ZEISS Supreme Prime 15mm T1.8 – Supreme Prime Look Explained

by Francesco AndreolaApril 28^th, 2022

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Snehal Patel, Head of Cinema Sales at ZEISS, took some time to introduce us to the latest addition to the company’s popular Supreme Prime series, the new 15mm T1.8. Besides going through the characteristics of this fast wide-angle prime, we also focused on diving deeper into the key elements of the Supreme Prime look.

Just a few weeks ago, leading optics manufacturer ZEISS announced the widest focal length in their popular Supreme Prime series. The new ZEISS Supreme Prime 15mm T1.8 marks the completion of this cinema lens series, which now consists of 14 pieces, ranging from 15 to 200mm.

During NAB Show, we asked Snehal Patel, Head of Cinema Sales at ZEISS, to teach us a little bit about this new family member. Moreover, we dwelled on the key elements that make up the Supreme Prime look.

ZEISS Supreme Prime 15mm T1.8

First introduced in 2018, the Supreme Prime lens series is designed with high-end large-format cinema cameras in mind and the new 15mm T1.8 is no exception. Indeed, the lens features a large image circle of 46.3mm which is a perfect match for popular LF cameras, such as the ARRI Alexa Mini LF and RED V-RAPTOR.

The fast ZEISS Supreme Prime 15mm T1.8, which comes with an interchangeable PL/LPL mount, is the widest option in the series. This compact glass comes packed with features you would expect from a $30K+ lens, such as unified focus and iris ring positions, state-of-the-art cinema housing, and metadata support.

The lens integrates ZEISS’ advanced T* coating technology and its optical design aims at adding a good amount of contrast to the image, while still delivering nice flares and out-of-focus bokeh.

The Supreme Prime look

Interestingly, the look of the Supreme Prime series is not about perfection, according to Snehal Patel. Indeed, although these lenses provide a crystal-clear look, they do not come without a little bit of “flavor”.

As part of this high-end series, the new Supreme Prime 15mm T1.8 offers superior optical quality and a high level of sharpness across the whole frame. Nonetheless, Patel claims that this research for natural, balanced color and optimum contrast results in an organic look that is both flexible and recognizable.

Price and availability

The ZEISS Supreme Prime 15mm T1.8 is currently available for pre-order from B&H for $31,625. The first units should start shipping towards the end of July. Apparently, there’s a long waiting queue for this high-end glass. Indeed, according to Snehal Patel, orders placed now might take up to 8/9 months to be delivered.

Disclaimer: This article and the video were published in cooperation with ZEISS.

What do you think of the Supreme Prime look? Do you believe the wide-angle ZEISS Supreme Prime 15mm T1.8 is a nice addition to the family? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!