Zeiss launches a more affordable cinema lens line – Zeiss Nano Prime

During our visit to the Zeiss booth in NAB 2024, we saw their new Zeiss Nano Prime lenses. It’s a set of six focal lengths: 18mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, and 100mm, with a large T1.5 maximum aperture. All six lenses contain a 12-blade aperture and offer a 95mm front diameter and 86mm thread for matte boxes and filters to keep things consistent.

Zeiss Nano Prime – Entry-level but still expensive

Zeiss calls these an entry-level set. And in the grand scheme of things, that’s probably a fair assessment. However, you’re still going to be paying between $4,500 and $5,000 per lens. Or, if you want the entire set of six, those are available for a hair under $26K – and the set includes a fancy hard case.

Native electronic lens communication

The Zeiss Nano Primes offer electronic communication between the lens and the camera body. Obviously, these aren’t autofocus lenses, but it means that the lens should communicate back to the camera to report the focal length, aperture, and perhaps even the focus distance.

While it’ll obviously work on just about any Sony E mount camera, the lenses seem designed primarily for high-end cameras like the Sony Burano CineAlta camera (buy here). Of course, they’ll behave just as well on something like the Sony FX3 (buy here), too.

Zeiss said that more mounting options may come in the future via DIY mount replacement kits, but that will depend on what camera companies will be willing to share a license with Zeiss.

Zeiss Nano Prime Specs

	18mm T1.5	24mm T1.5	35mm T1.5	50mm T1.5	75mm T1.5	100mm T1.5
Focal length	18mm	24mm	35mm	50mm	75mm	100mm
Max aperture	T1.5	T1.5	T1.5	T1.5	T1.5	T1.5
Min aperture	T16	T16	T16	T16	T16	T16
Mount	Sony E	Sony E	Sony E	Sony E	Sony E	Sony E
Interchangeable mount	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Format	Full-Frame	Full-Frame	Full-Frame	Full-Frame	Full-Frame	Full-Frame
Stabilisation	None	None	None	None	None	None
Electronic comms	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Diaphragm blades	12	12	12	12	12	12
Focus throw	280°	280°	280°	280°	280°	280°
Iris throw	90°	90°	90°	90°	90°	90°
Dimensions	100 x 112mm	100 x 89mm	100 x 89mm	100 x 89mm	100 x 112mm	100 x 112mm
Weight	1.19kg	876g	871g	924g	1.13kg	1.3kg

Price and Availability

The Zeiss Nano Prime lenses are available to pre-order now. The 18mm T1.5 is $4,990, the 24mm T1.5 is $4,490, the 35mm T1.5 is $4,490, the 50mm T1.5 is $4,490, the 75mm T1.5 is $4,490, and the 100mm T1.5 is $4,990.

Combined, this equates to $27,440. However, you can buy all six in a combined kit for $25,950, which includes a free Pelican-style hard case – normally a separate $850 purchase.

Shipping is expected to begin in May 2024.

Sponsor shout-out: A huge shout-out for our #NAB2024 gear sponsors. They pick up the bill so you can get amazing free content: Nanlite, ProGrade Digital, Sennheiser, SmallRig, Ugreen, YC onion

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