Vintage Prime
Ancient Optics / Zero Optik
Tamashii Primes
The “Greatest Hits” of Japanese Optics
- Focal
- 22–110mm
- T-stop
- T1.5–T2.3
- Mount
- PL
Vintage Prime Set
TLS Rehoused
Fuji EBC Primes
8 primes 19 – 135mm T1.4 – T3.8 PL
Originally introduced in 1971 with groundbreaking 11-layer Electron Beam Coatings, these lenses produce distinctive purple, red, and gold flares.
Excellent centre sharpness with gradual fall-off, a gentle glow on highlights from spherical aberration, and textured, pleasant bokeh across the set.
Character profile
How this lens renders.
Bold flares. Saturated. Fast.
Five axes plotting how this set behaves wide-open vs a neutral modern reference. Larger area = more pronounced trait.
Focal lengths
8 focal lengths in this set
- 19mm T3.8
- 24mm T2.9
- 28mm T2.1
- 35mm T2.1
- 50mm T1.4* sources disagree
- 70mm T2.2
- 100mm T2.9
- 135mm T2.7
| Focal | T-Stop | Close focus | Weight | Front Ø |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19mm | T3.8 | 8" | 0.84 kg | 110mm |
| 24mm | T2.9 | 8" | 0.92 kg | 110mm |
| 28mm | T2.1 | 12" | 1.1 kg | 110mm |
| 35mm | T2.1 | 12" | 1.0 kg | 110mm |
| 50mm | T1.4* sources disagree | 16" | 0.94 kg | 110mm |
| 70mm | T2.2 | 18" | 1.3 kg | 110mm |
| 100mm | T2.9 | 2'2" | 1.2 kg | 110mm |
| 135mm | T2.7 | 3'6" | 1.4 kg | 110mm |
Talking points
Why DPs pick this set
-
11-layer Electron Beam Coatings (EBC) create uniquely colourful, bold flares
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The 50mm T1.4 is exceptionally fast for a vintage set
-
TLS custom-designed the 70mm T2.2 to fill the gap in Fuji’s original lineup
-
Generous image circle.
One of the best options for large-format sensors including 65mm
Technical
Full specifications
- Mount
- PL
- Coverage
- Full Frame + (generous image circle, covers 65mm sensors)* sources disagree
- Close Focus
- 8" (19mm, 24mm) to 3'6" (135mm). Improved MOD across the set
- Housing
- TLS: floating elements on variable cam system* sources disagree
- Iris
- 15-blade, rounded
- Notes
- 70mm T2.2 is a custom TLS-designed lens using the 50mm f1.4 EBC as a foundation with supplementary proprietary optics
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.
Heritage
-
Origin
Fuji introduced the Electron Beam Coating (EBC) process in 1971: an 11-layer vacuum deposition technique that gave their photography lenses unusually high colour saturation and distinctive flares. EBC remains the foundation of Fuji’s modern Fujinon cinema and broadcast glass.
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Filmography
As stills lenses (Fujica AX/FX-mount), they were known to a small enthusiast community in the 1970s–80s. In rehoused cinema form they’ve gained traction with DPs seeking a non-Zeiss, non-Cooke vintage option with bold colour character.
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Build
TLS rehoused the original Fujinon stills primes for cinema use with standard PL housing, 0.8M gears, and matched 110mm fronts. The 70mm T2.2 is a custom TLS addition filling a gap in Fuji’s original lineup. The full set offers a generous image circle covering Super 35, Full Frame, and 65mm.
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