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Set Includes
- TLS Kowa Prominar 15mm T4.0
- TLS Kowa Prominar 20mm T2.6
- TLS Kowa Prominar 25mm T2.3
- TLS Kowa Prominar 32mm T2.4
- TLS Kowa Prominar 40mm T2.5
- TLS Kowa Prominar 50mm T2.6
- TLS Kowa Prominar 75mm T2.7
- TLS Kowa Prominar 100mm T2.6
TLS Kowa Prominar Spherical
Prime - Spherical - Super 35
product details
Cine Visuals rents the TLS Kowa Prominar Spherical vintage Super 35 prime lens set from Los Angeles. This 8-lens PL-mount set includes 15mm, 20mm, 25mm, 32mm, 40mm, 50mm, 75mm, and 100mm. Available for rental or sub-rental worldwide, with daily and weekly rental quotes available on request. Each lens is inspected and calibrated in-house before rental.
Set Includes
- TLS Kowa Prominar 15mm T4.0
- TLS Kowa Prominar 20mm T2.6
- TLS Kowa Prominar 25mm T2.3
- TLS Kowa Prominar 32mm T2.4
- TLS Kowa Prominar 40mm T2.5
- TLS Kowa Prominar 50mm T2.6
- TLS Kowa Prominar 75mm T2.7
- TLS Kowa Prominar 100mm T2.6
| Type | - |
| Format | - |
| Lens Mount | - |
| Iris Blades | - |
| Metadata | - |
| Per Focal Length | |
| Focal Length | - |
| T-Stop | - |
| Close Focus | - |
| Front Diameter | - |
| Weight | - |
| Length | - |
| Era / Generation | |
| Contrast & Tonal Character | |
| Sharpness & Resolution | |
| Focus Fall-Off / Transition | |
| Iris & Bokeh Quality | |
| Flare & Highlight Behavior | |
| Handling & Ergonomics | |
| Build & Modifications | |
| Cinematic Heritage & Credits |
*Refer to the Technical Specifications table
Lens Type:
Vintage Cinema Lenses
|
Super 35 Lenses
|
PL Mount Cinema Lenses
Blogs
About the TLS Kowa Prominar Spherical Cinema Lenses
TLS Kowa Prominar spherical primes are compact vintage Japanese lenses rehoused for cinema use, valued for their warm, naturally flattering rendering and character-driven image rather than technical perfection. They produce gentle contrast, smooth tonal roll-off, and an organic softness that gives digital images a more filmic, less clinical feel.
Originally developed as a portable and affordable alternative to Western primes, they have been rediscovered for projects that benefit from warmth, texture, and a lighter-weight lens package. TLS rehousing adds modern cine mechanics and reliability while preserving the original optical personality. With focal lengths from 15mm to 100mm, they also pair well with lenses such as Vintage Cooke zooms or Canon K35s when a cohesive vintage look is needed.
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Image Fidelity & Focus
Kowa Prominar spherical primes are known for their warm color rendition, smooth, moderate contrast, and pleasing tonal roll-off that feels distinctly vintage. In the frame, subjects are highlighted with sharp centers and natural vignetting, as well as by a distinctive drop-off in both resolution and contrast. Focus falloff is gentle, producing further subject separation. Chromatic aberration and edge softness are present wide open, but contribute to the charm. Overall, these lenses create a distinctly vintage aesthetic that softens digital images.
Handling & Adaptability
Practical, portable, compact and lightweight, Prominar spherical primes are easy to handle and well-suited for handheld or gimbal work. Modern rehousings provide cine-standard mechanics, PL mounts, and reinforced housings, making them reliable on professional sets. Their adaptability is part of their appeal, allowing filmmakers to combine vintage aesthetics with modern reliability.
Flare & Bokeh
An extinct and impossible-to-reproduce single layer gold coating produces unique, colorful and expressive flaring, with warm golden and amber streaks, purple horizontals, and veiling glow. Bokeh is creamy, with round highlights and a subtle swirl in certain focal lengths.
Image Circle
Kowa Prominar spherical primes cover Super 35 sensors.
Cinematic Heritage
Spherical Prominars were developed by Kowa in the 1960s, aimed at filmmakers seeking affordable but capable optics, and rediscovered by contemporary filmmakers in the 2010. The results can be seen, for example, on โArrival,โ โStraight Outta Comptonโ and โJason Bourne.โ
Technical Specs Table
T-Stop
Type
Format
Front Diameter
Lens Mount
Metadata
Close Focus (ft)
Close Focus (m)
Weight (lbs)
Weight (kg)
Length (in)
Length (mm)
Iris Blades
Image Circle
Front Filter
Rear Filter
Horizontal Angle of View (Full Frame)
Horizontal Angle of View (S35)
Focus Rotation
T4.0
Spherical
Super 35
125 mm
PL
โ
7"
0.18 m
1.80 lbs
0.82 kg
2.20"
55.88 mm
โ
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โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
T2.6
Spherical
Super 35
110 mm
PL
โ
10"
0.25 m
3.20 lbs
1.45 kg
4.25"
107.95 mm
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
T2.3
Spherical
Super 35
110 mm
PL
โ
11"
0.28 m
4.20 lbs
1.91 kg
5.50"
139.70 mm
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
T2.4
Spherical
Super 35
110 mm
PL
โ
10"
0.25 m
2.00 lbs
0.91 kg
2.70"
68.58 mm
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
T2.5
Spherical
Super 35
110 mm
PL
โ
13"
0.33 m
2.00 lbs
0.91 kg
2.70"
68.58 mm
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
T2.6
Spherical
Super 35
110 mm
PL
โ
19"
0.48 m
2.00 lbs
0.91 kg
2.70"
68.58 mm
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
T2.7
Spherical
Super 35
110 mm
PL
โ
2'4"
0.71 m
3.60 lbs
1.63 kg
3.50"
88.90 mm
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
T2.6
Spherical
Super 35
110 mm
PL
โ
3'3"
0.99 m
3.80 lbs
1.72 kg
5.00"
127.00 mm
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
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Blogs
Links & Downloads
PROJECTS SHOT WITH
TLS Kowa Prominar Spherical
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