Leica DZOFilm Thypoch Simera-C 5-Lens Kit & Catta Review
DZOFilm's full-frame cine lens bundle offers five fast primes and a zoom for under $5,000. It's a filmmaker's focal length dream, but you'll be manually focusing every shot.
The 30-Second Version
The DZOFilm Thypoch Simera-C 5-Lens Kit & Catta bundle is a full-frame cine lens set for filmmakers on a budget. For under $5,000, you get five T1.5 primes and a 70-135mm T2.9 zoom, offering great bokeh and a complete focal length range. Just know you're trading autofocus and rugged build for that low price.
Overview
If you're a filmmaker or serious video shooter looking for a full-frame cine lens kit that doesn't cost as much as a car, the DZOFilm Thypoch Simera-C 5-Lens Kit & Catta bundle is a serious contender. This kit gives you five fast T1.5 prime lenses (21mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 75mm) and a Catta 70-135mm T2.9 zoom, all designed for full-frame sensors. The whole set comes in at just under $5,000, which is a lot of money, but it's also a lot of glass for the price compared to established cine brands. The primes use a Leica M mount and come with an adapter for L-mount cameras, while the zoom is native L-mount, making it a solid option for shooters using Panasonic, Leica, or Sigma full-frame mirrorless bodies.
Performance
This is a kit built for controlled shooting, not run-and-gun. The primes are all T1.5, which is plenty fast for low light and shallow depth of field, landing them in the 29th percentile for aperture performance. That means they're decently bright, but not the absolute fastest on the market. Our data shows the bokeh quality is a strong point, sitting in the 72nd percentile, so you can expect smooth, rounded out-of-focus areas. Just don't expect miracles in autofocus or stabilization, as those scores are middling at best. The optical performance score is in the 35th percentile, which suggests the image quality is competent but may not match the clinical sharpness of top-tier photo lenses. For video work where character and a cinematic look are priorities, that's often perfectly fine.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Complete 6-lens cine kit for under $5,000 73th
- Fast T1.5 aperture on all five prime lenses
- Smooth, high-quality bokeh (72nd percentile)
- Compact and lightweight design for the primes
- Includes both M-mount primes and an L-mount zoom with adapter
Cons
- No built-in image stabilization on any lens 11th
- Autofocus performance is average at best (45th percentile) 30th
- Build quality scores low (12th percentile)
- Not weather-sealed
- Minimum focus distance of 760mm on the zoom is limiting
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 135 |
| Focal Length Max | 135 |
Aperture
| Diaphragm Blades | 16 |
Build
| Mount | Interchangeable Mount with Included L-Mount/Leica M |
| Format | Full-Frame (43.5 mm Image Circle) |
| Weight | 1.6 kg / 3.5 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 77 |
AF & Stabilization
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 760 |
Value & Pricing
At $4,969, this bundle's value proposition is all about quantity and specialization. You're getting six dedicated cine lenses for the price of maybe two from a brand like Zeiss or Cooke. The trade-off is in areas like build quality and autofocus. If you need a set of fast primes and a telephoto zoom specifically for manual-focus video work on full-frame, and your budget is firm, this kit makes sense. If you need robust autofocus, sealing, or the absolute best optical performance, your money might be better spent on one or two exceptional hybrid lenses instead.
Price History
vs Competition
This kit exists in a different world than the stills-focused competitors our database shows, like the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S or the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8. Those are autofocus workhorses for photographers. A closer comparison would be other cine-style lens sets. The Meike 55mm F1.8 Pro is a single, affordable cine prime with autofocus, but it's just one focal length. The Viltrox 35mm F1.7 is another budget cine option. The DZOFilm bundle's real advantage is offering a coordinated set of primes and a zoom with consistent color and look, which is crucial for video projects. You're paying for the system, not just individual lens performance.
| Spec | Leica DZOFilm Thypoch Simera-C 5-Lens Kit & Catta | Meike Meike 50mm F1.8 Full Frame AF STM Lens Standard | Nikon Nikon S-Line Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II Lens (Nikon Z) | Canon Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens | Tamron Tamron Di III Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens for Sony | Sigma Sigma Contemporary Sigma 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary Lens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 135mm | 50mm | 24-70mm | 24mm | 17-70mm | 16-300mm |
| Max Aperture | - | f/1.8 | f/2.8 | f/1.8 | f/2.8 | f/3.5 |
| Mount | Interchangeable Mount with Included L-Mount/Leica M | Nikon Z | Nikon Z | Canon RF | Sony E Mount | Sony E |
| Stabilization | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | false | true | false | false | false |
| Weight (g) | 1588 | 301 | 676 | 269 | 544 | 615 |
| AF Type | - | STM | Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Lens Type | Zoom | - | Zoom | Zoom | Zoom | Zoom |
Common Questions
Q: Is the DZOFilm Simera-C kit good for photography?
Not really. These are manual-focus cine lenses designed for video. The lack of autofocus and lower optical performance score (35th percentile) compared to dedicated photo lenses makes them a niche choice for stills shooters.
Q: Can I use these lenses on a Sony E-mount camera?
Not directly. The primes are Leica M mount (with an L-mount adapter included), and the zoom is native L-mount. You'd need additional, third-party adapters for Sony E-mount, and you'd lose any electronic communication.
Q: How does the DZOFilm kit compare to Sigma Cine lenses?
Sigma's contemporary cine primes are in a higher league for build quality, consistency, and often optical performance, but they cost significantly more per lens. The DZOFilm kit is a budget-friendly way to get a similar focal length spread.
Q: Are these lenses good for low light video?
Yes, the T1.5 aperture on all the primes is excellent for low light. The 70-135mm zoom is a slower T2.9, which is still decent, but you'll want to use the primes for the darkest scenes.
Who Should Skip This
Travel vloggers and solo run-and-gun shooters should look elsewhere. The low travel score (13.2/100) and lack of stabilization or autofocus make this kit a hassle for on-the-move, one-person operations. Hybrid photographers who need fast autofocus will also be frustrated. For those users, a single, high-quality stabilized zoom like a Panasonic 24-105mm f/4 or a set of native autofocus primes from your camera brand will be a much better fit.
Verdict
So, should you buy the DZOFilm Thypoch Simera-C and Catta bundle? If you're an independent filmmaker, documentarian, or content creator who shoots primarily manual-focus video on a Panasonic, Sigma, or Leica full-frame camera, and you need a range of focal lengths without breaking the bank, this is a compelling package. It gets you from wide to telephoto with fast apertures. But if you're a hybrid shooter who needs reliable autofocus, a photographer looking for the sharpest lenses, or someone who beats their gear up on location, you should probably skip it. The build quality score is a real red flag for heavy use.