Chinese rehousing manufacturer GL Optics exhibited specialty rehoused lenses at the PRONEWS SUMMIT 2025 video technology exhibition in Ryogoku, Tokyo.
One lens that particularly caught the eye of visitors was the Mamiya “SEKOR C 80mm F1.9,” a lens known as a masterpiece for medium format cameras, fully rehoused to suit modern cinema production sites.
This lens boasts a large image circle that covers large format sensors such as the ARRI ALEXA 65 and Fujifilm GFX series. The mount is PL as standard, but it is also compatible with LPL.
While retaining the beautiful image characteristics of the original still lens, such as the soft, creamy, and natural bokeh that are unique to vintage lenses, the lens barrel has been changed to a sturdy metal, the rotation angle of the focus ring has been widened, and it now features inner focusing, achieving the high level of operability and durability required in modern film production. The person in charge said that the image quality, which could be described as fantastical, is perfect for expressing dream scenes.
GL Optics is a manufacturer based in Chengdu, China, that specializes in lens rehousing. They have the technical capabilities to rehousing almost every lens on the market, and they have transformed a wide variety of lenses into cinema-grade lenses, from current lenses from Canon and Nikon to classic lenses from Contax and other manufacturers. GL Optics’ unique approach is to leave the coating untouched so as not to impair the original “flavor” of the lens’s image, and instead focus solely on improving operability and durability.
These lenses are being distributed in Japan by the HORIZON Company. This company operates booths for various Chinese gear companies at events locally here, such as GODOX.
