The previously rumored Zeiss Supreme Prime cinema lenses are now officially announced. The set of six lenses is priced at 108,000 USD. Here is the full press release:
New High-End Cinema Lens Family ZEISS Supreme Primes
With its 13 high-speed, full-frame, prime lenses for high-quality film productions, ZEISS is focusing on maximum quality, low weight, and significant versatility when it comes to creating superb visual imagery.
ZEISS has introduced a new family of high-speed lenses for high-end film production: The ZEISS Supreme Prime family consists of 13 lenses with fixed focal lengths between 15 and 200 millimeters, the majority with a maximum aperture of T1.5. “The lenses are designed for film productions of an extremely high quality,” says Christophe Casenave from ZEISS. “They are perfect for high-budget advertising or feature films, for example.” ZEISS Supreme Primes are designed to cover cinematic large format camera sensors and are compatible with all of the latest camera models, such as the Sony Venice, ARRI Alexa LF, and RED Monstro. According to Casenave, the versatility of the Supreme Prime lenses to create different visual looks is due to the gentle sharpness, the aesthetic focus fall-off and elegant bokeh. The lenses are extremely flexible and can be used equally well for science fiction thrillers as well as for dramas.
Compact and Lightweight
"Weighing an average of 1600 grams (3.5 pounds), ZEISS Supreme Primes are significantly lighter and smaller than comparable lenses on the market,” says Casenave. With these compact and lightweight lenses, ZEISS is responding to many camera operators’ desire for compact equipment that stills meets the highest standards of quality. “ZEISS Supreme Primes are unbelievably rugged and reliable. Regardless of whether filming in the desert or in the Arctic, the lenses perform flawlessly. And in the event that something should ever break, our worldwide service network provides fast and professional help.”
ZEISS eXtended Data Metadata Technology
The ZEISS Supreme Primes are equipped with the ZEISS eXtended Data metadata technology. Introduced in 2017, ZEISS eXtended Data provides frame by frame data on lens vignetting and distortion in addition to the standard lens metadata provided using Cooke's /i technology1 protocol. This greatly speeds up the entire film production’s workflow. When using visual effects for example, with only a few clicks, the lens properties can be removed so that computer-generated effects imagery can be accurately applied to the captured imagery. The lens properties can then be reapplied with the same click of a button and combined with the film material to create a realistic image. Previously, all of the data had to be measured manually so that it could be corrected in post-production. But ZEISS eXtended Data eliminates this time-consuming job.
Price and Availability
The first ZEISS Supreme Primes lenses with focal lengths of 25, 29, 35, 50, and 85 millimeters will be available starting on August 1, 2018. The ZEISS Supreme Prime 100 millimeter will be available in December 2018. The set of six lenses, consisting of the focal lengths mentioned above, is available from ZEISS Cinema lens dealers for 108,000 USD. The remaining focal lengths will be released successively until 2020.
Technical Data
| Release | Aperture | Close Focus1 | Length2 | Front diameter | Weight | Horizontal Angle of View | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Frame 3 | Super 35 4 | |||||||
| Supreme Prime 15 mm T1.8 |
2020 | T1.8 to T22 | tbd | tbd | 114 mm | 4.5‘‘ | tbd | tbd | tbd |
| Supreme Prime 18 mm T1.5 |
2020 | T1.5 to T22 | tbd | tbd | 114 mm | 4.5‘‘ | tbd | tbd | tbd |
| Supreme Prime 21 mm T1.5 |
Q3 2019 |
T1.5 to T22 | 0.35 m | 13.7‘‘ | 119 mm | 4.7‘‘ | 95 mm | 3.7 | 1.5 kg | 3.3 lbs | 79.5° | 59.8° |
| Supreme Prime 25 mm T1.5 |
May 2018 |
T1.5 to T22 | 0.26 m | 10‘‘ | 119 mm | 4.7‘‘ | 95 mm | 3.7 | 1.42 kg | 3.13 lbs | 70.8° | 52.3° |
| Supreme Prime 29 mm T1.5 |
May 2018 |
T1.5 to T22 | 0.33 m | 13‘‘ | 121 mm | 4.8‘‘ | 95 mm | 3.7 | 1.61 kg | 3.55 lbs | 64° | 46.8° |
| Supreme Prime 35 mm T1.5 |
May 2018 |
T1.5 to T22 | 0.32 m | 13‘‘ | 119 mm | 4.7‘‘ | 95 mm | 3.7‘‘ | 1.40 kg | 3.09 lbs | 55° | 39.6° |
| Supreme Prime 50 mm T1.5 |
May 2018 |
T1.5 to T22 | 0.45 m | 18‘‘ | 119 mm | 4.7‘‘ | 95 mm | 3.7‘‘ | 1.22 kg | 2.69 lbs | 39° | 27.5° |
| Supreme Prime 65 mm T1.5 |
Q2 2019 |
T1.5 to T22 | 0.6 m | 2‘ | 121 mm | 4.8‘‘ | 95 mm | 3.7‘‘ | 1.63 kg | 3.59 lbs | 30.5° | 21.3° |
| Supreme Prime 85 mm T1.5 |
May 2018 |
T1.5 to T22 | 0.84 m | 2‘9‘‘ | 119 mm | 4.7‘‘ | 95 mm | 3.7‘‘ | 1.42 kg | 3.13 lbs | 24° | 16.7° |
| Supreme Prime 100 mm T1.5 |
December 2018 |
T1.5 to T22 | 1.1 m | 3‘9‘‘ | 119 mm | 4.7‘‘ | 95 mm | 3.7‘‘ | 1.7 kg | 3.74 lbs | 20.4° | 14.2° |
| Supreme Prime 135 mm T1.5 |
Q3 2019 |
T1.5 to T22 | 1.35 m | 4‘5‘‘ | 146 mm | 5.7’’ | 114 mm | 4.5‘‘ | 2.3 kg | 5.4 lbs | 15.6° | 10.9° |
| Supreme Prime 150 mm T1.8 |
Q4 2019 |
T1.8 to T22 | 1.5 m | 4’11 | 146 mm | 5.7’’ | 114 mm | 4.5‘‘ | 2.3 kg | 5.4 lbs | 13.7° | 9.5° |
| Supreme Prime 200 mm T2.1 |
2020 | T2.1 to T22 | tbd | tbd | 114 mm | 4.5‘‘ | tbd | tbd | tbd |
