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Camera Lens News No. 15
December 2001 |
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Zeiss DigiPrime™ Lenses for Digital Cine Cameras
Questions and answers about the upcoming Carl Zeiss lenses for high definition electronic cameras:
Q: When will the DigiPrimes actually become available?
A: Deliveries are scheduled to begin late summer 2002.
Q: What will be the price of the DigiPrimes?
A: In price, the DigiPrimes will be similar to prime lenses currently available for 24p.
Q: When will Carl Zeiss actually show DigiPrime lenses?
A: Prototypes will be shown at NAB 2002.
Q: How many lenses will be offered in the DigiPrime range?
A: Zeiss and Band Pro will start with a set of 6. (By comparison, the Zeiss range of ULTRA PRIMEs for 35 mm film expanded to 15 lenses. This may indicate what Carl Zeiss is capable of setting up for the cine industry.)
Q: What focal length range will the DigiPrimes cover?
A: Initially it will be 5 to 40 mm. This range may grow in either direction, as market needs suggest.
Q: What speed will the DigiPrimes offer?
A: F/1.4 and T 1.5 on most lenses of the set, which equals the speed maximum an industry standard 2/3" camera beam splitter can transmit.
Q: Is the DigiPrime depth-of-field as shallow as in 35 mm film?
A: Nature's laws prevent this. In optical design, however, Zeiss uses all existing design parameters to narrow down depth-of-field as far as possible.
Q: What will be the performance of DigiPrimes compared to competing lenses?
A: The DigiPrimes are targeted to become 24p's best eyes.
Q: Will there be zooms?
A: This has not been decided yet. Carl Zeiss and Band Pro are, of course, in discussions with influencial players in the 24p market about this issue.
Q: Why didn't Carl Zeiss pursue this DigiPrime project with one of the existing Zeiss partners in the cine industry?
A: Of course, Zeiss discussed this project with the existing partners first. However, their strategic planning did not allow to integrate this project into their businesses.
Q: Will the DigiPrimes perform better than ULTRA PRIMEs with the Cine Lens Adapter CLA 35 HD?
A: The DigiPrimes will come with several obvious advantages, such as shorter length, lower weight, better balance on camera, easier handling, etc.
Q: Why did Carl Zeiss decide to make lenses for 24p in the first place?
A: In recent years, Carl Zeiss received numerous requests and suggestions for such lenses from directors of photography, rental houses, equipment manufacturers, and dealers. Zeiss became convinced that offering a solution will be beneficial for all parties involved.
Q: Does Carl Zeiss consider 24p to be as good as 35 mm film?
A: We don't consider this question to be in our core field of expertise, so we'd rather not attempt to give a valid answer. However, for us at Carl Zeiss it is important that many notables in the cine industry want to use or rent or buy or have already bought 24p equipment and urgently need adequate lenses on uncompromising cine level of quality.
Q: Why did Zeiss choose Band Pro as the partner in this business?
A: Zeiss needs a partner with solid expertise in the field of high definition, and 24p, decades of experience with electronic cameras. This partner should be widely accepted by the industry and be located where 24p is developing most rapidly. Band Pro is this partner. | |
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