Workshop Registration

The Lens Tech Lab

A professional Lens Technician ensures that every lens on a production performs reliably, consistently and safely. Beyond cleaning glass, Lens Techs inspect optics, evaluate image quality, calibrate focus, verify lens metadata, maintain lens mechanics, troubleshoot problems, and support the cinematographer and camera department throughout production.

This intensive hands-on workshop introduces participants to the technical skills required to inspect, evaluate, maintain and prepare professional cinema lenses for production. Using lenses from LIFT's rental inventory, participants will learn industry-standard testing procedures, proper handling techniques, optical evaluation methods and preventative maintenance practices used by rental houses and professional camera departments.

This workshop is ideal for emerging Camera Assistants (ACs), cinematographers, rental technicians, digital imaging technicians (DITs), educators and filmmakers who want to better understand professional lens care and quality control.

The Camera Theory workshop is strongly recommended as a prerequisite. This course is recommended as a companion to the Cinematography Fundamentals, DIT Intensive (Digital Imaging), Bolex 16mm Cameras, ARRI SRII 16mm and Aaton XTR Prod Super 16mm Cameras and Camera Assisting workshops.

Tue 15 December 2026, 6 - 10 pm   
(Registration deadline is Tue 15 December 5:00 pm)

Instructor: Tobias Darton

Tobias “Tobe” Darton is a Canadian technician, cinematographer, and multi-disciplinary film professional whose flexibility has enabled him to gather 13+ years of industry experience. With roles spanning from TVA, Camera Assist, Grip, Electric, Cinematographer and Lens Technician, Tobe brings a uniquely comprehensive understanding of how cameras, lenses, lighting and crews work together on set.

Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Tobe has worked across a range of narrative and independent productions. His cinematography credits include Mr. March (2022), Brother(s) (2015), and the 2024 feature film The Damnation.

Of Métis ancestry, Tobe was named after legendary filmmaker Tobe Hooper, an early influence that helped cement his love of cinema from childhood. More than a decade into his career, he remains driven by the same curiosity that brought him to filmmaking in the first place: to learn, create, collaborate and take on new challenges.



Location: 1137 Dupont Street, Toronto, Ontario M6H 2A3
Category: Cameras
Maximum Capacity: 12
4 hours of instruction $85 /member$110 /nonmember
Registration opens
Tue 22 Sep at 10am