ASC Todd-AO Lenses

The ASC Todd-AO Lenses are nine prime lenses from the early fifties, originally calculated for the Todd-AO widescreen process and restored and rehoused by the American Society of Cinematographers together with Zero Optik in 2024/25.

Origin

Todd-AO emerged around 1953 as a response to CinemaScope: 65mm negative, 70mm print, spherical instead of anamorphic. The optics for it were created at the American Optical Company. They are behind films such as Oklahoma!, Around the World in 80 Days, The Sound of Music, Cleopatra, and Patton.

The set in question was in the ASC clubhouse in Hollywood and was rediscovered there. The restoration began in January 2024, initiated by Shelly Johnson ASC; Greig Fraser worked on tuning the newly rehoused optics. The set was presented in September 2025.

The Set

Nine focal lengths from 18 to 135mm. The T-stops are not consistent but follow the original calculation for each lens—from 18mm T5.3 to 60mm T2.1. The minimum focus distances also vary per lens. This is not a flaw in the restoration but the condition in which these lenses were built; consistent stops were not a design goal in the fifties.

What the Rehousing Achieves

The new housings are interchangeable between PV, PL, and LPL mounts without the lens needing to return to the workshop. This allows the lenses to be connected to current large-format bodies—they cover 65mm and thus any smaller format. Focus and iris paths are designed for modern motors and hand units.

When Planning

The set is a unique piece; it is brokered through Keslow Camera. The inconsistent T-stops are the aspect that requires work in preparation: exposure is planned per focal length, not per scene, and a change from 60mm to 18mm costs over two stops. Anyone using the set plans the lens sequence together with the lighting concept, not after it.