Zeiss launches Aatma cinema lenses promising vintage cinematic look with modern filmmaking tools
Zeiss has announced the Aatma series, a new lineup of full-frame cinema prime lenses designed for professional filmmaking and high-end video production workflows. The lenses were unveiled during the British Society of Cinematographers (BSC) Expo and combine a character-focused optical design with modern lens data integration and production-ready ergonomics.
The Zeiss Aatma lineup consists of nine full-frame prime lenses featuring a consistent T1.5 aperture across focal lengths ranging from 18 mm to 135 mm.
According to Zeiss, the Aatma lenses are designed to produce softer skin tones, reduced contrast and smooth focus transitions, alongside a distinctive bokeh effect. The company positions the lenses as tools intended to deliver stylized cinematic rendering while maintaining repeatability and control required for commercial and studio productions.
The new lenses support Zeiss eXtended Data (XD), which provides detailed lens metadata for post-production processes such as visual effects compositing, camera tracking and virtual production. The lenses also integrate with the Zeiss CinCraft ecosystem, which includes software tools for real-time camera tracking and lens distortion mapping.
Zeiss has confirmed that the lenses maintain the same mechanical design principles used in its existing premium cinema lineup, including standardized form factors and ergonomics intended to simplify lens swapping and rig integration during production.
Alongside the Aatma announcement, Zeiss also revealed plans to introduce Panoptes 65 lenses scheduled for release in summer 2026. The upcoming lineup is designed for large-format cinema cameras, including models such as the ARRI Alexa 65 and Blackmagic URSA Cine 17K 65, and will include 10 focal lengths with a T2.2 aperture.
Zeiss says orders for the Aatma lenses are now open through authorized cinema dealers, with deliveries expected to begin in June 2026. Pricing has not been disclosed.
Add as a preferred