Dulens APO Mini vs Cambrian vs Triassic: Which Cine Lens Set to Buy
The short answer
Dulens sells three APO prime series, and they are not three price tiers of one idea. Each is built for a different sensor and a different kind of shoot. The APO Mini Prime is the vintage look full frame series. The APO Cambrian Prime is the lightweight medium format series. The APO Triassic Prime is the high resolution series for crews who want sharpness from centre to edge. If you are weighing Dulens lenses for the first time, start with your camera’s sensor, then decide how much character you want in the image.
Everything below comes from the Dulens product pages and our own Dulens page. Where Dulens does not publish a number, we say so instead of guessing.
What all three series share
All three are APO designs, meaning apochromatic correction aimed at keeping colour fringing under control in high contrast, wide aperture scenes. For a cinematographer, the practical benefit is cleaner edges on bright backlit subjects and an easier grade, because you are not chasing purple or green fringes in post.
All three come as single lenses or as matched sets in a safety case, and all three are available in PL mount. That PL base matters in India, where rental houses and owner operators already have PL cameras, cages and follow focus gear sitting on the shelf.
Comparison table
| Feature | APO Mini Prime | APO Cambrian Prime | APO Triassic Prime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Vintage look full frame | Lightweight medium format | High resolution APO |
| Focal lengths | 21mm, 31mm, 43mm, 58mm, 85mm, 110mm | 24mm, 32mm, 40mm, 55mm, 77mm, 105mm | 25mm, 35mm, 50mm, 90mm, 120mm |
| Mounts | PL and EF | PL | PL |
| Published T-stop | Not stated on the page | T2.0 (T2.2 on the 105mm) | Not stated on the page |
| Published weight | Not stated on the page | 740g average, 80mm unified front | Not stated on the page |
| Coating and look | V+ coating, low contrast calibrated colour, uniform flare | Spherical design, APO correction, rounded bokeh | Full spectrum APO, nano glare resistant coatings |
| Set size | 6 lens set with safety case | 6 lens set with safety case | 5 lens set with safety case |
| Finishes | Black, Magic Black, White, Silver | Black, Silver | Black |
The blanks in the table are real. Dulens publishes T-stops and weight for the Cambrian only. For the Mini and Triassic, ask us for the tech sheet before you lock a rig or a matte box.
APO Mini Prime: full frame with character
The Mini Prime is the one to look at if you shoot full frame cinema bodies and want the image to feel a little less clinical. Dulens describes a V+ coating that is a retro coating system, not an ordinary broadband transmittance film. The stated aim is colour consistency across the whole set, which makes grading easier, and a tonally uniform flare that helps build atmosphere.
The glass uses ultra high refractive index lanthanum glass along with ultra low and anomalous dispersion elements. Dulens says this gives an airy, three dimensional image with high resolution, while field curvature and breathing are kept in line with a natural look. In plain terms, it is meant to feel like a vintage lens without the usual softness and fringing.
The six focal lengths run from a wide 21mm to a 110mm. That is a sensible spread for narrative and commercial work. The 21mm and 31mm handle interiors and wides, the 43mm and 58mm cover the normal range, and the 85mm and 110mm do close ups and portraits. The Mini is the only one of the three with an EF option alongside PL, which helps if your camera body takes EF directly.
APO Cambrian Prime: medium format that you can actually carry
Medium format cine lenses have a reputation for being heavy and slow. The Cambrian is Dulens’s answer to that. The page lists an average weight of 740g, an 80mm unified front across the set, and T2.0 on every focal length except the 105mm, which is T2.2. A unified front means your matte box, filters and follow focus do not need adjusting every time you change lenses.
The optical design is fully spherical, which Dulens ties to sharp focus and rounded bokeh. APO correction is there to keep chromatic aberration near zero, even wide open in contrasty scenes. The focus markings are luminous and charged by UV light, so they stay readable in dark rooms without a light on the barrel. Scales come in imperial and metric.
Focal lengths are 24mm, 32mm, 40mm, 55mm, 77mm and 105mm, PL mount only. Choose this series when your camera has a larger sensor and you want fast apertures at a weight that works handheld or on a gimbal.
APO Triassic Prime: resolution first
The Triassic is the sharpest looking pitch of the three. Dulens talks about edge to edge sharpness through the entire focus range and very high point precision at the centre, so the sensor can do its best work. A full spectrum apochromatic design targets purple fringing and colour accuracy, and nano glare resistant coatings are there to keep contrast in harsh light.
