Canon K-35 Primes by TLS Rehoused, Prime Set (vintage), available for cinema lens hire at The Front in Sydney
Vintage Prime Set

TLS Rehoused

Canon K-35 Primes

5 primes 18 – 85mm T1.3 – T1.5 PL

Canon’s answer to the Zeiss Superspeeds.

Academy Award-winning lenses (Sci-Tech Oscar, 1977) famed for their combination of speed and character. Wide open at T1.3–T1.5, they deliver shallow depth of field with a gentle bloom and unique aspherical bokeh. Lower-contrast images with older multi-coatings yield big, beautiful flares and ghosts in bright lighting. Stopped down slightly, sharpness improves dramatically. Skin tones are flattering, and the focus fall-off has a portrait-like creaminess.

Character profile

How this lens renders.

Amber flares. Bullseye bokeh. Aspherical.

Five axes plotting how this set behaves wide-open vs a neutral modern reference. Larger area = more pronounced trait.

Focal lengths

5 focal lengths in this set

  • 18mm T1.5
  • 25mm T1.3
  • 35mm T1.3
  • 50mm T1.3
  • 85mm T1.3
FocalT-StopClose focusWeightFront Ø
18mmT1.512"1.7kg110mm
25mmT1.312"1.3kg110mm
35mmT1.312"1.7kg110mm
50mmT1.317"1.2kg110mm
85mmT1.32'9"1.5kg110mm

Talking points

Why DPs pick this set

  1. Academy Scientific & Engineering Award (1977) for optical design

  2. Hand-polished aspherical elements produce unique “bullseye” bokeh highlights

  3. Distinguished amber-hued flares that bloom across the frame

  4. Used on American Hustle, Her, Aliens.

    One of the most sought-after vintage sets

Technical

Full specifications

Mount
PL
Coverage
Super 35 on the 18mm: the 25, 35, 50 and 85mm cover Full Frame
Housing
TLS: 110mm fronts, 330° focus throw, matched gear positions*
Iris
Original 16-blade: circular bokeh at all stops

Some figures here are marked *. Our sources disagree on those, so we're checking them against the lenses themselves. Ask us and we'll measure it for you.

Shot on these

Notable credits

  • American Hustle (2013)

    DOP Linus Sandgren Dir David O. Russell

  • Her (2013)

    DOP Hoyte van Hoytema Dir Spike Jonze

  • Aliens (1986)

    DOP Adrian Biddle Dir James Cameron

Credits reflect productions historically shot on this lens family. Specific units may vary.

Heritage

  1. Origin

    Developed by Canon in the early 1970s and released mid-decade, Canon’s answer to the Zeiss Super Speeds. Among the first super-fast primes for cinema, with several focal lengths covering full frame. Hand-polished aspherical elements were a manufacturing first, producing the signature “bullseye” bokeh highlights.

  2. Filmography

    Used on American Hustle (2013, DOP Linus Sandgren), Her (2013, DOP Hoyte van Hoytema), and Aliens (1986, DOP Adrian Biddle). One of the most sought-after vintage sets in modern cinema. Canon’s 1977 Academy Scientific & Engineering Award for the optical design has only grown more meaningful as DPs return to vintage character.

  3. Build

    TLS rehouse preserves the original optics and 16-blade iris while adding durable modern housings, 0.8M gears, and standardised matte-box fronts. The character (amber-hued flares, gentle bloom, portrait-like focus fall-off) flows through unchanged.

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