New Zeiss 55mm f1.4

[Phil Holland]

I expect Nikon Nikkor 58mm f1.2 AIS to be under resale pressure now ;-)
Lets hope around $2,000.

So,
is Schneider still considering making 14mm XENON? Macro lens i hear is no longer in...

That Nikon might be special. Haven't seen it yet.

Schneider just made a 14mm Cine-Xenar III prime. There wasn't a 14mm on the table last I heard, but they are working on a 18/20/21mm to compliment the other Xenon FF-Primes. The 100mm isn't going to be a macro lens sadly. To me it would appear they are designing the XFFs to be very 'narrative' in their nature. They'll have more in their range displaying at NAB 2014 for sure.

 

[Jiri Vrozina]

That Nikon might be special. Haven't seen it yet.

Schneider just made a 14mm Cine-Xenar III prime. There wasn't a 14mm on the table last I heard, but they are working on a 18/20/21mm to compliment the other Xenon FF-Primes. The 100mm isn't going to be a macro lens sadly. To me it would appear they are designing the XFFs to be very 'narrative' in their nature. They'll have more in their range displaying at NAB 2014 for sure.

If they release 18mm next year under $6000, i am interested

 

[Billy Jim]

.....Soon isn't going to happen though. You'll see one more mid-year next year and another before the year is out, unless things have radically changed.

They really do need to put this in a proper cinema style housing.....

Hi Phil,
What's your guess as to when OTUS 55mm CP.3 will be available?
Billy

 

[Phil Holland]

Hi Phil,
What's your guess as to when OTUS 55mm CP.3 will be available?
Billy

Well officially Zeiss hasn't announced that. I know if I was them I'd show it at NAB 2014.

 

[Aaron McLane]

the Otus won't be part of a CP line...... maybe Master Prime 2's

 

[Maik Müller]

the Otus won't be part of a CP line...... maybe Master Prime 2's

Yep, releasing this lens is "brave" and more than interesting. Putting a CP-housing around it would make it instantly a MP-killer and game-changer for the cine-market. Zeiss would probably kill their own MP/UP-sales with a full set of Otus-Cine-Lenses. But it will take years before we have a full set, so they have time to work on a new MP-generation.

I'm still with Phil's theory, Zeiss will put this into a CP-housing at some point, probably after or with the announcement of the next two Otus-lenses. They have to, because there is a lot going on in that price-segment.

 

[Phil Holland]

the Otus won't be part of a CP line...... maybe Master Prime 2's

Yep, releasing this lens is "brave" and more than interesting. Putting a CP-housing around it would make it instantly a MP-killer and game-changer for the cine-market. Zeiss would probably kill their own MP/UP-sales with a full set of Otus-Cine-Lenses. But it will take years before we have a full set, so they have time to work on a new MP-generation.

I'm still with Phil's theory, Zeiss will put this into a CP-housing at some point, probably after or with the announcement of the next two Otus-lenses. They have to, because there is a lot going on in that price-segment.

Heh. I was joking about the CP.3 name. I think it will go into a series of lenses that will likely follow the Ultra or Master naming path, maybe Mega, Supa, Golga (heh). Or they can just stick with the owl. Cine-Otus maybe. This is all talk as we're likely 500 or so days from them even announcing that. They got plenty of time to name these new lenses. First step. Make more lengths.

And I do have to say, that they have impressed me recently with the Compact Zooms. Those are rad. I have some small thoughts on the mechanics, but overall optically they are lovely.

 

[Jiri Vrozina]

New wave of Zeiss Top End Master Primes and Ultra Primes are/will be an Anamorphic Lenses.

 

[Phil Holland]

New wave of Zeiss Top End Master Primes and Ultra Primes are/will be an Anamorphic Lenses.

Eh? The Master Anamorphics already exist, but aren't out in number yet. Didn't hear a thing about Ultra Anamorphics though. That would be news to me.

 

[Ketch Rossi]

I think Jiri could be referring to a very hidden secretive I do not know I He even heard about it, "rumor" of new Master Primes and Ultra Primes... IMO if Zeiss does not deliver "Mini" like Master Primes with larger image circle and lighter, around 2.5/3lb each their game might not end up been as big, but I do think that we could be in for a surprise... And I absolutely would love nothing more then to see a "Mini" MP set as the MP's still remain the absolute best glass I have ever shot with, way more comfortable then Leica Summilux or any other Cine glass, period.

Their build quality standing time and again against the best that all others trew at it is the testament... But we are in brave new territories with Cine Glass, and Zeiss needs to step up the game big time, not just in the still world as they just did with the new Optus 55mm.

But we must say that they sure did an incredible great job on the Master Anamorphic's... so they are in the right path.

 

[Maik Müller]

Got noticed yesterday, i'll get one of the first ZE-versions next week. Santa visits early this year.
Now i'm officially excited.

 

[Jiri Vrozina]

please let us know ;-)

 

[Matthias Hutter]

DXO Mark rated this lens T1.7, and outperforming any other still lens tested by quite a margin.

 

[Maik Müller]

Received it yesterday. First impressions are great, but thats just from a quick view. Need to find some time.
So sharp at 1.4... Great build quality, great focus ring.

