ASC Todd-AO 65mm Primes

Originally built in the early 1950s, the legendary Todd-AO 65mm Primes helped create such classics as Oklahoma!, Around the World in 80 Days, The Sound of Music, South Pacific, Cleopatra, The Alamo, Hello, Dolly! and Patton. After decades in disrepair, they were eventually donated to the American Society of Cinematographers, and forgotten in the ASC Clubhouse basement... until now.

Todd-AO lenses were originally part of a groundbreaking cinematic system developed in the early 1950s to revolutionize widescreen filmmaking. Created by producer Mike Todd in collaboration with the American Optical Company, the Todd-AO system was designed to compete with Cinerama by offering a high-resolution, single-camera alternative that could deliver immersive visuals without the complexity of multiple synchronized projectors.

The ASC Todd-AO 65mm Primes are an excellent pairing with any large format camera platform, covering sensors up to 65mm in size. The new, contemporary housings are custom-built to support PV, PL, and LPL mounts, and are easily interchangeable to allow flexibility in any production workflow. The housings feature a unique distressed metal finish, designed to patina over time. This one-of-a-kind housing will only get better with age - just like the optics within each lens.

Beautifully rehoused with modern mechanics, these lenses are ready for your next project. Available for rent exclusively at Keslow Camera. Learn more here.