Zeiss announce Milvus 1.4/25 lens (25mm f/1.4 for full frame)

The ZEISS Milvus 1.4/25 is the latest focal length to be added to ZEISS’s range of lenses for full-frame DSLR cameras.

ZEISS Milvus 1.4/25 at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
  • Two Aspherical Elements
  • Seven Low Dispersion Elements
  • Zeiss T* Anti-Reflective Coating
  • Manual Focus Design
  • Anodized Metal Barrel, Rubber Focus Ring
  • Weather-Sealed Construction
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

The ZEISS Milvus 1.4/25 retails for €2,399/$2.399 and will be available starting 2 November 2017.

Pre-order: B&H Photo | Adorama

Press release:

ZEISS Unveils High-Speed DSLR Lens: ZEISS Milvus 1.4/25

With its new wide-angle focal length, the ZEISS Milvus family now boasts eleven lenses for single-lens reflex cameras, including four focal lengths with a maximum aperture of 1.4, which are perfect for videographers too.

OBERKOCHEN/Germany, 2017-10-18.

The ZEISS Milvus 1.4/25 is the latest focal length to be added to ZEISS’s largest range of lenses for full-frame single-lens reflex cameras. The lens, which was developed for the DSLR systems from Canon1 is a trademark or registered trademark of Canon Inc. and/or other members of the Canon Group. and Nikon2 is a registered trademark of Nikon Corporation., is suitable primarily for landscape and architecture photography, and for journalistic shots and videos. “The completely new optical design ensures superior performance across the entire image field,” says Christophe Casenave, Product Manager at ZEISS. “This results in high-contrast photos and a harmonious bokeh.”

High-speed wide-angle lens

Thanks to a maximum aperture of 1.4, this lens can even capture exceptional images in poor light. “Even at full aperture, there are hardly any color fringes,” says Casenave. “The finest details can be reproduced in high definition and contrast all the way into the corners.” The metal housing is what makes the lens robust, and its dirt and dust protection even makes the ZEISS Milvus 1.4/25 ready for action in adverse weather. The large 172-degree focus rotation angle enables precise manual focusing for adding creative touches to photos and videos.

The largest ZEISS lens family yet

Featuring eleven focal lengths ranging from 15 to 135 millimeters, including two macros, the ZEISS Milvus family covers a host of applications, such as portrait, landscape, architecture and street photography. “We can offer every photographer just the right lens,” says Casenave.

Perfect for videographers too

The four ZEISS Milvus focal lengths 25, 35, 50 and 85 millimeters with an aperture of 1.4 are just perfect for filming. Thanks to their high speed, they are suitable primarily for interviews and documentaries where the videographer can utilize natural light. Thanks to the de-click function in the version for the Nikon-Mount the aperture can be adjusted continuously. ZEISS Lens Gears in a range of sizes permit the use of follow-focus systems.

Price and availability

The ZEISS Milvus 1.4/25 retails for 2,399 euros incl. 19 percent sales tax (RRP) or 2.399US$ and will be available starting 2 November 2017 at dealers and from the ZEISS online shop.

Product photos and sample images taken using the ZEISS Milvus 1.4/25 can be downloaded here.

You will find further information at www.zeiss.com/photo/milvus1425

Technical data ZEISS Milvus 1.4/25

Focal length 25 mm
Aperture range f/1.4 – f/16
Lens elements / Groups 15 / 13
Focusing range 0,252 m (9.93’’) – ∞
Free working distance 0,093 m (3.66’’) – ∞
Angular field* (diag. / horiz. / vert.) 81,2° / 70,8° / 50,4°
Diameter of image field 43 mm (1.69″)
Flange focal distance ZF.2: 46,50 mm (1.83″)

ZE: 44,00 mm (1.73″)

Coverage at close range (MOD)* 170,7 mm x 112,1 mm (6.72‘‘ x 4.41‘‘)
Image ratio at MOD 1 : 4.6
Entrance pupil position ( in front of image plane) 127,0 mm (5.00’’)
Rotation angle of focusing ring (inf – MOD) 172°
Diameter max. ZF.2: 95,2 mm (3.75‘‘)

ZE: 95,2 mm (3.75‘‘)

Diameter of focusing ring ZF.2: 82,5 mm (3.25‘‘)

ZE: 82,5 mm (3.25‘‘)

Length (without lens caps) ZF.2: 123,3 mm (4.85‘‘)

ZE: 122,5 mm (4.82‘‘)

Length (with lens caps) ZF.2: 138,0 mm (5.43‘‘)

ZE: 140,2 mm (5.52‘‘)

Weight ZF.2: 1171 g (41.3 oz)

ZE: 1225 g (43.2 oz)

Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/1.4 review (highly recommended, says ePHOTOzine)

Milvus 35mm

Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/1.4 at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
  • One Aspherical Element
  • Five Low Dispersion Elements
  • Zeiss T* Anti-Reflective Coating
  • Manual Focus Design
  • Anodized Metal Barrel, Rubber Focus Ring
  • Weather-Sealed Construction
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

ePHOTOzine reviewed the Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/1.4 lens. They are pretty fond of the Milvus 35mm f/1.4, giving it a “highly recommended” and 4.5/5 stars.

