Description

Introducing the ZEISS Panoptes 65 Series

The ZEISS Panoptes 65 series comprises ten fixed cinema lenses for 65mm cameras, with an image circle of 59.9mm and a constant aperture of T2.2.

This series covers cameras such as the ARRI Alexa 265, Blackmagic URSA Cine 17K 65 and Fujifilm GFX ETERNA 55. Focal lengths range from 25 to 180 mm, all with an iris range of T2.2 to T22, convenient for maintaining the same maximum exposure when changing focal lengths.

The rendering prioritizes natural colors, forgiving skin textures, gradual focus fall-off, and silky bokeh. Distortion and chromatic aberration are minimized, which is important in VFX, camera tracking, or virtual production.

The mechanics are geared towards the platform: consistent positions for the iris and focus rings, standardized front diameters of 95 mm for the 35, 40, 45, 55, 70, 90, 110 and 135 mm focal lengths, and 114 mm for the 25 and 180 mm. The documented focal lengths between 35 and 135 mm measure 144 to 148 mm, with weights ranging from 1.62 to 2.18 kg.

Case studies

• Fiction filming in 65mm with ARRI Alexa 265 and need for a coherent series at T2.2.
• Wide format shot requiring a 25mm or 35mm lens with a 59.9mm image circle.
• Capturing -up shots in 110, 135 or 180 mm with softer skin rendering.
• VFX workflow utilizing vignette and distortion data frame by frame.
• Virtual production with integration into the ZEISS CinCraft ecosystem.
• Platform with quick focal length changes thanks to aligned rings and standardized front diameters.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Does the ZEISS Panoptes 65 series really cover 65mm cameras?

Yes. Its 59.9mm is designed for recent 65mm cameras, including the ARRI Alexa 265, Blackmagic URSA Cine 17K 65 and Fujifilm GFX ETERNA 55.

2. Do all lenses in the ZEISS Panoptes 65 series have a maximum aperture of T2.2?

Yes. The ten focal lengths, from 25 to 180 mm, share a maximum aperture of T2.2 and down to T22.

3. What front diameters should be used for the matte box?

The majority of the series uses a front diameter of 95 mm : 35 to 135 mm. The 25 mm and 180 mm are 114 mm.

4. What objective data is available?

The series transmits metadata via Cooke /i and adds ZEISS eXtended Data with image-by-image vignetting and distortion. It is also integrated with ZEISS CinCraft.

5. Can camera assistants retrieve ladders on ARRI commands?

Yes, with ARRI and ARRI LCS cameras, scale and depth of field information is transferred to ARRI Hi-5 and WCU-4, without manual calibration of the optics.

Key features of the ZEISS Panoptes 65 Series:

• 65mm coverage: 59.9mm image circle compatible with the large cinema sensors mentioned.
• Homogeneous series: ten focal lengths from 25 to 180 mm, all in T2.2 to T22.
• Platform ergonomics: consistent iris and focus positions across the series.
• Simplified accessories: front diameters of 95 mm on eight focal lengths, 114 mm on 25 and 180 mm.
• Data for post-production: Cooke /i, ZEISS eXtended Data and CinCraft compatibility for VFX, tracking and virtual production.