It comes in five focal lengths: 25mm, 35mm, 50mm, 90mm and 120mm, in PL mount, as single lenses or as a five lens set with safety case. That is a longer, tighter set than the Mini or Cambrian, with no very wide option, so think about whether your jobs need something wider than 25mm.
A note on format. The Dulens page for this series carries a medium format heading and an optimised tag, but it does not publish an image circle or a sensor size. We are not going to label the Triassic as full frame or medium format ourselves. Ask for the tech sheet and test coverage on your own camera before you buy. That is exactly what the MF60 projector below is for.
Single lens or full set?
If you are an owner operator who shoots one look repeatedly, buy the focal lengths you use. A 35mm or 50mm equivalent and one longer lens cover a lot of interviews, product films and music videos. If you are a rental house, or a DOP who wants a consistent colour and flare across a whole film, buy the matched set. All three series are sold both ways, and the sets arrive in a safety case.
The reason sets matter is consistency. The Mini’s V+ coating is specifically described as keeping colour consistent across the lens group, and the Cambrian’s unified 80mm front keeps your support gear fixed. Mixing series in one kit is possible, but you lose both of those benefits.
Which one for which shoot
- Period drama, music videos, atmospheric narrative on full frame: APO Mini Prime, for the coating, the flare and the softer natural field curvature.
- Handheld, gimbal and low light work on a larger sensor: APO Cambrian Prime, for T2.0, 740g average weight and the unified front.
- Commercials, product and VFX heavy work where fine detail and clean edges matter: APO Triassic Prime, for the high resolution brief and the glare resistant coatings.
- PL or EF body, and you want one lens to try before a full set: the Mini Prime single lens, since it is the one with both mounts.
Supporting gear: Magidapt and MF60
The Magidapt PL adapters let PL lenses mount on mirrorless and medium format bodies. Dulens lists PL-E, PL-L, PL-Z and PL-RF, plus PL-GFX for Fujifilm GFX and PL-XCD for Hasselblad XCD. They are made from a high strength composite alloy and start at just 115g. The mount sets come in two groups, one for E, L, Z and RF, and another for GFX and XCD.
The MF60 lens projector is a portable tool for checking lens coverage and performance, in a controlled room or on location. Its standard reticle chart shows formats from Super 16mm up to ALEXA 65, including Full Frame at 36 x 24mm, ALEXA LF, RED Vista Vision and the GFX frame at 44 x 33mm. Custom reticles are available on request. The Basic set includes a PL mount, standard reticle, three OLPF filters, a DC adapter and a safety case. The Pro set adds more mounts, a high resolution reticle, a bokeh test reticle, a dial indicator and a laser rangefinder. If you are unsure whether a series covers your sensor, this is how you find out.
Where to buy Dulens in India
Colo Exim is the official distributor of Dulens in India. We can help you match a series and mount to your camera, and tell you what is available in PL or EF. You can see the full range on our Dulens India page, browse the other lines we carry on the brands page, or compare against our Irix lenses if you are weighing other glass.
Tell us your camera, sensor format and the look you are after, and we will point you to the right series. Make an inquiry or call us on +91 93204 96801.
Frequently asked questions
Which Dulens series is full frame?
The APO Mini Prime is the full frame series, with six focal lengths from 21mm to 110mm in PL and EF mount.
Is the Dulens Cambrian a medium format lens?
Yes. Dulens describes the APO Cambrian Prime as a lightweight medium format cine lens series, with six focal lengths from 24mm to 105mm in PL mount.
What are the Cambrian T-stops and weight?
Dulens lists T2.0 on the Cambrian series, with T2.2 on the 105mm, an average weight of 740g and an 80mm unified front.
Can I use Dulens PL lenses on a mirrorless camera?
Yes, with a Magidapt PL adapter. Dulens lists PL-E, PL-L, PL-Z, PL-RF, PL-GFX and PL-XCD versions.
What does the MF60 lens projector do?
It tests lens coverage and performance, with standard reticle charts for formats from Super 16mm up to ALEXA 65 and custom charts on request.
Is Colo Exim an official Dulens distributor?
Yes. Colo Exim is the official distributor of Dulens in India.
