the aperture design like in the lenses?

The lenses have 16 aperture blades, which results in a nearly perfectly round aperture. This contributes to a smooth bokeh and specular highlights, creating visually appealing effects in the background blur.

How do the reviewed lenses perform in terms of flare?

The flare performance is generally controlled, with some minor blooming around bright spots. The lenses do not exhibit strong lens streaks or significant flare, which is a common trait in high-end cinema lenses.

What is the lens's close-up image quality like compared to more expensive lenses?

The close-up image quality of these lenses is excellent and even surpasses that of comparable high-end lenses. For example, the 35mm lens can focus as close as 350mm, compared to the 700mm minimum focus distance of the $35,000 Cook lens.

What are the distortion characteristics of these lenses?

The lenses exhibit very minor distortion. The 35mm lens shows slight barrel distortion, while the 75mm lens shows minor pincushion distortion. However, these distortions are subtle and can be corrected in post-production without much noticeable effect.

How do the reviewed lenses perform in terms of resolution and sharpness?

The lenses are incredibly sharp, with excellent detail. However, their sharpness does not compromise the smoothness of the background blur, making them ideal for cinematic use where both sharp focus and pleasing blur are desired.