Anhui, China—Venus Optics introduced two Laowa Ranger Cine Zoom compact lenses. In addition, the new Laowa Ranger Cine Zoom 28–75mm T2.9 and 75–180mm T2.9 will soon be joined by the Ranger 16–30mm T2.9 lens. Covering a full-frame sensor, the series addresses the demands of different production sizes, from small run-and-gun filmmakers to larger production houses.
Despite the Ranger series covering a long zoom range from 28mm to 180mm, each of the lenses weighs around 3.1 pounds. Consequently, filmmakers have flexibility in the shooting setup. For example, they can use the lenses on a gimbal, a car rig or even handheld. Ranger lenses are also parfocal, ensuring precise focus control while zooming in and out. Moreover, due to the lenses’ constant large T2.9 aperture, filmmakers can use them in dim natural light for documentary filming or to isolate the subject for a scene.
“Creating your cinematic masterpieces has never been easier. Apart from its professional optic design and cine housing, these lenses provide a quick back focus adjustment mechanism, which saves you tons of time on the hideous shimming process,” the company announced.
Laowa Ranger Cine Zoom Lens Key Features
With a compact, lightweight design, the Ranger series offers mobility. They are solutions for various shooting setups—gimbals, shoulder rigs, car rigs and handheld operations. Further, both the Ranger 28–75mm and the 75–180mm can focus at close distances (19 inches with the 28–75mm/35 inches with the 75-180mm). In addition, they achieve almost no focus breathing.
The lenses also come in a popular zoom range from 28mm to 180mm with more than a 6.4x zoom ratio in total. As a result, they can save filmmakers time by not having to change lenses and setup. What’s more, cinematographers can use the 28mm for establishing shots, a more standard 35–50mm tighter framing for a medium close-up, and the 180mm for a subject that’s far away. In addition, filmmakers can utilize the lenses’ zoom capability to do a dolly zoom.
Featuring a constant T2.9 aperture, the Ranger lenses also deliver consistent exposure throughout the zoom range. And the large aperture allows you to operate easier in a dim environment. Or filmmakers can make use of this to separate the subject from the background.
What’s more, the lenses maintain focus with their parfocal design. As a result, subjects will stay sharp and in focus even when zooming in or out. And specs state that “the virtually invisible focus breathing ensures a smooth focus transition and maintains the frame of your shots.” They also feature a quick back focus adjustment mechanism.
The optical formula of the 28–75mm lens comprises 22 elements in 18 groups. The 75–180mm lens features 14 elements in 14 groups. Both have an 11-blade aperture; a focus throw of 270º, an aperture throw of 42º and a zoom throw of 100º. The design also enables the lenses to deliver natural color rendering, whether shooting wide open or at a close focus.
Pro Cine Features
Venus Optics engineered the compact lenses to fit a professional production setup. Both new Ranger lenses come with 0.8 mod gears, threads for mounting lens support and other utilities. Dual scales with feet as well as meters are both displayed on the lenses. The lenses also have a 77mm filter thread and 80mm outer diameter. Thus, filmmakers can choose from using screw-in filters or a matte box.
The lenses come with a native PL mount as well as an interchangeable EF bayonet. Moreover, Venus offers additional mirrorless mounts (separate purchases), such as RF, E, Z and L mounts. 
Now available, the Laowa Ranger Cine Zoom lenses have a suggested retail price of $2,999 each and $5,799 for a two-lens bundle set. Additional mirrorless mounts are $100 each.
