TLS Rehoused Nikon AI/AI-S Cinema Lens Series Launched

September 12^th, 20261

TLS Rehoused Nikon AI/AI-S Cinema Lens Series Launched

by Francesco AndreolaSeptember 12^th, 2026

True Lens Services now offers a rehousing service for Nikon AI/AI-S lenses, turning these legendary optics into production-ready cinema lenses. The full TLS Nikon AI/AI-S series consists of 11 focal lengths, ranging from 15mm to 135mm, with re-engineered mechanics, a circular iris, improved close focus, and more.

While the development of NIKKOR Z Cinema hybrid lenses hasn’t borne fruit yet, vintage AI (1977) and AI-S (1981) lenses remain a popular choice among cinematographers looking to take advantage of Nikon’s optical heritage. Indeed, their clean, balanced, and organic character makes them particularly well-suited for this purpose.

Companies like ZERØOPTIK, TK Lenses, and GL Optics already rehouse these lenses for cinema use, and now UK-based True Lens Services (TLS) – a leading name in lens rehousing – has joined them. Let’s take a look!

TLS Rehoused Nikon AI/AI-S series – Nikon at the core, carefully re-engineered

The complete TLS Nikon AI/AI-S rehoused lineup consists of 11 focal lengths, ranging from 15mm to 135mm. The lenses are available individually in either ARRI PL or LPL mount, or as a 9-lens set. The set includes all focal lengths except the 15mm T3.9 and 58mm T1.3, which are available separately. Here’s the full list:

15mm T3.9
20mm T3
24mm T2.2
28mm T2.2
35mm T1.5
50mm T1.3
55mm T1.3 (AI only)
58mm T1.3 (AI-S only)
85mm T1.5
105mm T1.9
135mm T2.1

TLS Rehoused Nikon AI/AI-S 15mm T3.9. Image credit: True Lens Services

For each lens, the original glass is preserved, but its mechanics are entirely and precisely re-engineered into a modern, lightweight cinema housing featuring 0.8 MOD focus and iris gears and a 95mm front diameter (110mm on the 15mm). Depending on the focal length, weight varies between 0.7 kg and 1.53 kg.

TLS Rehoused Nikon AI/AI-S 35mm T1.5. Image credit: True Lens Services

On top of this, the original polygonal iris is replaced with a circular one, whose blades are treated with a flat black anti-reflective coating to suppress stray reflections. This adds to the natural character of these lenses, offering a smoother bokeh and gentle focus falloff.

TLS Rehoused Nikon AI 55mm T1.3. Image credit: True Lens Services

All focal lengths grant full-frame coverage and come with improved close focus capabilities, compared to the originals. The minimum focus distance is 25.4cm/10” on the 20mm and 28mm, while it reaches 96.5cm/3’2” on the 135mm.

TLS Rehoused Nikon AI/AI-S 135mm T2.1. Image credit: True Lens Services

Price and availability

If you already own the donor lenses, you can have them rehoused by TLS for £3,950 per lens. Alternatively, a 9-lens set is available to purchase for under $50,000.

For more information, please visit TLS’s website here.

How do you like the look of Nikon AI/AI-S lenses? Have you ever worked with a set of TLS rehoused lenses? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!