I wish it will include an offering for Nikon Z and more like the classic ZF and ZF.2. lenses. Cheaper lighter und with 1.8 or 2.0 still reasonabely fast. Sony E-mount got enough Zeiss offerings during last years, please also consider Nikon users!
It's excellent to see Zeiss now offering a better lens spacing, after being welded to the 85mm lenses for so long. If we assume they are looking to offer lighter stills versions of the Nano Primes, which would be a great idea given their design direction in that series, how would the following appeal to MF users working with Sony cameras? :
18-24-35-50-75-100, all of them at f1.4?
In full cine form they weigh between 875g and 1300g, so much the as Sigma was foisting on the market a couple of years back. Looking closely at their front faces, they could be surprisingly light when remade into the stills format. Forced to guess, 450-500 grams.
Zeiss are talking up their aberration control, now complemented by smoother (rounded) bokeh, which may appear a little short on character. The CineD guy disparaged the many 'modern vintage' lenses that have made significant inroads into the market in recent times, a sure sign they are hurting the sales reception of these Nano primes. The Nanos have little breathing, nice but not too much so, and excellent corners even wide open, 12 blade apertures, and decent MFDs. All solid and maybe stolid Zeiss attributes.
Maybe the biggest break from the past is the fact that they will all resemble each other in rendering styles, being designed at the same time. That can pay off if customers like that look, or it can more easily fail if not. They may not have sold too well in Nano cine form, so if they do appear the first thing to do is compare them with the Otus counterparts for the 24 (28); 50 (55); 85 (75); and 100 (100). I doubt they will be cheap.
We know nothing about the technical details, I'll do some looking around. That would tell us a lot.
There's a new teaser reel at Zeiss's IG. It shows some glimpses of a new lens.
It's really fast, but what I can tell:
- Mounted on a Sony E-mount camera.
- Moderate size, definitely not a rehoused DSLR-lens. So we can definitely expect a new optical design.
- Looks like a MF lens (shows a distance scale).
- Looks like it follows the current Zeiss physical design (black matte and yellow gravings).
Maybe someone can figure out the probable focal length from the distance scale, but I know I can't..
Kalainen wrote:
[...]
Maybe someone can figure out the probable focal length from the distance scale, but I know I can't..
Killing time here just before lunch... That must be a 85 or 100mm lens?
But... what language is the person askikng about the meaning of photography in the end?
Jonas B wrote:
Killing time here just before lunch... That must be a 85 or 100mm lens?
But... what language is the person askikng about the meaning of photography in the end?
It sounded Chinese to me but I can't tell the exact specifics on what type of Chinese.
I played it to Google Gemini Live on my smartphone and asked for the meaning and language as well. It responded that it was definitely Mandarin Chinese but it wasn't sure if it was spoken by Mainland Chinese person or for example Taiwan or Hong Kong person. Gemini noted that the meaning of the original sentence was "What is the meaning of Photography as creative work".
Also, the teaser video seemed to be filmed in Guangzhou, which is in Mainland China, close to Hong Kong.
Looks like a size of the Batis 85, so this leads me to think it's 85mm. Aperture size is still a question mark: will it be a f/1.4 or smaller (because of mirrorless body size, as Zeiss thought with a Batis lens family).
Juha Kannisto wrote:
It sounded Chinese to me [...] Gemini noted that the meaning of the original sentence was "What is the meaning of Photography as creative work".
Also, the teaser video seemed to be filmed in Guangzhou, which is in Mainland China, close to Hong Kong.
I was afraid of that (Chinese) but wasn't sure at all. Thank you.
So, the new Zeiss lenses will be manufactured in China...? Can there be another rational reason for recording the teaser in China?
p.5 #10 · ZEISS Otus ML line officially announced!
Jonas B wrote:
I was afraid of that (Chinese) but wasn't sure at all. Thank you.
So, the new Zeiss lenses will be manufactured in China...? Can there be another rational reason for recording the teaser in China?
Google search = Zeiss has a facility that manufactures spectacle (Ophthalmic) lenses in Guangzhou.
But also maybe the photographer seen in the teaser video is from that area? Wonder if someone out there might recognize the photographer.
p.5 #11 · ZEISS Otus ML line officially announced!
According to Andrea, SAR :
"It’s OTUS
It has exactly the same yellow markings as the original OTUS DSLR lens series. So I assume it is a newly developed OTUS series, perhaps with manual focus like the original series. This series aims to achieve the highest possible image quality. The price of the DSLR series was over $4,000."
p.5 #12 · ZEISS Otus ML line officially announced!
