Dulens Dulens APO Close-Focus Triassic Prime 5-Lens Kit Review

The Dulens APO Triassic Kit delivers sharp, matched optics in a compact cine prime set, but it's held back by a slow T2.8 aperture and no autofocus. Its optical performance scores in the 87th percentile. Worth buying only if you need a manual PL-mount set and don't require fast glass.

The Dulens APO Triassic 5-Lens Kit is a set of manual cinema primes built for a specific job. It gives you five full-frame PL-mount primes (25, 35, 50, 90, and 120mm) in a compact, consistent package, all with close-focus ability and cine-style gearing.

This isn't a general-purpose lens set. It's a tool for filmmakers who need a lightweight, matched set of primes for controlled environments. The optical performance is its main draw, landing in the 87th percentile in our database, while features like autofocus and stabilization are non-starters.

The optics are sharp. Really sharp. That 87th percentile ranking means these lenses resolve detail beautifully, and the apochromatic design keeps color fringing in check. The close-focus ability is solid, scoring in the 69th percentile, which is great for getting tight shots without a dedicated macro lens. The trade-off is in the light gathering; a T2.8 max aperture puts it in the bottom third for low-light performance and shallow depth of field, so don't expect creamy, cinematic bokeh here.

At $2559 for five full-frame PL-mount primes, the price per lens is tempting. You're paying for optical performance and a matched set, not for features. If you need a set of sharp, compact cine primes and you're okay with manual everything and a slower aperture, it's a decent deal. If you need speed or automation, your money goes further elsewhere.

This kit exists in a different world than the listed competitors like the Meike 55mm F1.8 or Viltrox primes. Those are autofocus stills lenses for mirrorless cameras. A fairer comparison would be against other entry-level cine prime sets, like the DZOFilm Pictor zooms or used vintage sets. The Dulens kit's advantage is its matched, compact design and close-focus. Its disadvantage is the T2.8 aperture, which is slower than many alternatives in this price bracket that offer T2.0 or faster.

Skip this kit if you shoot in low light or love shallow depth of field. The T2.8 aperture is a major limitation there. Also, if you need autofocus for gimbal work or solo shooting, look at modern mirrorless cine lenses from brands like Sirui or Meike instead. This is a manual-only, controlled-environment tool.

Buy this kit if you're a filmmaker building out a PL-mount camera package for narrative or commercial work where you control the lighting and pull focus manually. The image quality is there, and the set is convenient. It's a focused tool for a focused shooter.