ZEISS Supreme Cinema Primes Announced – Large Format Continues to Grow

News

by Tim FokMay 24^th, 2018

ZEISS has announced a new set of Cinema Primes suitable for the Large Sensor Format. The ZEISS Supreme Prime Lens Line will be mostly rated at T 1.5 and compatible with PL, LPL and EF mount.

ZEISS Supreme Primes – Large Sensor High-End Cinema Primes

With ARRIs announcement of the large sensor Alexa LF back in April, we knew it was only a matter of time before more large-sensor-specific lens lines would surface.

The ZEISS Supreme Primes have an image circle of 46.2mm and are the first from the German company to be specifically compatible with this large sensor format

Users of the existing Master Primes will be familiar with the top end look and feel of a ZEISS premium product, the Supreme Primes are their answer to the new large sensor format.

User-Interchangeable Mounts, 13 Focal Lengths to Start With

Generally physically smaller and lighter than the ARRI Signature Primes, the ZEISS Supreme Primes will be available in 3 interchangeable mounts – LPL, PL and Canon EF (via service centre), so can interchange between large format and so called smaller formats like super35mm.

13 lenses have been announced – 15mm, 18mm, 21mm, 25mm, 29mm, 35mm, 50mm, 65mm, 85mm, 100mm, 135mm, 150mm, 200mm.

Super Fast and with eXtended Data Technology

All will sport an impressive aperture of T1.5, apart from the 15mm & 15mm at T1.8, and 200mm at T2.1.

Like the recent CP3 line announced, the ZEISS Supreme Primes will feature eXtended Data technology, offering a large amount of lens metadata including stop, depth of field, vignetting as well as shading and distortion characteristics.

Promo Demonstration Videos

In typical ZEISS Lens announcement fashion, the lenses have already been included on a few promo specific productions. Interesting is the choice of camera formats – 4 videos shot on RED Monstro and Sony VENICE, No Alexa LF.

Here are said 4 videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq0CAf51dR4

Naturally each DP involved in the promos has had their unique quote about the aesthetics of new lenses:

“A very smooth transition between in-focus and out of focus areas characterize the unique look of the ZEISS Supreme Prime lenses. This adds richer texture and greater depth to the image.”

– Cinematographer: Akira Sako. Shot with ZEISS Supreme Prime lenses and Sony VENICE

Specification sheet for the ZEISS Supreme Primes

ZEISS will bring out 6 initially this year (25/39/35/50/85/100), 4 in 2019 (21/65/135/150) and 3 the year after that (15/18/200). Pricing as below, circa $18000 a lens plus tax.