Thypoch Simera-C TP-SCCZ-MRF 135mm

The Thypoch Catta 70-135mm is a cine zoom with terrible optical quality and shoddy build, despite a $5,000+ price tag. It's among the worst lenses we've ever tested in these categories. Save your money and look elsewhere.

The Thypoch Simera-C Catta 70-135mm T2.9 is a manual focus cine zoom that comes bundled with a set of M-mount primes in this kit. It's built for full-frame coverage and ships with interchangeable mounts for Leica M and Nikon Z, so you can adapt it to mirrorless bodies. But straight away, the specs are concerning. Constant T2.9 is quite dim for a cine zoom, and at nearly 1.6 kg with no weather sealing or stabilization, it's a chunky, no-frills optic.

We ran it through our lens database and the numbers don't lie. Optical quality sits in the bottom 16th percentile, which means it's one of the worst performing lenses in its class that we've tested. The build quality is even more disappointing, landing in the bottom 8th percentile. For a kit that can cost over $6,000 depending on where you shop, that's a tough pill to swallow.

This lens struggles everywhere it counts. The T2.9 aperture is constant, sure, but it's still a full stop slower than the T2.8 you'd expect on a modern cine zoom. Manual focus only, no stabilization, and a minimum focus distance of 760mm make it useless for close-ups or run-and-gun work. Our tests show it delivers soft, underwhelming images with bokeh that's just average. It manages a 72nd percentile versatility score thanks to its zoom range, but that's the only bright spot in an otherwise dismal set of results. For $5,000 or more, you're getting subpar optics and flimsy construction.

Value here is almost nonexistent. Although we don't have a fixed MSRP, retailer prices range from $4,969 to $6,769, and that spread alone is wild. For that money you could buy a set of fast, sharp, autofocus stills lenses that outperform this zoom in every metric. The included prime lenses are a nice bonus, but they don't rescue the zoom itself, which is overpriced for the level of performance you get. If you absolutely must have this kit, shop around because you can save nearly $1,800 by picking the cheapest vendor.

It's almost unfair to compare this cine zoom to consumer stills lenses, but that's exactly what the competition list includes. The Nikon Z 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 VR and Canon RF-S 18-150mm are compact, lightweight, and pack autofocus and stabilization. They also cost a fraction of the price. Even the Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN, which isn't even a telephoto, runs circles around the Catta in optical quality and build. If you need a video lens with a constant aperture, there are far better manual cine zooms out there at similar or lower prices. This Thypoch simply doesn't hold up.

If you need autofocus, any kind of image stabilization, or simply want a sharp image out of the box, skip this lens. Even a cheap kit zoom will give you faster light gathering and better optics. This is a niche item for die-hard manual shooters who have an adapter collection and a high tolerance for soft footage.

It's hard to imagine a scenario where we'd recommend this lens. Cine shooters who need a 70-135mm range and a constant aperture are better off renting a high-end zoom or picking up a used PL-mount optic with a decent reputation. The Thypoch Catta 70-135mm is heavy, soft, and hobbled by a too-slow T2.9. Only consider this if you're buying the kit exclusively for the excellent Simera-C primes and the zoom is just a freebie you'll rarely use.