DZOFilm Vespid Prime 16mm T2.8 PL Mount + EF (FF)

Ultra-wide shots tend to eat time on set: a new donut for the matte box, lens motors shifted along the rods, minutes lost before the camera rolls again. The DZOFilm Vespid Prime 16mm T2.8 PL Mount + EF (FF) matches the rest of the Vespid Prime line on front diameter (80 mm) and gear placement, so going to 16 mm takes seconds, not a rig rebuild. Its 46.5 mm image circle fills full-frame and VistaVision sensors, from the ARRI ALEXA Mini LF to the Sony VENICE; on Super 35 it reads as a classic wide.

Of the 14 elements arranged in 10 groups, one is aspherical, three use ED glass and four are high-resolution types. These APO-corrected optics keep colour fringing off window frames and backlit edges – a real risk at 16 mm, where high-contrast lines run into the corners. Distortion stays moderate, so architecture needs less straightening in post, and breathing is minimal. Coatings hold veiling glare back against open skies. The look is neutral, with soft skin tones and a hint of vintage character that intercuts cleanly with longer Vespid focal lengths. A 16-blade iris renders round out-of-focus highlights.

Handling follows cine convention. The 270° focus rotation spreads close-range marks far apart, and that matters on an ultra-wide, where anything past a few metres sits near infinity. The 50° iris arc allows smooth exposure rides from T2.8 to T22, and both rings carry 0.8 MOD gears. Interchangeable PL and EF mounts let a crew switch between PL cine bodies and EF cameras such as the Canon EOS C500 Mark II. Optional DZOFilm Octopus adapters add Sony E, Canon RF and L-mount options, and flange back can be shimmed per camera.

On drones, gimbals and handheld rigs, where the matte box often stays in the truck, DZOFilm's KOOP magnetic rear filter base, available separately for PL-configured lenses, lets ND filters clip onto the back of the lens. With a 0.25 m close focus, an operator can push a product into the foreground while the room stays readable. DZOFilm aims the series at indie films, commercials, music videos, documentaries and live shows.