DZOFILM Vespid 2 vs Arles vs Vespid: Which DZO Primes Should You Buy?

Last updated 19 September 2026 by the team at Filmgear Canada, an authorized DZOFILM dealer in Vancouver.

The short answer

DZOFILM makes three full-frame prime families that people cross-shop constantly, and the names don't help. Vespid, Vespid 2, Arles. Here's how they actually split.

• Original Vespid, T2.1. The cheapest way into a matched set of cinema primes. PL with an EF mount you can swap in yourself. No lens data.
• Vespid 2, T1.9. Same small size, rebuilt optics, Cooke /i lens data and less breathing. PL only. For people who shoot on a cinema camera and move fast.
• Arles, mostly T1.4. Faster, bigger, heavier, with more focal lengths. For when the lens has to carry low light and very shallow focus.

If you're choosing between Vespid 2 and Arles, the question isn't really which is sharper. It's whether you'll use the extra stop, and whether you can live with lenses that weigh twice as much.

The three side by side

Everything in this table comes from DZOFILM's own specification pages, read on 19 September 2026. Prices are ours on the same day, in Canadian dollars.

What a faster T-stop is actually worth

People read T1.9 against T2.1 and assume the Vespid 2 is a meaningfully faster lens. It isn't. Every full stop is a factor of the square root of two in T-number, so here's the real gap.

A third of a stop is a small bump on your ISO dial. Nobody upgrades from Vespid to Vespid 2 for speed, and nobody should. The Vespid 2 earns its price with the lens data, the reduced breathing and the rebuilt optics.

Nearly a full stop is a different story. That's the Arles. It matters on a night exterior lit by whatever the street gives you, and it visibly thins your focus at the same distance. If your work lives at the wide end of the aperture ring, that stop is the reason to pay for Arles. If you shoot at T2.8 and stop down for commercials anyway, it isn't.

Vespid 2: what actually changed

The original Vespid made full-frame cine primes affordable. The Vespid 2 keeps its best idea, a small, matched housing, and adds what cinema crews tend to ask for: lens data and less breathing.

Size stays tiny. DZOFILM rates each Vespid 2 at around 800 g, with an 80mm front and an 80mm body from front to flange. They call it the most compact PL-mount VistaVision set on the market. On a gimbal or a Steadicam that's the whole point, and DZOFILM pitches it for the DJI Ronin 4D, gimbals and handheld rigs.

Lens data is new. Vespid 2 carries Cooke /i with a Lemo port, and DZOFILM says it's compatible with ARRI, RED, Blackmagic, Sony and Canon cinema cameras, recording focal length, T-stop and focus distance. That matters if you're doing VFX or a lot of post.

Breathing is down. DZOFILM describes minimal breathing and floating elements that correct aberration from infinity to close focus. Pull focus across a scene and the framing should barely move.

What it lost is the EF mount. The original Vespid ships with an EF mount kit in the box. The Vespid 2 is PL, full stop. B&H confirmed to a buyer that the Vespid 2 set doesn't come with an EF kit. If you're on mirrorless, you'll be using a PL adapter.

Arles: when you need the stop

Arles is DZOFILM's high-speed line. Eleven focal lengths from 14mm to 180mm, most at T1.4, all covering a 46.5mm image circle. The 16-blade iris is there for round out-of-focus highlights, and DZOFILM uses a blue-tinted coating to control flare.

The price of all that is size. Arles lenses weigh between 1.4 and 1.9 kg each, about twice a Vespid 2. They share a 95mm front and, apart from the 14mm, an 86mm filter thread, so they need a different matte box donut and different filters from the Vespids. If you're already carrying 80mm clip-ons and 77mm filters for Vespid 2, budget for that.

Arles also goes places Vespid 2 doesn't. 14mm at the wide end, 135mm and 180mm at the long end. If your shot list includes a tight close-up across a room, the Vespid 2 stops at 105mm.

So, Vespid 2 or Arles for commercial work? For commercials shot at T2.8 on a cinema camera, the Vespid 2's lens data and weight win. For narrative and low-light documentary where you live at T1.4, Arles wins.

The original Vespid is still a good buy

The original Vespid hasn't stopped making sense. T2.1 is fast enough for most work, the set runs from 12mm to 125mm with a 90mm macro, and the swappable PL and EF mounts mean the same lenses fit a Canon body today and a PL cinema camera next year.

One naming trap to watch for. Our listing called the VESPID Prime 7-Lens Kit V2 is a seven-lens kit of the original Vespid lenses, 16 to 125mm, PL and EF. Despite the V2 in the name, it isn't the Vespid 2. If you want Vespid 2, the product names read Vespid2, T1.9 and ARRI PL.

Before you order, check your camera

Almost every question buyers ask about these lenses on B&H is about fit, not image. Of the thirteen questions on the Vespid 2 kit page, eleven are some version of "will this work with my setup". Here's what we can say for sure.

• Vespid 2 and our Arles listings are PL. On a Sony FX6, a Nikon ZR, a Canon RF body or a Lumix, you'll need a PL adapter for that mount.
• Rear drop-in ND adapters and speed boosters depend on how far the rear element sticks out past the mount. DZOFILM hasn't published that figure for Vespid 2. One buyer on B&H says the set works with the MOFAGE POCO drop-in adapter. B&H told another buyer it won't clear the Metabones PL to RF Speed Booster. Check your adapter's compatibility list before you commit.
• Cooke /i data only shows up if the camera or accessory reads it. B&H told buyers that the DJI Ronin 4D and the Tilta Nucleus-M II don't read Cooke /i. One buyer also relayed that DZOFILM support told them the Alexa Mini wasn't supported at that time. If lens data is why you're buying Vespid 2, tell us your camera and we'll confirm with DZOFILM before you order.

