Redefine the limits of your creativity – with the new ZEISS Milvus lens family. It will initially consist of the following six focal lengths with ZE- or ZF.2-mounts compatible with SLR cameras from Canon and Nikon : ZEISS Milvus 2.8/21, ZEISS Milvus 2/35, ZEISS Milvus 1.4/50, ZEISS Milvus 1.4/85, as well as the macro lenses ZEISS Milvus 2/50M and ZEISS Milvus 2/100M. Further focal lengths will be added to the ZEISS Milvus lens family over the next few years.

The ZEISS Milvus lens family with precise manual focus offers high and consistent image performance across all focal lengths. They are ideal for current DSLR cameras and also for mirrorless system cameras of the Sony α7 series via an adapter solution.

 “With this diversity of extremely high-quality SLR lenses, we are underscoring that, with our Milvus lenses, we can supply the right focal length for almost any application or personal preference,”

Christophe Casenave, Product Manager for ZEISS Camera Lenses

 

An equally important benefit: their high contrast rendition and low level of stray light ensure that the lenses meet the latest video standards such as HDR (High Dynamic Range) and resolutions of 6K and more. For the user, they open up the field of professional video applications.

Diversity of focal lengths for wide spectrum of applications

With its diversity of focal lengths, the ZEISS Milvus lens family covers many of the photographer’s important fields of application where the benefits of manual focus lenses can be optimally utilized. “We want to provide users with the freedom to use the focus position as an artistic tool because it is one of the most important creative possibilities available to photographers,” Christophe Casenave emphasizes. The ZEISS Milvus lenses are therefore targeted at all owners of a high-resolution DSLR camera, offering them considerable added value. They are also suitable for photographers who have specialized in applications which the six focal lengths optimally support, e.g. portrait, landscape and macrophotography.

“With this diversity of extremely high-quality SLR lenses, we are underscoring that, with our Milvus lenses, we can supply the right focal length for almost any application or personal preference,” Casenave says. A ZEISS ambassador, he was one of only a few photographers who were allowed to test the new ZEISS lenses Milvus 2.8/21 and Milvus 2/100M before anyone else. “Both lenses are remarkable tools that help me to carry out my visions – two wonderful lenses in top quality.” The way that a lens depicts light is also subject to opinion and hard to quantify. According to Davis, the ZEISS Milvus lenses have a wonderful brightness. “They turn ordinary things into magic – which is exactly what I need for my photography.”

Modern product design

The new ZEISS Milvus lenses continue the award-winning ZEISS product design already featured in the ZEISS Otus lenses. The advanced design ensures excellent image performance and outstanding ergonomic convenience. The easy-grip focus ring enables precise manual focusing for highly precise photography. The robust all-metal barrel of the ZEISS Milvus lenses guarantees many years of reliable use. They are protected against dust and spray water. The robust metal lens shade is an integral part of the overall product design and is a standard feature of all ZEISS Milvus lenses on delivery.

Photographer and ZEISS Camera Lens Ambassador Timm Allrich is impressed by the ZEISS Milvus lenses: “The lenses themselves can be used with supreme ease. The protection against water spray and dust is outstanding. The design is brilliant, and their haptic appeal and ease of use are unbeatable. My verdict: ten out of ten every time!”

Fully compatible with DSLR cameras

The ZEISS Milvus lenses support all important operating modes of DSLR cameras (e.g. aperture priority, shutter priority and program modes, as well as manual time and exposure settings). In addition, the ZEISS Milvus lenses feature an interface that transmits the lens data to the camera body (e.g. focal length, set aperture etc.). This information is saved to the photo’s EXIF data.

Features for demanding users

“The excellent image performance of the ZEISS Milvus lenses, also in difficult light conditions, is sharply focused on the requirements of current and future high-performance digital cameras,” says Casenave. The lenses offer a harmonious bokeh and excellent reflection reduction thanks to T*® anti-reflective coating from ZEISS. The further optimization of the lens coating reduces ghosting, flare and shading effects in critical light situations.

All ZEISS Milvus lenses have a Floating Elements Design which compensates for aberrations at different distance settings. This is achieved by varying the axial distance between individual lens elements or groups. The adjustment of the distance between elements is coupled to the distance setting so that this always results in the right correction.

ZEISS Milvus lenses for video

The new ZEISS Milvus lenses enable high-quality film recordings with soft and cinematic bokeh. “With their extremely high contrast rendition, the lenses meet the latest 6K video standards and display uniform color characteristics,” Casenave continues.

All ZEISS Milvus lenses have an exceptionally long rotation angles of the focus ring for precise focusing. The practical, rubber-covered focus ring features outstanding grip properties for optimal focusing. The ‘de-click’ function in the ZF.2 mount lenses allows filmmakers to adjust the aperture freely and smoothly, enabling professional results even in changing light conditions.

Australian cinematographer Clinton Harn has no problem using cine and still photo lenses in his film projects. That’s why Harn likes the fact that with the ZEISS Milvus lenses he has the choice when it comes to aperture: Depending on how the lens will be used, Harn can decide if he wants to work with smooth aperture adjustment or not – and immediately start working with it after a small turn of the screw on the lens mount. According to Harn, this is a sign that ZEISS understands the needs of users and is prepared to create practical solutions based on that insight. “I don’t think a lot of people understand the amazing benefits of performing an iris pull when transitioning from exterior to interior shots when executed properly. Having this option on a non-cine lens just gives you more options.”

ZEISS Milvus 1.4/50

The newly designed ZEISS Milvus 1.4/50 lens has ten elements in eight groups. The 50 mm lens features one aspherical optical surface and four elements made of special glass materials, and uses the ZEISS Distagon optical design. This makes it the second standard lens after the ZEISS Otus 1.4/55 to incorporate this high-performance optical design. The advanced ZEISS Distagon optical design enables very good image performance across the entire image field, even at full aperture, despite the high speed. The ZEISS Milvus 1.4/50 on a full-frame camera corresponds to the perspective of the human eye and can therefore be used for many different purposes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The newly designed ZEISS Milvus 1.4/50 is a high-performance standard lens

 

ZEISS Milvus 1.4/85

The newly designed ZEISS Milvus 1.4/85 short tele lens has eleven elements in nine groups and features the ZEISS Planar optical design. The 85 mm lens is suitable, above all, for portrait photography. This lens is an absolute must for compositions where the main subject is to be isolated and emphasized against a beautiful bokeh background. The purely spherical optical design generates a harmonious bokeh, and the use of special glass materials ensures extremely low chromatic aberration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The newly designed ZEISS Milvus 1.4/85 lens is particularly suitable for portrait photography.

You can find an overview of the flickr photos taken with ZEISS Milvus lenses in the ZEISS Milvus flickr Albums

Milvus 2/35

Milvus 2/50M

Milvus 2/100M

Milvus 1.4/50

Milvus 1.4/85

Milvus 2.8/21