Anhui, China—Venus Optics and Keslow Camera unveiled the Laowa Proteus Flex flare lens series. The new addition to the Proteus 2x Anamorphic prime lens lineup features a distinctive and interchangeable flare functionality.
“With invaluable guidance and support from Keslow Camera, a renowned leader in cinema camera rentals, filmmakers and rental houses now have the opportunity to leverage the versatile Proteus Flex lenses to precisely set the desired ambiance for any production, aligning seamlessly with the narrative tone,” Venus Optics announced.
Moreover, the Proteus Flex lens series retains all the characteristics of the original Proteus series. This includes its painterly elliptical bokeh and smooth focus falloff.
“Introducing the new Proteus Flex series is a noteworthy development for rental houses and the film industry. This innovation brings remarkable flexibility and cost efficiency to the forefront by providing three distinct flare colors within a single modular design. This elevated level of modularity enhances the versatility of the entire series, simplifying the filmmaking process,” added Dennis McDonald, chief operating officer of Keslow Camera. 
Keslow Camera services the motion picture camera space. The company has rental facilities in 10 United States and Canadian cities.
Laowa Proteus Flex
The new Proteus Flex has a modular design, comprising a core Proteus body and three interchangeable flare modules. You can install and swap the flare modules, securely screw locking them into the primary Proteus body. An on-set technician should complete a swap in 10 minutes without additional optical calibration. Moreover, the new lens housing is 100% compatible with and maintains the versatility of the current Proteus line.
The latest iteration of the Laowa Proteus Flex 2x Anamorphic lens is exhibiting at IBC Amsterdam from September 15–18, 2023. Additionally, this event marks the debut of the Proteus 28mm and 100mm lenses. Venus Optics is also showcasing its new Pro2be, Nanomorph Anamorphic lenses and the newly unveiled Ranger Lite series. 
What’s more, starting mid-October 2023, the Laowa Proteus Flex 2x Anamorphic series with interchangeable flares options will be available for rental at Keslow Camera.
For those considering a purchase, Venus Optics will make these lenses available beginning in January 2024. While Venus is still considering the pricing for the Proteus Flex, one can expect the final cost to land at approximately double the existing Proteus line.