The warts

We'd rather you hear these from us than find them on set.

Vespid 2 lens data isn't perfect for everyone. One owner reviewed their set on B&H after two repairs through DZOFILM and said the iris data was still 5 to 10% off. They still called the lenses optically gorgeous. If metadata accuracy is critical to your pipeline, test it on your camera early.

The same owner pointed out that the Vespid 2's iris and focus gears sit close together, so wireless motors for both have to go on opposite sides of the lens. Plan your motor brackets.

The Vespid 2 is PL only. That's a step back for anyone who loved swapping the original Vespid between EF and PL.

Arles is heavy for a gimbal build at 1.4 to 1.9 kg a lens, and it needs its own 95mm matte box ring and 86mm filters.

And our Vespid 2 listings are special orders, as are many of our Arles listings. Special orders are final sale, so if you're not sure about a focal length, ask us first. We'd much rather answer a question than have you stuck with a lens.

So which one

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between DZOFILM Vespid and Vespid 2?

Vespid 2 is T1.9 instead of T2.1, adds Cooke /i lens data with a Lemo port, reduces focus breathing and uses rebuilt optics with floating elements. It keeps the 80mm front diameter and weighs around 800 g a lens. The original Vespid comes with swappable PL and EF mounts. Vespid 2 is PL only.

Is the Vespid 2 faster than the original Vespid?

Slightly. T1.9 against T2.1 is about a third of a stop. The reasons to choose Vespid 2 are lens data, reduced breathing and the updated optics, not speed.

Should I buy Vespid 2 or Arles?

Arles is about 0.9 of a stop faster at T1.4, has 16 iris blades and offers 14mm to 180mm, but each lens weighs 1.4 to 1.9 kg. Vespid 2 weighs around 800 g a lens and records Cooke /i lens data. Choose Arles for low-light and shallow-focus work, Vespid 2 for gimbal, handheld and data-heavy workflows.

Does the Vespid 2 cover full frame and VistaVision?

Yes. DZOFILM lists a 46.5mm image circle for Vespid 2, covering full frame and VistaVision sensors such as the ARRI Alexa LF, RED V-Raptor VV and Sony Venice.

Does the Vespid 2 come with an EF mount?

No. Vespid 2 is a PL-mount lens. The original Vespid includes an EF mount kit, and Vespid 2 does not.

Which cameras read Vespid 2 lens data?

DZOFILM says Vespid 2's Cooke /i is compatible with ARRI, RED, Blackmagic, Sony and Canon cinema cameras, recording focal length, T-stop and focus distance. Support varies by model and accessory, so confirm your exact camera before ordering. B&H has told buyers the DJI Ronin 4D and Tilta Nucleus-M II don't read Cooke /i.

Can I use Vespid 2 or Arles on a Sony, Canon RF or Nikon Z mirrorless camera?

Yes, with a PL adapter for your camera's mount. If the adapter has a drop-in filter or a speed booster, check its compatibility list, because DZOFILM hasn't published the Vespid 2's rear element protrusion.

What filter size do Vespid 2 and Arles use?

Vespid 2 has an 80mm front diameter and M77 filter thread. Arles has a 95mm front diameter and M86 filter thread, except the 14mm, which has no filter thread. Both use 0.8 MOD gears.

Is the VESPID Prime 7-Lens Kit V2 the same as Vespid 2?

No. That kit contains seven original Vespid lenses, 16mm to 125mm, with PL and EF mounts. Vespid 2 lenses are T1.9 PL-mount primes named Vespid2.

How heavy are the Vespid 2 lenses?

DZOFILM lists each Vespid 2 at roughly 766 to 865 g depending on focal length. The six-lens set of 18, 24, 35, 50, 85 and 105mm adds up to just under 4.9 kg of glass.

Is the Vespid 2 six-lens kit cheaper than buying the lenses separately?

Yes. At our prices on 19 September 2026, the six-lens kit costs about $1,500 less than buying the same six lenses one at a time.

Can I return a special-order DZOFILM lens?

Special-order items are final sale at Filmgear Canada, including when they arrive from stock. If you're unsure which focal lengths to start with, contact us before ordering.

Buying DZOFILM in Canada

We're an authorized DZOFILM dealer with a showroom at 945 East Cordova in Vancouver, and we ship Canada-wide. Everything carries the manufacturer's warranty, and we coordinate warranty service with DZOFILM for you.

• DZOFILM Vespid 2 T1.9 six-lens kit (ARRI PL) and single Vespid 2 lenses
• DZOFILM Arles five-lens A kit, five-lens B kit and single Arles lenses
• Original Vespid seven-lens kit (PL/EF) and single Vespid lenses

Shooting anamorphic instead? Our Arcana vs Pavo guide covers DZOFILM's anamorphic lenses. Buying a set for a production company or rental house? Email info@filmgearcanada.com for a quote.

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Sources. Vespid 2 and Arles specifications from DZOFILM's official Vespid Prime 2 and Arles Prime product pages, and original Vespid details from the DZOFILM Store Vespid Prime T2.1 page, all read 19 September 2026. Buyer questions and the owner review about lens data and gear spacing from B&H Photo's DZOFilm Vespid2 6-Lens Kit page, read 19 September 2026. Stop differences are our own arithmetic from the published T-stops. Canadian prices are our retail prices on 19 September 2026 and may change.