NAB 2014: Carl Zeiss

Lenses Zeiss Compact Zooms Zeiss OTUS 1.4/85mm

Carl Zeiss was not absent from the scene at NAB 2014. In fact, Carl Zeiss came with some exciting news other than the announcement of their latest entry into the compact cinema zoom lens category. In what can only be called the first “official” confirmation, Zeiss is in fact hard at work developing at least three more lenses in the OTUS family. When designing the Otus 1.4/55, Zeiss had one line item in the product brief: make it the best lens possible. Representing the pinnacle of over a century of optical and technical expertise, these Zeiss OTUS prime lens offer a truly spectacular, world-class performance. Performance without compromise.

Carl Zeiss Compact Zoom 15-30mm T2.9

The acknowledgement from Richard Schleuning, National Sales Manager, International Sales Americas, Camera Lens Division, Carl Zeiss AG at 2:43 into the above video is the very first public confirmation the Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 OTUS is going to be shipping by late August, 2014, with two wide angle OTUS versions to follow in 2015. With a family petagree like the OTUS 1/4 55mm set, these subsequent releases should also be expected to set a new standard in their respective speed and focal length. Zeiss is quite serious about the manual focus OTUS line. They are investing the resources to insure there is no compromise in creating the ultimate in high technology high performance digital lenses for high megapixel digital sensors today and those anticipated for the foreseeable future. As Richard Schleuning also demonstrates in the video, changing the mount is something Zeiss recognizes as an important feature for videographers and filmmakers on their CP line of digital video lenses. So important, Zeiss themselves make a lens mount change kit suitable for end user installation. Your lenses do not even need to go back to the factory for the conversion. Brilliant.

The new cinemizer OLED virtual reality video glasses from Carl Zeiss combine three-dimensional movie enjoyment with brilliant image quality and outstanding stereo sound. The cinemizer OLED 3D glasses project a 40” image in the glasses, creating a movie-theater like atmosphere. First Person View (FPV) makes it possible to equip model planes, drones, quadcopters and helicopters with a camera that transmits video signals to your remote control base station flight radio. Connected to this base station, the mobile Cinemizer multimedia video glasses gives the wearer a feeling of sitting in the cockpit seeing what the remote camera sees. The low power consumption of the OLED display and the integrated battery enable several hours of flying fun. FPV can also be used in many professional applications, e.g. hard-to-reach objects can be observed with a remote-controlled aircraft. An appropriately equipped helicopter enables a fire department to quickly gain an overview of the situation and make the correct decisions as quickly as possible. I can see many applications for this technology. Oh, and the sound is great too! Price: $695 USD, available now.

The Carl Zeiss Compact Zoom Lens Family

Being NAB, of course you would expect this to be a prime location for Zeiss to introduce a line expansion to their compact Cine Zoom lenses. We were not disappointed. Zeiss is launching the Compact Zoom CZ.2 15-30/T2.9 at this year’s NAB Show. This third member of the Compact Zoom family broadens the Zeiss cine zoom line-up in the wide-angle range. Available fourth quarter of 2014, this lens will be available for  € 17,900 or US$ 23,900 (excl. VAT)*. The new zoom lens fills the wide-angle gap and complements the already available CZ.2 28-80/T2.9 and CZ.2 70-200/T2.9 lenses. It does not only offer extreme angles of view but also fulfills all the requirements for motion picture zooms: It stands out for its optical brilliance, as well as its distortion-free images. If this lens is anything like its bigger brother the 70-200mm I shot samples of with my A7R, this lens will be absolutely stunning. As it rightly should be at the cost!

Carl Zeiss Lenses – Escape (Show Reel) from Carl Zeiss Lenses on Vimeo.

Escape is a show reel shot with ZEISS cine zooms CZ.2 28-80/T2.9 and CZ.2 70-200/T2.9 in combination with ARRI/ZEISS Ultra Prime and ARRI/ZEISS Master Prime lenses. As camera DOP Den Lennie used a RED Epic. Terms and Conditions of Use: By down-loading the video (hereinafter called “the File“) you are agreeing to the following Terms and Conditions of Use:

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April 14, 2014