White Plains, NY—The first high-speed (T1.5) cine lenses made specifically for mirrorless full-frame cameras, Zeiss Nano Prime lenses initially launched in the Sony E-mount. The prime lenses are a solution for a range of shooting situations, from wide-angle to telephoto. Moreover, a compact, lightweight design makes them easy to use on any location. Zeiss Nano Prime lenses are available in six focal lengths: 18mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm as well as 100mm.
“Thanks to the close focusing distance and the high speed of T1.5, Nano Primes enable images with an extremely shallow depth of field, even in the wide-angle range,” commented Christophe Casenave, responsible for Zeiss Cinematography Products. “The elegant bokeh and the harmonious focus fall-off ensure a versatile look that meets different artistic requirements, whether for indie productions, documentaries, commercials, series or feature films.
“With the Nano Primes, we are closing the gap between entry-level and high-end lenses, enabling all filmmakers to create a cinematic look even in this price segment.”
Zeiss Nano Prime Details
With their light weight, Nano Prime lenses are made to fit into established film crew workflows. The compact design also allows the lenses to be used in constricted shooting situations, even under adverse conditions. The lineup ranges from 3.3 inches in length to 4. 4 inches. Further, depending on focal length, they weigh in between 1.9 and 2.8 pounds.
What’s more, consistent positioning of the focus and iris rings across all focal lengths helps ensures uncomplicated lens changes. The calibrated focus scales are also easy to read, and a long 280° focus rotation aids in precise focus pulling. In addition, the iris ring features 90° rotation as well as a nonlinear scale to enable fine aperture adjustment.
Furthermore, the Nano Primes’ high speed combined with their close focus capability delivers shallow depth of field, even with wide-angle shots. The maximum aperture of T1.5 and the rounded 12-blade iris also produce a pleasing bokeh effect for cinematic imagery. Plus, offering a gentle sharpness akin to Zeiss Supreme Primes, these lenses are an option for B-Cam and C-Cam or as a budget-friendly alternative.
Also featured is a 95mm compendium ring and an 86mm screw-in filter thread. Consequently, they will integrate with gimbals and drones. The new cine lenses are also certified for extreme conditions—cold and rain.
Additional Features
In addition, the Nano Primes are ready for the exchange of additional mounts thanks to the Zeiss IMS (interchangeable mount system). With a user-adjustable back focus via shims, the lenses also provide precise scales even with entry-level cameras. Finally, the lenses have an integrated electronic interface. As a result, metadata such as focal length, focus distance and aperture value are transmitted to the camera in real time.
Zeiss Nano Prime lenses come in six focal lengths—18mm T1.5, 24mm T1.5, 35mm T1.5, 50mm T1.5, 75mm T1.5 and 100mm T1.5—for E-mount cameras. They are available individually or as a complete set. The complete set includes a lens case and has suggested retail price of $25,950. Zeiss will begin deliveries in May 2024.
