Venus Extreme Wide-Angle Super35 Cine Lens

2022.03.08

Venus Optics is launching a brand-new extreme wide-angle lens for Super35 video capture. This Cine format is similar to APS-C except with a 16:9 wide-aspect-ratio, similar to the capture area used by the majority of cropped sensor digital cameras. Venus Optics is counting on the matching image-area to deliver this new cinematic lens in 4 camera lens mounts.

The new Laowa 7.5mm T/2.9 Zero-D S35 Cine prime lens captures an expansive 123° field-of-view with zero optical distortion, making it the widest rectilinear lens ever made with APS-C coverage, just slightly wider than the Fujinon XF 8-16mm F/2.8R WR lens. With its maximum F/2.9 aperture-equivalent 7-blade diaphragm, this new lens gathers a considerable amount of light. The Laowa 7.5mm T/2.9 Zero-D S35 Cine is a fully manual lens with gears to control its aperture and focus-distance when coupled with a cinema rig. It also works exactly the same way as a traditional mechanical lens.

Venus Optics built their new Cinema lens with a focus on optical performance and tight tolerances to make it extremely reliable during filming. Although the lens itself is not weatherproof, it comes with a weather-sealed case. They managed to make this extremely wide and moderately bright prime lens exceptionally light for these specifications. At 610g, it is substantially lighter than comparable offerings.

Even though the front of the lens lacks a bayonet mount for a hood, it does accept standard 77mm filters. This new lens is available immediately directly from Venus Optics for $700 USD. It is launched on 4 mounts: Sony E, Nikon Z, Fujifilm X and Canon RF, this despite the fact that no Canon RF mirrorless with an APS-C sensor has been launched yet. This has always been an accurate sign of things to come!

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