Lens test: DZOFilm Vespid Primes

The DZOfilm Vespid Prime set offers a compelling blend of affordability, performance, and versatility for filmmakers seeking high-quality full-frame cine lenses. With focal lengths of 25mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, 100mm, and 125mm, each lens in the set maintains a consistent T2.1 aperture, ensuring uniform exposure and depth of field across the range.

Designed with a 46.5mm image circle, the Vespid primes provide full-frame coverage, making them suitable for a wide array of cinematic applications. The lenses are constructed with a robust all-metal housing, offering durability and a professional feel. Their compact and lightweight design enhances portability, making them ideal for handheld shooting and gimbal work.

Specs

- Uniform Aperture: A consistent T2.1 aperture across all focal lengths allows for seamless exposure adjustments and depth of field control.
- Full-Frame Coverage: The 46.5mm image circle ensures compatibility with full-frame sensors, providing expansive coverage and creative flexibility.
- Build Quality: The all-metal construction offers durability and a professional aesthetic, suitable for demanding production environments.
- Compact Design: The lightweight and compact form factor facilitates easy handling and is well-suited for various shooting scenarios.

Optical characteristics

In our testing, the Vespid primes demonstrated strong optical performance while imparting more character than neutral lens sets such as the Sony GM primes. Images produced by the Vespids exhibit a slight tonal warmth, subtle bloom in highlights, and pleasing organic transitions between light and shadow. The bokeh has a gentle softness, though some lenses show slight cat's-eye effects at the edges when shooting wide open at T2.1.

The Vespid primes retain sharpness and contrast while giving the image personality, making them ideal for projects where a more stylized, expressive look is desired. Their slight inconsistencies between lenses, particularly in peripheral sharpness, flare, and chromatic aberration can be seen as part of their charm, adding subtle texture that enhances the cinematic aesthetic.

Chromatic Aberration

One aspect to note is the presence of minor chromatic aberration in the corners of the frame, particularly at wider apertures. This is not unusual for lenses in this class and can often be mitigated in post-production, but it is worth considering when framing critical compositions at the edges of the image.

Final Thoughts

The DZOfilm Vespid Prime set presents an excellent option for filmmakers seeking professional-grade lenses with character. While they may not match the precise neutrality and uniformity of Sony GM primes, their distinctive tone, warmth, and organic rendering make them a compelling choice for a wide range of productions.

For those interested in experiencing the DZOfilm Vespid primes firsthand, the full set is available for testing in our prep space.