Canon 11-165mm T2.5

The Canon 11-165mm T2.5 is a 15x cine zoom for Super-16 format and has been a standard tool in the S16 documentary and news sector for decades. A focal length range of 11mm to 165mm at a constant T2.5 – that's impressive for a 15x zoom; many modern 5-7x zooms don't achieve such a fast aperture.

What 15x Means

A 15x zoom range is extreme in the cine world. Typical cine zooms are around 3-5x (an Angenieux Optimo 24-290 = 12x is already a lot). The Canon 11-165 thus covers everything from wide-angle establishers (11mm S16 ≈ 22mm S35 equivalent) to telephoto close-ups (165mm S16 ≈ 330mm S35 equivalent) in a single lens. A complete spot on one piece of glass is possible with the 11-165.

Parfocality

As a cine zoom, it is designed for parfocality – the focus should remain constant while zooming. With a lens of this age, it's still advisable to test this before shooting. Important for news/documentary work where quick focal length changes without focus loss are necessary. Also valuable in music videos for zoom-in moves.

Format

Super-16 – the image format of the ARRI SR series and Arriflex 416. The lens covers the S16 image circle, not the larger S35 area. Adapting it to S35 bodies is not practical (vignetting).

Service and Availability

Old Fast Glass (LA) is a well-known rental specialist for Canon S16 zooms. Service availability in CH/DE is limited – typically requiring shipping to the LA service center.

Today

In demand again during the 16mm revival of 2024-2026, especially for no-budget spots where a single-lens setup is desired (one lens instead of six primes). The character is classic: not super-sharp, slight warmth in the mid-range, a subtle vignette effect at the wide end. Similar to Cooke character.