Dulens Dulens APO Mini Prime T2.4/T2.6 6-Lens Set (ARRI Review
The Dulens APO Mini Prime set offers a matched vintage look for filmmakers, but its optical performance lags behind the price tag. We break down who this niche kit is actually for.
The 30-Second Version
A $4,200 vintage look in a box. Only buy this if 'soft and dreamy' is your entire brand. For sharp, modern image quality, look literally anywhere else.
Overview
The Dulens APO Mini Prime set is a weird one. It's a six-lens kit for ARRI PL cameras that costs over four grand, but our data shows it's not particularly great at anything. The one thing to know is this: you're paying for a matched set of vintage-style cine primes, not for cutting-edge optical performance. If you need a consistent, slightly soft look across multiple focal lengths for narrative work, this might be your vibe. If you want sharp, modern lenses, look elsewhere.
Performance
Honestly, the performance scores surprised us, and not in a good way. For a $4,199 set, landing in the 35th percentile for optical quality and 29th for aperture speed is rough. The T2.4/T2.6 max aperture isn't exactly fast for primes, and the optical score suggests you're getting a specific, softer vintage character rather than clinical sharpness. The 11-blade diaphragm should give smooth bokeh, but the overall bokeh rating is just average. This set is about a specific aesthetic, not benchmark-topping specs.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- You get six matched focal lengths (21mm to 110mm) in one box, which is convenient for a cine kit.
- Consistent front diameter (80mm) and filter threads (72mm) across all lenses make rigging and using matte boxes a breeze.
- The vintage coating and 11-blade iris are designed to deliver a specific, smooth 'look' that some filmmakers chase.
- Interchangeable PL mounts offer some future-proofing for different camera bodies.
Cons
- The optical performance is mediocre for the price, sitting in the bottom half of our database. 18th
- T2.4/T2.6 is a slow max aperture for modern prime lenses, limiting low-light capability. 29th
- No autofocus or stabilization, which is standard for cine lenses but worth noting for hybrid shooters. 35th
- It's heavy. At 550g per lens, this is a serious kit, not a run-and-gun solution.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Prime |
| Focal Length Min | 21 |
| Focal Length Max | 21 |
Aperture
| Diaphragm Blades | 11 |
Build
| Mount | Interchangeable Mount with Included Canon EF |
| Format | Full-Frame (46 mm Image Circle) |
| Weight | 0.6 kg / 1.2 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 72 |
AF & Stabilization
| Stabilization | No |
Value & Pricing
The value proposition is tough. At $4,199, you're paying about $700 per lens. For that money, you could assemble a set of sharper, faster vintage stills lenses and adapt them, or save up for a more modern cine prime set. This kit only makes financial sense if you absolutely need the matched housings, gearing, and vintage character right now, and you're renting out your gear to clients who demand that specific look.
vs Competition
This isn't competing with the Meike or Viltrox stills lenses listed. Those are cheap, autofocus photo lenses. A real competitor would be something like the DZOFilm Vespid Prime set or used Zeiss CP.2s. The Vespid primes are also a matched cine set, often sharper, and can be found for a similar total cost. The Dulens set bets everything on its unique vintage rendering. If you don't love that look, the Vespid set is a better all-around performer. For indie filmmakers on a tighter budget, adapting a set of Canon FD or Nikon AI-S primes will get you a vintage look for a fraction of the price, but without the cine housing consistency.
| Spec | Dulens Dulens APO Mini Prime T2.4/T2.6 6-Lens Set (ARRI | Tamron Tamron Di III Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens for Sony | Meike Meike 55mm F1.4 Standard Aperture APS-C Frame AF | Nikon Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR Lens (Nikon Z) | Viltrox VILTROX 23mm F1.4 Auto Focus APS-C Frame Lens for | Canon Canon L Canon RF 35mm f/1.4 L VCM Lens (Canon RF) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 21mm | 17-70mm | 55mm | 16-50mm | 23mm | 35mm |
| Max Aperture | — | f/2.8 | f/1.4 | f/2.8 | f/1.4 | f/1.4 |
| Mount | Interchangeable Mount with Included Canon EF | Sony E Mount | Nikon Z | Nikon Z | Fujifilm X | Canon RF |
| Stabilization | false | true | true | true | true | false |
| Weather Sealed | false | false | false | false | false | true |
| Weight (g) | 550 | 544 | 281 | 329 | 499 | 544 |
| AF Type | — | Autofocus | STM | Autofocus | STM | Autofocus |
| Lens Type | Prime | Zoom | — | Zoom | — | Zoom |
Common Questions
Q: Is this set good for low-light shooting?
Not really. T2.4/T2.6 is decent, but it's not fast by today's prime lens standards. You'll be pushing your ISO more than with an f/1.4 or even f/1.8 lens.
Q: Can I use these on my mirrorless camera?
Yes, but it's a hassle. They're native PL mount for cinema cameras. To use them on a Sony E-mount or Canon RF camera, you'd need a PL-to-mirrorless adapter, and you'd lose all electronic communication. They're manual focus and aperture only.
Q: Are these lenses sharp?
Our data places optical performance in the 35th percentile. That means they're deliberately not super sharp. They're designed for a smooth, vintage character. If you want critical sharpness, this isn't your set.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a versatile, do-it-all lens kit for run-and-gun filmmaking or hybrid photo/video work, this isn't it. Go get a couple of fast, modern autofocus primes from Sigma or Sony instead. Also, if 'clinical sharpness' is in your vocabulary, skip these. They're the opposite of that.
Verdict
We can't give a blanket recommendation. The Dulens APO Mini Prime set is a niche tool for a specific filmmaker. If you're a DP building a kit for period pieces, music videos, or any project where a soft, classic filmic look is the primary goal, and you need the operational consistency of a matched cine set, then this could be a justifiable purchase. For everyone else—documentarians, corporate shooters, or anyone prioritizing sharpness and speed—this set is a hard pass. There are better ways to spend four grand.