21/09/2025
After three years of meticulous refinement, this lens series was initially set to launch two years ago. However, in response to evolving market demands and valuable feedback from users of our Mini Prime series, the Dulens team decided to revisit and redesign this already completed series. We incorporated innovative ideas to ensure users receive an unparalleled, unique set of lenses, dedicating extra time to perfecting the craft.
This is a fully cross-format APO lens series designed for digital cinema cameras, targeting the Arri Alexa 5-perf 65mm formatāone of the largest film formats available today. The APO Cambrian Prime series covers everything from Super 35 to Alexa 65 open gate, embodying our core vision: a medium-format lens series that delivers exceptional performance on any cinema camera.
Typically, medium-format cinema lenses are associated with significant size and weight. Our first design iteration had a minimum front diameter of 95mm. However, in the second iteration, we adopted a floating element design, successfully reducing the entire series to a consistent 80mm front diameter, matching our Mini Prime series. With an average weight of around 800 grams, these lenses feel remarkably light in hand, making it hard to believe they offer such expansive image circles. In essence, this is a Mini Prime in another senseāstriking an ideal balance between optical performance, size, and weight.
Optically, the Dulens team opted for a pure spherical design for this medium-format APO lens series, which is why itās positioned within our Vintage series. This unified design approach gives the Cambrian Prime the soft, creamy bokeh reminiscent of beloved lenses from the 1980s. Combined with Dulensā proprietary V-coatingāmimicking the effect of vintage single-coated lenses while maintaining excellent color and contrast controlāthese lenses deliver the nostalgic aesthetic that photographers cherish.
The entire series maintains a consistent T2 aperture, a significant achievement for medium-format lenses. Most adapted medium-format cinema lenses max out at T3 F2.8, with only a handful of brands offering F2 or T2.2ā2.3 options, typically limited to specific focal lengths.
In terms of lens body design, beyond the standard matte black finish, weāre excited to introduce a new metallic raw finish, resembling freshly polished metal. Additionally, our lenses now feature glow-in-the-dark paintāa user-suggested idea from the Mini Prime era that weāve finally implemented in this series.
The imaging style of this series closely mirrors our Mini Prime, allowing the two to be used interchangeably as complementary focal lengths. For users without medium-format cinema cameras, this series serves as a faster Mini Prime. Its massive image circle also future-proofs your investment, ensuring seamless upgrades to medium-format cinema cameras as more manufacturers roll out such systems.
Learning from past product launches, weāve decided to release this series only when all focal lengths are nearly complete. All six focal lengths will be ready to deliver around October to November this year.
For Dulens community members, weāre offering a pre-order event with special pricing for the full APO Cambrian Prime set. For rental houses, weāve also prepared two customized lens case options and a new batch of 15mm stainless steel rod clamps available for purchase.
We welcome your questions and ideasāfeel free to leave a message or email me at [email protected]
Don't miss the first batch preorder!
https://dulens.hk/collections/dulens-vintage-series-apo-cambrian-prime
https://dulens.hk/blogs/dulens-hk-news/dulens-apo-cambrian-prime
Introducing the New DULENS Medium Format Cinema Lens Series - APO CAMBRIAN PRIME
