Arles, Catta Ace, Pictor or Tango? Every DZO lens line we hire in London compared on coverage, speed, range, weight and mount, plus Pavo, Arcana and X-Tract.
DZOFilm has become one of the most-hired lens brands on our shelf, and we've built up a deep range of it at our counter in Stoke Newington, N16: 11 DZO lens sets and zooms across eight lines. That's great for choice, but it raises an obvious question. Which DZO lens should you actually put on the order?
This guide compares the four main lines we hire, the Arles primes, the Catta Ace zooms, the Pictor zooms and the Tango zooms, then covers the specialist sets: the Arles Lustre, the Pavo and Arcana anamorphics and the X-Tract probe zooms. Every one of them is listed on our DZO lens hire page with its live day rate.
Specs are DZOFilm's. Always tell us your camera when you order and we'll confirm the mount on the set you're getting.
The Arles is DZO's cinema prime line, and our set runs 25, 35, 50, 75 and 100mm, all at T1.4. That speed is the headline: on a large-format sensor you get very shallow depth of field and plenty of low-light headroom. The 46.5mm image circle covers full frame and VistaVision bodies, including the Alexa Mini LF and the RED V-Raptor X.
Hire the Arles for narrative work, commercials and music videos where you want a consistent, clean look across a full set of primes. Matching 95mm fronts and shared gear positions mean the focus puller isn't re-rigging between lens changes.
The Arles Lustre takes the Arles design and adds DZO's golden vintage coating, which gives warm amber flares and highlight bloom while keeping the sharpness. Our Lustre set is 25, 35, 50 and 75mm at T1.6. If the brief says "warm", "nostalgic" or "romantic", this is the one. If you're torn, hire both and shoot a test.
The Catta Ace pair, 35-80mm and 70-135mm at a constant T2.9, covers the same 46.5mm image circle as the Arles. That makes them the natural zoom partner for full-frame cameras. They're light enough for a gimbal or shoulder rig, and the 77mm filter thread means a screw-in variable ND fits directly, which is handy on cameras without internal ND.
Hire the Catta Ace for interviews, branded content and product films on full-frame bodies like the Sony FX6, where two zooms can replace a bag of primes.
The Pictor zooms, 20-55mm and 50-125mm at T2.8, are the most affordable DZO glass we hire. They're Super 35 lenses (31.5mm image circle) and they're parfocal, so focus holds as you zoom. That makes them a strong choice for documentary, events and live-style coverage on Super 35 bodies such as the RED Komodo and ARRI Alexa Mini, or on a full-frame Sony in Super 35 mode.
The Tango zooms are the big guns: an 18-90mm T2.9 and a 65-280mm T2.9-4, both Super 35. Between them they run from a wide establishing shot to a long-lens close-up without a lens change, which is why they suit observational documentary, sport, wildlife and second-unit work. They're full-size cinema zooms at around 3.5kg and 4kg, so plan for rods, lens support and a proper tripod head. We hire them as a pair or singly.
Our Pavo vs Arcana guide goes deeper on the two anamorphic sets.
Shooting on a Sony or a Komodo? Our guide to the best DZO lenses for the FX6, FX3 and Komodo covers mounts, adapters and Super 35 modes.
Want to see the glass first? Call ahead and come to our counter at Unit H1, 2 Leswin Place, London N16 7NJ, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. If it's your first hire, please register a production account before you order. Questions: 020 7898 3322 or rentals@weareyellowcactus.com.
Arles T1.4 and Arles Lustre primes, Catta Ace, Pictor and Tango zooms, Pavo 2x and Arcana 1.5x anamorphics, X-Tract 0° and 90° probe zooms, and the KOOP magnetic filter set. That's 11 DZO lens sets and zooms across eight lines.
The Arles, Arles Lustre and Catta Ace cover a 46.5mm image circle, enough for full frame and VistaVision. The Arcana covers full frame at 43.3mm and the X-Tract at 43.2mm. The Pictor, Tango and Pavo are Super 35 lenses.
The Arles is DZO's clean, modern T1.4 prime set. The Arles Lustre uses a golden vintage coating for warm amber flares and highlight bloom; our Lustre set is T1.6. We hire both.
Hire the Catta Ace for full-frame cameras: it covers 46.5mm at T2.9. Hire the Pictor for Super 35 cameras or a budget: it's T2.8, parfocal and our most affordable DZO set.
Not at the moment. For full-frame DZO primes we hire the Arles T1.4 and Arles Lustre sets.
Most of our DZO sets come in PL or EF, so tell us your camera when you order and we'll confirm. The Arcana and X-Tract are PL.