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Category: Lenses

  • Introducing Sigma’s T1.3 Aperture Aizu Prime Cinema Lenses

    Introducing Sigma’s T1.3 Aperture Aizu Prime Cinema Lenses

    Sigma has officially introduced the Aizu Prime Line, a family of 12 full‑frame/large‑format cinema primes featuring a constant T1.3 aperture across every focal length—a first for any cine lens lineup.

    Covering a 46.3 mm image circle, the range will eventually span 18 mm to 125 mm, but Sigma is rolling the glass out in two waves. The initial eight lenses (25 mm – 75 mm) are slated to ship first, with the ultra‑wide and telephoto options following later this year. All lenses come in PL and Sony E mounts and keep weights in the 1.6 – 1.7 kg bracket—light enough for gimbal or handheld work despite their speed.

    Optically, the Aizu Primes are new designs rather than rehoused photo lenses. Sigma says they combine “modern sharpness” with an “organic, naturally soft look,” while controlling distortion and focus breathing to suit demanding cinema workflows. The company also hints that lessons learned here may influence future ultra‑fast still‑photo glass.

    Price & Availability
    Each Aizu Prime is expected to retail at $8,299 USD, with shipments beginning in August 2025 for the first eight focal lengths; the remaining four should follow before year’s end.

    With a unified T1.3 aperture, matched mechanics, and full‑frame coverage, Sigma’s Aizu Prime Line positions itself as a versatile, cost‑competitive alternative to established high‑speed cinema sets—one that’s likely to attract indie productions and studio shooters alike.

  • Voigtländer Portrait Heliar 75 mm f/1.8 Arrives: Classic Fast Portrait Prime with Adjustable Bokeh for Sony E‑Mount

    Voigtländer Portrait Heliar 75 mm f/1.8 Arrives: Classic Fast Portrait Prime with Adjustable Bokeh for Sony E‑Mount

    Cosina Voigtländer has just lifted the curtain on the Portrait Heliar 75 mm f/1.8, a manual‑focus medium‑telephoto that blends vintage optical design with a brand‑new spherical‑aberration control ring. It’s the first Voigtländer lens that lets photographers dial a scene from dreamy glow to razor‑sharp contrast simply by twisting a front‑barrel ring—no filters, no firmware hacks, just pure glass magic. PetaPixelImaging Resource

    Key specs at a glance

    • Full‑frame coverage, Sony E‑mount (electronic contacts transmit EXIF and distance data) OpticalLimits
    • Unique “under ↔ over” spherical‑aberration ring for on‑lens bokeh tuning PetaPixelPhoto Rumors
    • Classic 6‑element / 3‑group Heliar formula with 9‑blade diaphragm for smooth round highlights PetaPixelOpticalLimits
    • Fast f/1.8 aperture, 0.7 m minimum focus, 1:7.4 max magnification—ideal for portraits and tight product shots OpticalLimits
    • All‑metal housing, 62 mm front filter thread, and weighs 515 g; barrel‑style hood included OpticalLimits

    Why it matters

    Portrait shooters chasing that elusive “character” now get a native‑mount option that behaves a bit like Nikon’s legendary 135 mm f/2 DC—only smaller, faster and mirrorless‑ready. Twist toward “under” and edges bloom for a soft‑focus, vintage feel; roll to “over” and micro‑contrast snaps into clinical sharpness, with every tweak nudging effective T‑stop and focus plane for creative control on the fly. PetaPixelImaging Resource

    Price & availability

    The Voigtländer Portrait Heliar 75 mm f/1.8 ships in June 2025. Cosina lists a suggested price of ¥165,000 in Japan (≈ US $1,100), while UK preorder listings hover around £750 before VAT; official U.S. MSRP is expected to land just under the thousand‑dollar mark once retailers open their carts. Photo RumorsPetaPixel

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