DZOFilm Tango: Compact cinema lenses with T2.8 aperture and unified 95mm front diameter for consistent mattebox use.
Technical Details
The Tango lenses feature a 14-blade aperture design for circular bokeh characteristics and a minimum focus distance of 0.6m for the 18-55mm and 1.2m for the 75-200mm. The front diameter is uniformly 95mm with an M95x1.0 filter thread. Both lenses weigh 2.1kg (18-55mm) and 2.8kg (75-200mm) respectively, and measure 195mm and 245mm in length. The construction includes 16 lens elements in 11 groups (18-55mm) and 18 elements in 13 groups (75-200mm), each with multi-layer nano-coating. Available mounts are PL, EF, and E-mount with standardized 0.8mm pitch gears for follow focus systems.
History & Development
DZOFilm launched the Tango series in 2021. The company, founded in 2019 in Hangzhou, expanded the series in 2022 with macro versions.
Practical Use in Film
Netflix utilized the lenses for "The Peripheral" (2022) in handheld sequences. The constant T2.9 aperture simplifies zoom moves without exposure correction. The 18-55mm covers wide-angle to portrait, while the 75-200mm compresses perspectives for interviews. Both focal lengths work on gimbals like the DJI Ronin 4D.
Comparison & Alternatives
Angenieux Optimo zooms cost approximately three times as much but offer wider zoom ranges. Canon CN-E zooms have a variable aperture (T3.7-5.6) and more weight. Sigma Cine zooms show inconsistent color reproduction between focal lengths. The Tango lenses are suitable for medium budgets but do not reach the focal length ranges for high-end productions.