Zeiss Introduces Lightweight 21-100mm Zoom Lens and Expands Milvus Line
ZEISS lightweight zoom LWZ.3 21-100mm under $10,000.
The ZEISS LWZ.3 21-100mm is a feather light zoom (4.4 lbs) equipped with an easy-to-operate interchangeable mount system. For those not familiar, ZEISS allows you to quickly switch from your typical cine-style PL-mount to one of four other mounts—Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony E and MFT. Flexible and at a reachable price point, the lens is a solid choice for features, indie shorts, documentaries, and run-and-gun shooting.
The interchangeable mount system makes the LWZ.3 21-100mm/T2.9-3.9 T a future proof investment while the special ZEISS T coating reflects any unwanted stray light, which produces high contrast, vibrant colors, yummy bokeh, and focus roll-off for that cinematic look we all want in a lens. ZEISS is also promising the parfocal lens design will be steady over the entire focal length zooming in and out. The 21mm-100mm focal length provides a wide scope with low-distortion images free of vignetting and the MTF curves confirm sharpness from edge to edge. Similarly to other ZEISS lenses, the LWZ.3 21-100mm has a rugged, splash-proof housing with calibrated cine-style ergonomics, continuously precise scales and nearly 294-degree rotation angle for precise focus pulling.
To get an idea of what kinds of images these lenses produce, this film, Circle, was shot entirely on a Sony PXW FS7 using the LWZ.3 21-100mm in three days with a four-person crew led by cinematographer Adi Geissegger.
Features
- Covers Super 35mm / 31.1mm
- Focal length: 21 - 100 mm
- Aperture range: 2.9 to 22
- Aperture blades 11
- Lens element /Groups: 22 lenses/18 groups
- Close Focus: 0.8 m / 2'8"
- Rotation angle of focusing ring: (inf – MOD) 294°
- Zoom rotation angle: 100°
- Aperture rotation angle: 48°
- Front diameter: 114 mm / 4.49"
- Mounts PL, EF, E, MFT, F
- Length 226 mm / 8.9"
- Weight 2.0 kg / 4.4 lbs
- Price: $10,000
But that's not all ZEISS has has for us. We've talked extensively about the ZEISS Milvus line in the past and at IBC 2016 they've added three new focal lengths of 15mm f/2.8, 18mm f/2.8, and 135mm f/2. The Milvus manual focus still lenses for DSLR cameras now have nine different focal lengths. As updated versions to the Classic Zeiss ZF.2 and ZE line all the lenses come in Canon EF and Nikon F mounts with a high degree of flare control due to its T anti-reflective coating.
Each lens features a robust full-metal barrel, a large rotation angle for focusing that's made out of rubber to ensure a good grip. According to the press release, the super-wide angle 18mm f/2.8 is a brand new Distagon optical design with 14 lens elements in 12 groups that includes two aspheric elements. It has a short close-up distance of 0.25 meters with an angular field of 99.9 degrees. The 15mm and 18mm received minor optical updates with most of the concentration centered on the removal of lens distortion from all three lenses.
Milvus 15mm f/2.8
- Super wide-angle lens with a field of view of 110 degrees
- 15 lens elements in 12 groups, including two aspheric lenses
- Removable lens shade
- 95-millimeter filter thread
- $2,699
Milvus 18mm f/2
- Compact super-wide angle lens
- 4 lens elements in 12 groups, including two aspheric elements
- Close-up distance of 0.25 meters, angular field of 99.9 degrees
- $2,299
Milvus 135mm f/2
- Fast telephoto lens
- 11 lens elements in eight groups
- Angular field is 18.7 degrees
- $2,100
Be sure to check out more of our IBC 2016 coverage.
Source: ZEISS