Vintage lens character meets modern function as TLS rehouses 1970s Olympus OM lenses for modern cinematography.
In recent years, the world of cinematography has witnessed a significant shift in lens preference. DPs are moving away from the “clinically perfect” rendering of many modern lenses, characterized by sterile sharpness and perfectly corrected aberrations. Instead, there’s a growing desire for “character optics”—lenses with innate imperfections that impart a distinct personality, texture, and feeling to the image. Leading the charge in this vintage lens revival is True Lens Services (TLS), a UK-based company known for its high-quality lens rehousing. Their latest project: bringing iconic Olympus OM lenses from the 1970s back to life for modern film sets.
Key Features of Rehoused Olympus OM Lenses from TLS:
- Vintage Glass: TLS uses original Olympus OM lenses, renowned for their distinctive rendering, warm colors, and beautiful flare characteristics.
- Modern Cinema Mechanics: The delicate focus and iris mechanisms are replaced with robust, precision-engineered components designed for the demands of professional productions.
- Unified Gear Position: All lenses in the set feature uniform focus and iris gear positions, simplifying lens changes and eliminating the need to readjust follow focus motors.
- 0.8 Mod Gears: Standardized 0.8 pitch gears for seamless integration with industry-standard follow focus systems and wireless lens control units.
- Increased Focus Throw: A longer, more accurate focus throw allows for precise focus pulls, even when working with shallow depth of field.
- PL Mount: The lenses are typically rehoused in PL mount, the standard for professional cinema cameras.
Benefits of Using Rehoused Olympus OM Lenses:
- Unique Aesthetic: Infuse your digital footage with a sense of history, character, and organic rendering that sets it apart from the pristine look of many modern productions.
- Enhanced Narrative Storytelling: Leverage the natural aberrations, flares, and bokeh of vintage glass to create a specific mood, atmosphere, or period-appropriate feel for your project.
- Reliability and Consistency: Modern cinema mechanics ensure smooth, repeatable performance on set, minimizing technical issues and focus hunting.
- Increased Production Efficiency: Standardized gears and consistent barrel diameters streamline lens changes, saving valuable time during a busy shooting schedule.
- Investment Value: Rehoused vintage lenses often hold their value well and can be a worthwhile long-term investment for cinematographers and rental houses.
The demand for “character optics” continues to rise, and TLS’s rehousing of Olympus OM lenses provides cinematographers with a powerful new tool to differentiate their work. By marrying the distinctive aesthetic qualities of vintage glass with the reliability and precision of modern cinema mechanics, these lenses offer a compelling option for those seeking to create unique and visually engaging imagery. If you’re looking to step away from the clinically perfect and embrace a more organic, cinematic feel, the rehoused Olympus OM lenses from TLS are definitely worth exploring.