In the conclusion they write:

The Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/1.4 lens is a bright, high-quality optic with smooth bokeh and a very well balanced set of properties. It handles beautifully and is a pleasure to use. It exudes a feeling of quality. It is very likely that it will last for many years before needing any attention. The manual focus is utterly smooth and the point of focus is very easy to achieve. Read the review

The manual focusing Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/1,4 isn’t exactly a budget lens. It sells for $1,999: B&H Photo, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/1.4 officially announced ($1999)

Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/1.4

At a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
  • One Aspherical Element
  • Five Low Dispersion Elements
  • Zeiss T* Anti-Reflective Coating
  • Manual Focus Design
  • Anodized Metal Barrel, Rubber Focus Ring
  • Weather-Sealed Construction
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

After the leaked picturs ahead of the announcement, now Zeiss has officially announced the new Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/1.4 lens. The ZEISS Milvus 1.4/35 will be available from specialist dealers and in the ZEISS Online Shop from July 2017. The recommended retail price is €1,999/$1,999. You can download sample photos here.

Pre-order links for the Milvus 35mm f/1.4: B&H Photo | Adorama

Zeiss press release:

ZEISS Milvus 35mm f/1.4 Camera Lens for DSLR Cameras

The tenth lens in the ZEISS Milvus series for DSLR cameras already shows its many benefits at full aperture

OBERKOCHEN/Germany, 2017-06-21.

ZEISS has launched a new lens for full-frame DSLR cameras from Canon and Nikon on the market: the ZEISS Milvus 1.4/35. Now the tenth lens in the Milvus family, the ZEISS Milvus 1.4/35 is particularly suitable for portrait photography thanks to its speed. “The high maximum aperture enables the subject to stand out clearly against the background, and the photographer can achieve creative combinations of focus and blur,” says Christophe Casenave, Product Manager at ZEISS. “The manual focus enables very exact focusing, and the creamy bokeh provides an excellent image look. And even at full aperture the image quality leaves nothing to be desired.” The ZEISS Milvus 1.4/35 is also perfectly at home in landscape photography: “The 35-millimeter focal length is a genuine all-rounder.” Like all lenses in the ZEISS Milvus family, it is protected against dust and splashes and, according to Casenave, even bad weather is no problem. The metal barrel gives the lens its robust and durable character.

Practically no chromatic aberrations thanks to a new optical design

With aspherical lens elements, special glass materials and advanced correction, ZEISS has given the lens a completely new optical design. “This means the photos are practically free from chromatic aberrations,” says Casenave. Thanks to their excellent edge-to-edge imagery the ZEISS Milvus lenses are designed for high-performance digital cameras. “The resolutions of camera sensors are constantly becoming higher, and this also increases the demands made on the lenses. For ZEISS Milvus lenses this is no problem. They are a solid investment in the future.”

Also suitable for filming

The ten lenses in the ZEISS Milvus family, ranging between 15 and 135 millimeters, are also suitable for film productions: the manual focus with a large rotation angle can be operated with the aid of a ZEISS Lens Gear with a follow-focus system. The de-click function allows the aperture to be set continuously in the version for Nikon3 cameras. A further benefit for filming: ZEISS has matched the color characteristics of the ten lenses. Filmmakers can therefore switch between the focal lengths and still have a uniform color look. “This facilitates editing enormously,” says Casenave.

Price and availability
The ZEISS Milvus 1.4/35 will be available from specialist dealers and in the ZEISS Online Shop from July 2017. The recommended retail price is 1,999 euros.
You can find further information at www.zeiss.com/photo/milvus1435

Zeiss Milvus Distagon T* 18mm f/2.8 review and image quality examination

Zeiss Milvus Distagon T* 18mm F/2.8

Zeiss Milvus Distagon T* 18mm f/2.8: B&H Photo | Adorama

At a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
  • 4 Anomalous Partial Dispersion Elements
  • 2 Aspherical Elements
  • Distagon Optical Design
  • Zeiss T* Anti-Reflective Coating
  • Manual Focus Design
  • Anodized Metal Barrel, Rubber Focus Ring
  • Weather-Sealed Construction

Photographer and reviewer Dustin Abbott tested the new, manual focusing Zeiss Milvus Distagon T* 18mm f/2.8 lens. He praises the design and the exceptional build quality, the well executed weather sealing, near perfect chromatic aberration control, strong flare resistance and more. The Zeiss is not exactly “inexpensive”, coming at $2,299.

From the conclusion:

The [Zeiss Milvus Distagon T* 18mm f/2.8] produces nicely detailed, visually rich images. It worked admirably for achieving my vision for each situation I put it in…including the very important area of astrophotography. What it didn’t do, however, was wow me with its exceptionalism in any particular area save the utter lack of chromatic aberrations. Perhaps I have become jaded with using so many incredible lenses in the past few years, but this one didn’t “blow me away” in the way that Zeiss lenses so often do.

As usual with Abbott’s reviews, you can go for the written article, or you may watch the comprehensive 18 minutes video below which tells you all the findings and takes a close look at the image quality of the Zeiss Milvus Distagon T* 18mm f/2.8.

Zeiss Milvus Distagon T* 18mm f/2.8

Zeiss Milvus Distagon T* 18mm f/2.8: B&H Photo | Adorama