Jonas B wrote:
I was afraid of that (Chinese) but wasn't sure at all. Thank you.
So, the new Zeiss lenses will be manufactured in China...? Can there be another rational reason for recording the teaser in China?
It's just to bring exotic environment for the promo video. Some of the ZX1 promo videos were recorded in Finland, and there's absolutely no connection between Finland and ZX1. I wouldn't read too much about it.
(On a side note, I don't quite understand the obsession in the net (not referring to you Jonas) to discuss where some particular Zeiss lenses are made. It seems to come up always when talked about the Zeiss lenses (and often with false beliefs), and almost never with the Sony, for example. Do companies use third party factories for manufacturing, of course they use, it's called globalization. Happens with every industry. For example, I'm not sure at all that Sony has built it own lens factories for its Alpha-line. I think it's more probable that Sony also uses third party manufacturers, where some sections of the factories are dedicated only for the XD element polishing (sony tech) while other facilities are used more freely with other brand lens products as well.) Sony still designs them, just like Zeiss designs theirs.
p.5 #13 · ZEISS Otus ML line officially announced!
Kalainen wrote:
It's just to bring exotic environment for the promo video. Some of the ZX1 promo videos were recorded in Finland, and there's absolutely no connection between Finland and ZX1. I wouldn't read too much about it.
(On a side note, I don't quite understand the obsession in the net (not referring to you Jonas) to discuss where some particular Zeiss lenses are made. It seems to come up always when talked about the Zeiss lenses (and often with false beliefs), and almost never with the Sony, for example. Do companies use third party factories for manufacturing, of course they use, it's called globalization. Happens with every industry. For example, I'm not sure at all that Sony has built it own lens factories for its Alpha-line. I think it's more probable that Sony also uses third party manufacturers, where some sections of the factories are dedicated only for the XD element polishing (sony tech) while other facilities are used more freely with other brand lens products as well.) Sony still designs them, just like Zeiss designs theirs. ...Show more →
We see in the teaser video the photographer walks into the Guangzhou "People's Art Center" with the Sony camera and new Zeiss lens. As you wrote perhaps this location is part of the exotic environment for the promo/launch video.
p.5 #14 · ZEISS Otus ML line officially announced!
Jonas B wrote:
I was afraid of that (Chinese) but wasn't sure at all. Thank you.
So, the new Zeiss lenses will be manufactured in China...? Can there be another rational reason for recording the teaser in China?
Maybe they expect them to sell well in China. I think they would be made/manufactured by Cosina in Japan, like the original Otus line, especially if these too are manual focus lenses (as it seems from the teaser). They should be shown at CP+ since they are expected to be announced just 2 days before the show. Zeiss is not in CP+ exhibitor list but Cosina is (as usual) and my guess is that the new line will be shown at Cosina area there.
p.5 #15 · ZEISS Otus ML line officially announced!
Kalainen wrote:
I hope that's the reason. That also opens for the possibility that the lens in the clip actually is an old Otus lens and not the real new product.
(On a side note, I don't quite understand the obsession in the net (not referring to you Jonas) to discuss where some particular Zeiss lenses are made. It seems to come up always when talked about the Zeiss lenses (and often with false beliefs), and almost never with the Sony, for example. Do companies use third party factories [...]
It's OK. I usually don't discuss these questions and i have lenses made in Japan, Vietnam and Thailand (plus of course all old German and Russian and so on stuff in a drawer.
The reason for my reaction here is, in short, politics. When possible, if I have a choice without too much of a hassle, I avoid buying stuff from China. I understand companies trying to maximize their profit but when done by outsourcing manufacturing to a totaliarian state like China also say No thanks.
So, in short, I hope Cosina will make the new lenses.
EDIT: Ah, you typed about Cosina faster than I did.
p.5 #16 · ZEISS Otus ML line officially announced!
Juha Kannisto wrote:
Maybe they expect them to sell well in China. I think they would be made by Cosina in Japan, like the original Otus line, especially if these too are manual focus lenses (as it seems from the teaser). They should be shown at CP+ since they are expected to be announced just 2 days before the show. Zeiss is not in CP+ exhibitor list but Cosina is (as usual) and my guess is that the new line will be shown at Cosina area there.
When I visited Oberkochen (Germany), the Otus lenses where manufactured there (was explained to me and could see it with my own eyes). Maybe they are manufactured in many places, who knows.. But I guess the question is, what does it matter?
p.5 #17 · ZEISS Otus ML line officially announced!
