Introduced as far back as 1950s, most of these lenses were based on Carl Zeiss optical formulas, which gave them a solid optical performance combined with unique image characteristics, such as dreamy flares, swirly bokeh, and overall painterly texture that can only be produced in-camera! These lenses are surprisingly sharp in the middle of the frame and have a gentle focus fall-off at the edges. They deliver excellent contrast and vibrant colours in controlled lighting conditions, but when you allow them to flare, they truly come alive, and their character shines through!

Following the success of our original (MKI) rehousing, we’ve released the MKII version with further improvements to make it suitable for the most demanding working environments. The MKII features a brand-new “Helicam” internal focus system, universal follow-focus gear positions, shimmable PL stainless steel mount, precise T-stop markings, reverse focus scales and many other improvements.