ZEISS Horizon Lenses Integrate Internal Motors, Aim to Streamline On-Set Production
ZEISS has introduced its new Horizon 2x Anamorphic FF smart lenses, designed with internal motors and factory-calibrated focus marks to streamline on-set production by eliminating external rigs. These LPL-mount, full-frame lenses integrate with Preston ALC systems, reducing equipment weight, complexity, and lens-change downtime. This innovation aims to improve accuracy and efficiency for focus pullers and production crews.
Key Takeaways
- ZEISS Horizon 2x Anamorphic FF lenses incorporate internal motors, eliminating external gear rings and making them lighter.
- The lenses come in seven focal lengths (35-200mm) at T2.3 (T2.9 for 200mm) and cover Full Frame (>44.71 mm Ø).
- Integration with the Preston ALC system provides analog dial-style readout and rapid, accurate focus control.
- Internal motors reduce power consumption and calibration time, saving up to a minute per lens change and improving focus accuracy.
- Howard Preston noted that factory calibrations on Horizon lenses ensure exceptional focus accuracy, addressing issues with worn cam mechanisms and engraved mark errors.
Why It Matters
The introduction of smart cine lenses with integrated motorization and factory-calibrated marks significantly impacts on-set efficiency and optical reliability. By reducing external rigging and calibration time, production crews can accelerate lens changes and achieve more consistent focus accuracy, especially critical with shallow depth-of-field cinematography. This development reflects an industry trend towards greater integration and automation in production hardware, pushing manufacturers to innovate beyond traditional lens designs. Watch for broader adoption of internal motor designs across high-end cinema lens manufacturers as a benchmark for future production workflows.
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