BUYERS’ GUIDE
ZEISS CP.3 zeiss.com
They all have a 95mm front diameter and are the same size, except the longer 100 and 135mm telephotos. CP.3s have user-interchangeable lens mounts in PL, Canon EF, Nikon F, Micro Four Thirds and Sony E. A 50mm CP.3 in EF mount costs £3594/$4390.
without any nasty glares or flares – that’s thanks to advanced coatings, painted lens rims and light traps in the barrel. The CP.3 line is available in 15, 18, 21, 25, 28, 35, 50, 85, 100 and 135mm. All lenses offer a maximum aperture of T2.1, apart from the widest three, which are T2.9.
Zeiss pioneered ‘affordable’ cine lenses for small cameras with the CP.2 range. But this has been superseded by the more compact CP.3s, followed by the CP.3 XD series – this adds lens data technology to speed up post. CP.3s offer higher contrast, rich blacks and more saturated colours
Pros: Incredible image quality
Cons: Not a budget choice
SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH XENON schneiderkreuznach.com
SONY G MASTER sony.com
Sony has a growing range of full-frame E-mount lenses, with the flagship G Master series providing amazing image quality and low weight compared to rivals. The 50mm f/1.2 is often heralded as an incredible performer. This is joined by a compact, yet fast ultra wide-angle – the £1400/$1598 FE 14mm f/1.8 GM. It has Sony’s Nano AR Coating II technology to subdue flare and ghosting – vital for such a wide optic. Using two linear motors, focus is quiet and has minimal vibration, perfect for video. The lens has a focus hold button, focus mode switch and focus ring – custom functions can be assigned to this button. It includes a rear filter holder that accepts standard sheet- type filters, has a dust- and moisture-resistant design, and the front lens element features fluorine coating to repel water.
The Xenon series by Schneider-Kreuznach is available in either standard or Cine Tilt versions. After turning a dial on the Tilt lenses, focal plane can be shifted by angling the lens from the camera body by up to 4° either way. It’s great for keeping product shots sharp, even at wide apertures. Xenon’s FF-Prime family includes 18mm T2.4, 25mm T2.1, 35mm T2.1, 50mm T2.1, 75mm T2.1 and 100mm T2.1. A circular, 14-bladed aperture is engineered for smooth and consistent bokeh. Precision-focusing design ensures that breathing is minimised – and with 300° barrel rotation, manual focus markings offer accuracy. The Cine Tilt range is only in E-mount and there are 25, 35, 50, 75 and 100mm versions. A 50mm Cine Tilt will set you back £4167/$5598.
Pros: A 14-bladed iris for smooth bokeh Cons: Cine Tilt can be tricky to use
Pros: Perfect match for Sony Cons: Range has some obvious gaps
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