Juha Kannisto wrote:
Maybe they expect them to sell well in China. I think they would be made by Cosina in Japan, like the original Otus line, especially if these too are manual focus lenses (as it seems from the teaser). They should be shown at CP+ since they are expected to be announced just 2 days before the show. Zeiss is not in CP+ exhibitor list but Cosina is (as usual) and my guess is that the new line will be shown at Cosina area there.
"[CP+2025 Cosina Exhibition Hall (Pacifico Yokohama)] We
will exhibit and offer touch-and-try of Voigtlander and Zeiss brand products. We will also exhibit new products and reference exhibits that are scheduled to be announced in the future."
p.5 #18 · ZEISS Otus ML line officially announced!
Kalainen wrote:
When I visited Oberkochen (Germany), the Otus lenses where manufactured there (was explained to me and could see it with my own eyes). Maybe they are manufactured in many places, who knows.. But I guess the question is, what does it matter?
Edit: Jonas, ok, I see your point and understand
It's been public info that Cosina manufactures ZM, Classic, Milvus and Otus lines for Zeiss and there are for example factory visit articles and interviews talking about that. See for example this one (in Japanese but easy to auto-translate): https://www.fujiya-camera.co.jp/blog/detail/pro/20220820/
This article talks in particular about the challenges they faced when making Otus lenses. It also talks about the T* coatings being created in-house at Cosina based on their own know-how, with Zeiss just setting certain requirements, so they are not purely a contract manufacturer, but also deeply involved in other design aspects.
I had the understanding that all Otus were manufactured by Cosina, but of course it could be that Zeiss is also doing some of them in-house in their own factories.
Those same lens lines are also distributed by Cosina in Japan and covered in their website, and Cosina publishes the catalog covering them in Japan.
I think it's interesting to know where they are made and how the work is split etc. I'm a fan of Cosina Voigtländer lenses more than Zeiss so it's only positive to me if Cosina is heavily involved
p.5 #19 · ZEISS Otus ML line officially announced!
Kalainen wrote:
It's just to bring exotic environment for the promo video. Some of the ZX1 promo videos were recorded in Finland, and there's absolutely no connection between Finland and ZX1. I wouldn't read too much about it.
(On a side note, I don't quite understand the obsession in the net (not referring to you Jonas) to discuss where some particular Zeiss lenses are made. It seems to come up always when talked about the Zeiss lenses (and often with false beliefs), and almost never with the Sony, for example. Do companies use third party factories for manufacturing, of course they use, it's called globalization. Happens with every industry. For example, I'm not sure at all that Sony has built it own lens factories for its Alpha-line. I think it's more probable that Sony also uses third party manufacturers, where some sections of the factories are dedicated only for the XD element polishing (sony tech) while other facilities are used more freely with other brand lens products as well.) Sony still designs them, just like Zeiss designs theirs. ...Show more →
Think the reality is that if you’re trying to charge the Zeiss premium or Leica tax, a made in Germany or made in Japan label commands a different value than made in china even if it just barely qualifies as being made in those countries. Nothing wrong with Chinese made products but I’m pretty sure even the Chinese consumers buying this would not pay zeiss or Leica price points for a made in china lens - they’d go with something much cheaper.
p.5 #20 · ZEISS Otus ML line officially announced!
Some stray thoughts.
1. Zeiss Otus were/are some of my favorite lenses made last decade. I mentioned before and many know, the 55mm f/1.4 is special and they followed it up with equally impressive designs.
2. If these pursue what the original Otus primes did, I will be happy that this mindset is coming to mirrorless bodies as it's needed.
3. And on mirrorless, there's a good chance they will be smaller, which is or is not a concern depending on who you are. I still use much larger lenses, but it will be nice to save weight and size if there are several announced.
4. I'm hoping they are generous in their design logic with expansive coverage, but that's 100% more of a me thing. I use Otus on slightly larger formats than 135/Full Frame.
5. Not knowing specs, there are very good premium lenses by the big three and even 3rd party. They have more competition technically speaking today than they did last decade. I'm curious if they reach for those heights or land elsewhere, hard to know.
6. I mentioned before, I'm hoping this will end up being something like 21, 28, 40, 55, 85, and 115-ish to make a proper prime set, likely all the same f/stop. And I'm hoping that it's more than just E-Mount at launch. Curious to see if it's a single lens at launch, but hoping it's at least 3.
7. This is a rare instance where I have some personal attachment to what's done here if what is done is close to what I'm describing. Hoping for a bullseye or a near miss perhaps, but it's a tight target for my needs, wants, and desires.
