V35 Project Announces DZO Takumarles Primes – Takumar Inspired Kit

Lens News

by Jose PradaSeptember 9^th, 2024

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V35 Project has announced a modified lens set using the DZO Arles Primes as a starting point, inspired by the Asahi-Pentax Super-Takumar lenses. When used wide open at T1.4, the DZO Takumarles Primes feature a soft falloff, low contrast, veiling glare, warmer tones and flares, and a wide-open glow. Let’s take a closer look at them!

We are already familiar with V35 Project at CineD, as we interviewed Dominic Barbero at Cine Gear 2024 about their SIGMA Cine FF High-Speed Prime series modification emulating Kowa FF glass. Now, the project launched by Northwest Camera Co. comes with a new set of lenses, the DZO Takumarles Primes, a modification based on the new DZO Arles with the flavor of the vintage Asahi-Pentax Super-Takumar. The tuning and modification are external and internal, giving it a chrome finish different from the original set.

A versatile set with character

The V35 DZO Takumarles set comprises five lenses (25mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, and 100mm at T1.4). The company is already working on five upcoming lenses (14mm, 21mm, 40mm, 135mm, and 180mm). The tuning will then cover ten focal lengths, with probably more coming. 

V35 Project views Takumar lenses as relatively neutral, offering golden and orange flares with circular, rainbow-like patterns. Their subtle character strikes a balance, allowing them to easily produce either sharp or dreamy images without being overly pronounced. This gives them an excellent and versatile balance. The problem with the original Takumar was inconsistency throughout all the focal lengths, with different apertures that gave each lens a distinct character. 

This project began by using footage from old Takumar lenses as a reference. When the company started the research, they looked into the original 35mm f/2 and analyzed which features were present at that aperture. They found prominent edge falloff in sharpness and resolution towards the borders of the frame; the flares were orange and circular, and there was some softening on the skin, like a soft glow. Also, a pleasant textured bokeh was present wide open, becoming more neutral as the lens was stopped down. However, those wide-open characteristics did not transfer to other lenses in the set since their maximum aperture was slower than f/2 (for example, the old 20mm was f/4.5, so many of these characteristics were not as evident). Thanks to the new set, where all the focal lengths reach an aperture of T1.4, all these characteristics are present throughout the set.

Another advantage is that these new lenses outperform the old ones in breathing, chromatic aberration, and other characteristics while retaining the soft and pleasant skin tones and separation of the original Takumar. As the DZO system covers Vista Vision on the rear, we can attach filters magnetically on the back.

According to V35 Project, the new set offers versatility: when shot wide open, it showcases all the characteristic image qualities, but when stopped down to f/2.8, it regains sharpness, making it suitable for more precise, clinical work like corporate videos. Thus, it provides the best of both worlds.

The set also comes in EF mount for those with the tools and knowledge to switch the lenses (V35 Project doesn’t recommend it if you don’t know what you’re doing).

Price and availability 

The tuning costs $2,500 per lens, including the internal tuning and the exterior shell, completely redesigned with a chrome-looking finish. The full DZO Takumarles 5-lens A set is now available and shipping for $22,499. The upcoming B set will be a bit more expensive when available. For more information, please visit V35project.com or write directly to [email protected]

What do you think of the DZO Takumarles set by V35 Project? Have you used modified lenses in the past? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!