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- GL Optics Asahi Takumar 15mm T3.6
- GL Optics Asahi Takumar 24mm T3.6
- GL Optics Asahi Takumar 28mm T3.6
- GL Optics Asahi Takumar 35mm T2.1
- GL Optics Asahi Takumar 50mm T1.5
- GL Optics Asahi Takumar 85mm T1.9
- GL Optics Asahi Takumar 135mm T2.6
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Asahi Takumar GL Optics
Prime - Spherical - Full Frame
product details
The Asahi Takumar lenses rehoused by GL Optics bring classic mid-20th-century optical character into a modern, cine-ready form. Originally produced by Asahi Optical Co. for 35mm still photography, the Takumar lenses are known for their warm color rendering, gentle contrast, and smooth, organic focus roll-off. GL Optics preserves this signature look while completely rebuilding the mechanics for professional cinema use—adding standardized front diameters, 0.8 MOD focus and iris gears, extended focus rotation, and durable housings optimized for PL-mount production. The result is a set of vintage Japanese optics with reliable, repeatable performance on digital cinema cameras, offering cinematographers a unique blend of nostalgic rendering and contemporary usability. Available to rent from Cine Visuals.
- GL Optics Asahi Takumar 15mm T3.6
- GL Optics Asahi Takumar 24mm T3.6
- GL Optics Asahi Takumar 28mm T3.6
- GL Optics Asahi Takumar 35mm T2.1
- GL Optics Asahi Takumar 50mm T1.5
- GL Optics Asahi Takumar 85mm T1.9
- GL Optics Asahi Takumar 135mm T2.6
| Set Includes |
15mm – 135mm (7 Lenses)
|
| 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
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Image Fidelity & Focus
Their nostalgic quality has been slept on over time. GL Optics has brought the naturalistic and organic quality of these lenses back to life with their incredible rehousing. Subjects are sharp with a filmic quality. Focus gently rolls off from the center towards the edges. As these lenses were designed to mimic the feeling of Takuma Kajiwara’s paintings, the glass brings a painterly quality that, out-of-focus, feels almost impressionistic. Skin tones are made to feel smooth and nostalgic, like a memory, without drawing attention to itself. Takumars have a medium contrast to them due to their special multi-layered coatings. Optics are crisp and yet have a subtle touch to them. Gentle, realistic, but beautiful and otherworldly all at the same time.
Handling & Adaptability
The 15mm to 50mm each weigh under 3 lbs with the 85mm and 135mm weighing 3.42 and 3.53 lbs respectively. The set ranges in length from 116-196mm or 4.6 inches to 7.7 inches. A nice range of size with the wider end being nearly uniform from 14-28mm. Large enough for camera assistants to have the flexibility and maneuverability to work on the lens while being small enough for operators to easily manage the lens. To keep uniformity for matteboxes and consistency, each prime has a front diameter of 110mm. Between the 15-35mm lenses, focus rotation is 180º degree and for 50-135mm, each lens has a focus rotation of 330º. GL Optics housing is well-crafted to create buttery smooth focus pulls. These lenses are camera assistant friendly and keep production efficient.
Flare & Bokeh
Flaring is gentle. While present and artistic, they have a subtlety to them. Super Takumars lay in the middle of worlds, with flaring that has character yet restraint. Bokeh is rather unique in these lenses. Circular and light, the bokeh takes on a pastel effect with gentle rolloff on the edges. A gentle layer that embraces the rest of each of the bokeh that has a slightly more saturated tone than the rest, reminiscent of the limbal circle in the iris of the human eye. This helps the humanist and organic feeling that the Takumars are known for, now brought to life for modern cinema with GL Optics rehousing.
Image Circle
The rehoused GL Optics Asahi Takumars pair excellently with Full Frame sensors whether that be the ARRI Alexa Mini LF, the Sony Venice 1 & 2, the RED Raptor VV, or other Full Frame cinema cameras. Each lens has an image circle that easily covers Full Frame, however the 85mm and 135mm have image circles of 55mm which are large enough to cover 70mm film, the ARRI Alexa65, and medium format sensors such as the Fujifilm Eterna 55 available to rent here at Cine Visuals.
Cinematic Heritage
Asahi means “rising sun” or “morning sun” in Japanese and is associated with a multitude of ideas, brands, and is even a given name. The feeling often is associated with both the ideas of hope and growth. By the 1950s, Asahi had in fact grown immensely and Kumao Kajiwara took his optical designs to the next level. Looking for inspiration, he turned to his artistic younger brother who had become a well-renown painter, Takuma Kajiwara. The Super Takumars, with their impressive balance of beauty and control, would often be dubbed “the Zeiss Killer” as they quickly competed with the dominating Zeiss brand. GL Optics has brought back the painterly beauty of the Takumars into the mechanics of the modern day. The GL Optics Asahi Takumar Set brings that creative, innovative, and inspirational spark of the Kajiwara brothers into the future of filmmaking.
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
T3.6
Spherical
Full Frame LF/VV
110 mm
PL
–
10"
0.25 m
2.76 lbs
1.25 kg
–
–
15
43.5 mm
–
–
–
–
–
T3.6
Spherical
Full Frame LF/VV
110 mm
PL
–
9"
0.23 m
2.09 lbs
0.95 kg
–
–
15
43.9 mm
–
–
–
–
–
T3.6
Spherical
Full Frame LF/VV
110 mm
PL
–
11"
0.28 m
2.20 lbs
1.00 kg
–
–
15
40.2 mm
–
–
–
–
–
T2.1
Spherical
Full Frame LF/VV
110 mm
PL
–
8"
0.20 m
2.76 lbs
1.25 kg
–
–
15
40.2 mm
–
–
–
–
–
T1.5
Spherical
Full Frame LF/VV
110 mm
PL
–
11"
0.28 m
2.87 lbs
1.30 kg
–
–
15
49.5 mm
–
–
–
–
–
T.19
Spherical
Full Frame LF/VV
110 mm
PL
–
1'8"
0.51 m
3.42 lbs
1.55 kg
–
–
15
55.0 mm
–
–
–
–
–
T2.6
Spherical
Full Frame LF/VV
110 mm
PL
–
3'9
1.14 m
3.53 lbs
1.60 kg
–
–
15
55.0 mm
–
–
–
–
–
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