I think i'll keep it.

 

[Nick Morrison]

DXO Mark rated this lens T1.7, and outperforming any other still lens tested by quite a margin.

My question is...as we will be shooting this on DRAGON 6k, EPIC 5K, SCARLET 4K....ie still on "cropped sensors"...and therefore not using the EDGE-TO-EDGE sharpness of this fantastic full frame lens...how much "sharper" will it actually be than say the Sigma 50 1.4, which by all accounts appears "optimized" for cropped sensors and is RAZOR sharp wide open in THE CENTER...yet falls apart at the edges on full frame.

Side by side on an Epic at 5K, or Dragon at 6K...how much better will this lens be? Or is this lens great for reasons BEYOND sharpness? Ie minimal distortion, etc?

Not suggesting this lens isn't amazing. It's a given it is. I'm just saying its optimized to kick ass across a FULL FRAME sensor. We'll never be seeing all that amazingness on our REDs so how much value remains? (I'm asking cuz I don't know).

I guess the question is...for CINEMA use...on a non Full Frame sensor...is this lens a game changer? And if so why?

thx!

 

[Clayton Burkhart]

My question is...as we will be shooting this on DRAGON 6k, EPIC 5K, SCARLET 4K....ie still on "cropped sensors"...and therefore not using the EDGE-TO-EDGE sharpness of this fantastic full frame lens...how much "sharper" will it actually be than say the Sigma 50 1.4, which by all accounts appears "optimized" for cropped sensors and is RAZOR sharp wide open in THE CENTER...yet falls apart at the edges on full frame.

Side by side on an Epic at 5K, or Dragon at 6K...how much better will this lens be? Or is this lens great for reasons BEYOND sharpness? Ie minimal distortion, etc?

Not suggesting this lens isn't amazing. It's a given it is. I'm just saying its optimized to kick ass across a FULL FRAME sensor. We'll never be seeing all that amazingness on our REDs so how much value remains? (I'm asking cuz I don't know).

I guess the question is...for CINEMA use...on a non Full Frame sensor...is this lens a game changer? And if so why?

thx!

The answer to that is right here in the photo below:
The Otus is on the far left. Near perfect sharpness edge to edge.
The Zeiss Macro (on the right) will still be soft in the corners on a red sensor by comparison. This is about what I am expecting from the Sigma. See the vertical map of it on the right of the second image. Debateable. Definitely more CA on the Sigma as well.
In the middle is the crappy Zeiss 50/1.4. Dog of the decade award in terms of wide open sharpness.

 

[Nick Morrison]

The answer to that is right here in the photo below:
The Otus is on the far left. Near perfect sharpness edge to edge.
The Zeiss Macro (on the right) will still be soft in the corners on a red sensor by comparison. This is about what I am expecting from the Sigma. See the vertical map of it on the right of the second image. Debateable. Definitely more CA on the Sigma as well.
In the middle is the crappy Zeiss 50/1.4. Dog of the decade award in terms of wide open sharpness.

WOW. Ok I'm impressed. Very helpful, thanks Clayton!!

 

[paul schefz]

from what i have read about this lens, besides the sharpness (wide open and all the way into the corners) is that they really got CA under control...
and yes, the sigma 50 was optimized to be sharp in the center wide open but it also has quite a bit of CA, which along with a really crisp look makes things look digital IMO.....i like the lens but tried 3 samples and they all showed more or less the same amount of CA...

 

[Robin Leveille]

Matching would be tough to say at this point as I haven't done a side by side, but the coatings on the Otus feel familiar to some of Zeiss's more recent offerings.

I have a theory, and it's one I presented to Zeiss at NAB 2013 this year. I think we'll see something called the "CP.3" line or whatever they call it at some point. Which will consist of the Otus lenses, likely a 25, 35, 55, and 85mm. They'll add the 15/2.8 and 135/2 to that set or leave them in the CP.2 class as they are newer and similar in a few ways and this should line up nicely with the look of the CZs as well.

That's theory though.

That would make The CP.3's compete with Ultra and Master Primes. You really think Zeiss would do that Phil? They should just label them as Mini Master Primes. like Cooke did for the mini S4i's

 

[Jiri Vrozina]

My question is...as we will be shooting this on DRAGON 6k, EPIC 5K, SCARLET 4K....ie still on "cropped sensors"...and therefore not using the EDGE-TO-EDGE sharpness of this fantastic full frame lens...how much "sharper" will it actually be than say the Sigma 50 1.4, which by all accounts appears "optimized" for cropped sensors and is RAZOR sharp wide open in THE CENTER...yet falls apart at the edges on full frame.

Side by side on an Epic at 5K, or Dragon at 6K...how much better will this lens be? Or is this lens great for reasons BEYOND sharpness? Ie minimal distortion, etc?

Not suggesting this lens isn't amazing. It's a given it is. I'm just saying its optimized to kick ass across a FULL FRAME sensor. We'll never be seeing all that amazingness on our REDs so how much value remains? (I'm asking cuz I don't know).

Cinema Future IS full Frame.
And solid built lens, no plastic here..Long Throw Focus..

I guess the question is...for CINEMA use...on a non Full Frame sensor...is this lens a game changer? And if so why?