Exploring the Creative Potential of the TLS Prometheus Lens by Egor Povolotskiy DOP

We recently connected with cinematographer Egor Povolotskiy, who came to us with an exciting challenge: to rehouse a rare and characterful 1970s lens for a bold creative project. Recognising the extraordinary nature of the glass—and just how few of these lenses still survive in usable condition—we embraced the collaboration as both a creative opportunity and a mission to preserve a remarkable piece of optical history.

Egor Povolotskiy DOP

Egor Povolotskiy is a Los Angeles–based Director of Photography known for his cinematic storytelling and versatile visual style. Originally from Russia, he transitioned from photojournalism and commercial photography into film, earning his MFA in Cinematography from the New York Film Academy in 2014. Since then, he has shot multiple feature films and numerous shorts and was recognised as one of American Cinematographer Magazine’s “Rising Stars of Cinematography.”

In Povolotskiy’s words…

When this lens first entered my hands, I faced an unexpected technical challenge: finding a suitable adapter to test it. My initial setup—a standard M42-to-EF adapter—was not fully compatible with the lens’ unconventional design. Yet the moment I looked through the viewfinder, even with an imperfect setup, I realised there was something extraordinary here.

Discovering Unprecedented Flares

The first tests revealed flares unlike anything I had ever encountered before—dynamic, powerful, and visually complex, as if two universes were colliding. They didn’t behave like typical optical artefacts; they felt alive. As someone who believes strongly in the flow of creative energy, these flares resonated deeply. They weren’t simply reflections—they were expressive, layered, and full of character.

Originally, I intended to use this lens for a personal film project exploring sudden fame and inner transformation. Although the project ultimately never went into production, the lens had already been built—and its potential was too compelling to set aside.

Revelation Through Proper Testing

Once I began testing the lens more thoroughly, its true capabilities came into focus. At wide open, I noticed an elegant, creamy glow in the highlights—far beyond what can be replicated through filtration. This effect stems from a surprising design decision: the inclusion of a fisheye element in a 55mm lens. The resulting glow is organic and dynamic, never flat.

Stopping down to T2.8 and beyond revealed even more complexity. Contrary to expectations for 1970s-era optics, the lens retained its subtle vintage softness even at tighter apertures. The highlight glow gradually dissipated, but the texture, character, and gentle roll-off remained. Even fully stopped down, the Prometheus offers a beautifully natural transition from focus to defocus with no abrupt plane—a quality that elevates everything from close-ups to detailed environmental shots.

Speaking of close focus, its approximately 17-inch minimum focus distance makes it exceptional for extreme close-ups where emotional detail matters.

The Evolving Character of Flares

Typically, stopping down reduces flare intensity. Prometheus defies this convention. Instead of diminishing, the flares transform: what begins as vibrant, wild, and expressive at wide open becomes more structured, colourful, and deliberate when stopped down—reaching a particularly mesmerising quality around T14. It is rare to see flares evolve creatively across the aperture range, and this behaviour sets the lens apart.

A Bokeh Rendering Unlike Anything Else

Testing the bokeh introduced yet another remarkable discovery. With repetitive textures—dense forests, patterned curtains, or structured backgrounds—the lens produces a mesmerising “breathing” bokeh effect. It’s as if Trioplan-style swirls meet Double Gauss rendering, a combination almost unheard of in lens design. Gentle adjustments to focus bring backgrounds to life, creating motion-like textures even in static scenes.

The lens maintains extreme shallow depth of field while preserving a dynamic, dimensional quality—not the flat, overly blurred look common with many fast lenses. Even medium-wide shots take on an otherworldly character.

Full-Frame Coverage and Enhanced Performance

All initial tests were conducted on Super 35. Naturally, the next question was: Can it cover full frame? The answer is a definitive yes—beyond full frame, in fact. On larger sensors, every characteristic described above becomes even more pronounced. The image opens, revealing the lens’ full expressive power.

Compact Design Without Compromise

Despite its speed and unconventional optical architecture, TLS engineered the Prometheus into a remarkably compact, low-profile housing. This makes it highly practical for gimbal, Steadicam, and handheld work where weight and size are critical factors.

The Birth of Prometheus

The Prometheus lens is where creativity meets engineering—a fusion of energy, expression, and precision. Unlike many specialty lenses with only one signature look, Prometheus offers true versatility. It’s an artistic tool, a unique brush capable of shifting styles, moods, and tones. The deeper you explore it, the more it reveals.

Find out more about the TLS Prometheus here: TLS rehoused Prometheus