ARRI APO Mini Prime Du 21mm

The Dulens APO Mini Prime 6-Lens Kit gives indie filmmakers a full set of full-frame cine primes for under $6k, but the optics are soft and the build is far from premium. It's best for those who want a vintage look on a budget and don't mind sacrificing sharpness.

Optically, these lenses land in the 16th percentile of our database, so don't expect clinically sharp results. Wide open at T2.4 or T2.6, they're noticeably soft with a gentle glow and reduced contrast. Stopping down to T5.6 tightens things up, but if you're used to modern stills glass or even pricier cine primes, the lack of bite will be apparent. The 11-blade iris helps keep bokeh shapes rounded, but the bokeh quality itself sits in the 32nd percentile, meaning out-of-focus areas can be a bit busy and distracting instead of creamy. The aperture range, from T2.4/T2.6 to T22, isn't particularly fast either (19th percentile), so shooting in dim interiors or at night will push your ISO higher than you'd like. On the bright side, the six focal lengths give you a 95th percentile versatility score, letting you cover wide establishing shots to tighter portraits without a gap. Build quality is middling at the 44th percentile; the lenses feel solid enough for careful use but lack weather sealing and aren't built to take heavy abuse on set. There's no stabilization, which is expected for cinema glass, but worth noting if you're coming from photo lenses.

The Dulens set doesn't really compete with the photo lenses listed as alternatives here; the Canon RF-S 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM and Sigma 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN are autofocus stills zooms with stabilization, meant for hybrid shooters who value convenience over cinematic rendering. If you need a single lens that can do a bit of everything on a gimbal, those are smarter picks. But for dedicated cinema work, direct competitors include the Rokinon DS cine prime series or even the Meike Cine primes, which often deliver sharper optics and metal builds for a similar price per lens. The Dulens APO Minis trade some sharpness for smoother, low-contrast rendering and a cohesive set with consistent mechanics. For a run-and-gun doc where you need AF and IS, grab a Nikon Z 17-28mm f/2.8 or a similar zoom. For a narrative short that wants a dreamy, vintage feel, this six-lens kit does the job on a shoestring.

At $4,199 to $5,773, this kit is shockingly cheap for six full-frame cine primes. You'd normally spend that much on a single high-end cinema lens. The price spread across vendors is over $1,500, so it pays to shop around before clicking buy. If you're a student, a filmmaker cutting their teeth, or someone who loves that soft, vintage character, the value is solid. But if you need pristine sharpness and rugged build, the low optical score means you might end up renting better glass for critical shoots anyway, which undercuts that upfront savings.

If you're hunting for a full set of cine primes that won't drain your bank account, the Dulens APO Mini Prime T2.4/T2.6 6-Lens Kit is bound to pop up. For somewhere between $4,200 and $5,800, you get six focal lengths (21, 31, 43, 58, 85, and 110mm) that all cover full-frame sensors and come in a white ARRI PL mount. The consistent 80mm front diameter and 72mm filter thread make it easy to swap between lenses without rejigging your matte box or filters, which is a nice touch for a budget set. The look is deliberately vintage, with coatings that lean toward a smooth, lower-contrast image rather than razor-sharp modern glass. That vibe might be exactly what indie filmmakers and music video shooters are after, but it's not for everyone. The lightweight 550g build per lens also means you can throw a couple on a gimbal without needing a gym membership, though the plastic feel reminds you where corners got cut.

Steer clear if you need razor-sharp, clinical image quality or a tank-like build for daily rental-house use. Hybrid shooters who want autofocus and stabilization should look at fast stills primes like the Sigma Art series, while filmmakers needing dependable low-light performance and weather sealing will be happier with higher-end cine lenses or even renting sets like the Arri Signatures for important projects.

The Dulens APO Mini Prime set is a mixed bag that will appeal to a specific kind of shooter. If you want a full range of focal lengths, love that soft, old-school look, and can live with middling build quality, it's one of the cheapest ways to get a matching set of full-frame cine primes. Beginners and music video creators will probably have a lot of fun here. But if you make your living from image quality, you'll quickly grow frustrated with the lack of sharpness and the plasticky feel. This isn't a professional set; its 22.4/100 professional score confirms that. For the same money, renting a few high-end primes for a shoot might get you better results. So yes, buy this if you're after a budget-conscious, character-packed lens set for personal projects. Skip it if you need glass that delivers clinical sharpness or tough build for paying clients.