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Zeiss B Speed
Zeiss B Speed
1 / 5
- Zeiss B Speed 18mm T1.4
- Zeiss B Speed 25mm T1.4
- Zeiss B Speed 35mm T1.4
- Zeiss B Speed 50mm T1.4
- Zeiss B Speed 85mm T1.4
Zeiss B Speed
Prime - Spherical - Super 35
product details
Zeiss B Speed T1.4 primes are vintage high performance sphericals and high-speed versions of the Standard Speeds, offering T1.4 apertures. Balancing sharpness with lower contrast and expressive flare, they are chosen by cinematographers seeking a vintage Zeiss look, with personality and warmth. They were designed for productions requiring faster glass, in low-light or dramatic situations where analog soul enhances the narrative. Considered to be precursors of Super Speeds, they are cherished for their imperfections โ chromatic aberration, veiling glare, and edge softness โ and the resulting romantic, atmospheric quality. The set includes five focal lengths: 18mm, 25mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm. These lenses are available to rent or sub-rent from Cine Visuals in full sets, partial sets, or as single lenses.
| Focal Length | |
| T-Stop | |
| Type | |
| Format | |
| Front Diameter | |
| Lens Mount | |
| Metadata | |
| Iris Blades | |
| Image Circle |
| Era / Generation | |
| Contrast & Tonal Character | |
| Sharpness & Resolution | |
| Focus FallโOff / Transition | |
| Iris & Bokeh Quality | |
| Flare & Highlight Behavior | |
| Handling & Ergonomics | |
| Build & Modifications | |
| Cinematic Heritage & Credits |
*Refer to Technical Specifications table. Not the same for all focal lengths.
Technical Specs Table
T-Stop
Type
Format
Front Diameter
Lens Mount
Metadata
Close Focus (ft)
Close Focus (m)
Weight (lbs)
Weight (kg)
Length (in)
Length (mm)
Iris Blades
Image Circle
Front Filter
Rear Filter
Horizontal Angle of View (Full Frame)
Horizontal Angle of View (S35)
Focus Rotation
T1.4
Spherical
Super 35
80 mm
PL
โ
10"
0.25 m
โ
โ
โ
โ
9
32.5 mm
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
T1.4
Spherical
Super 35
80 mm
PL
โ
10"
0.25 m
โ
โ
โ
โ
9
36.5 mm
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
T1.4
Spherical
Super 35
80 mm
PL
โ
13"
0.33 m
โ
โ
โ
โ
9
37 mm
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
T1.4
Spherical
Super 35
80 mm
PL
โ
2'3"
0.69 m
โ
โ
โ
โ
9
41 mm
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
T1.4
Spherical
Super 35
80 mm
PL
โ
3'
0.91 m
โ
โ
โ
โ
9
41 mm
โ
โ
โ
โ
โ
Zeiss B Speed
Image Fidelity & Focus
Shooting wide open creates a beautiful, flattering look with a slight glow to highlights, along with lower contrast, subtle, halated highlights, and softer edges compared to Standard Speeds. Stopped down, the B Speeds sharpen considerably and behave more like their T2.1 siblings, with a sharper, more contrasty look. A unique 9-blade iris creates a triangle-shaped aperture that results in a more gentle focus roll-off and produces a striking bokeh effect. Different looks are made possible within the same set, which allows for more creative control.
Handling & Adaptability
B Speeds share the same robust mechanics as Standard Speeds but with larger front elements to accommodate the faster aperture. They are compact compared to modern T1.4 lenses, making them easier to use handheld. PL mount.
Flare & Bokeh
Thanks to vintage coatings, flare is colorful and cinematic, and often used creatively. Chromatic aberrations are visible at wide apertures. Bokeh is smooth but can be busy toward the edges. The bokeh when shot wide open (T1.4) renders out-of-focus light sources as round orbs. When stopping down to T2, the circular orbs become rounded triangles due to a unique and legendary iris blade design.
Image Circle
Zeiss B Speed primes cover Super 35 sensors and are adaptable to a wide range of cameras.
Cinematic Heritage
Introduced in the late 1970s, the B Speeds expanded Zeissโs cine offerings to meet the demand for faster lenses during an era of lower film sensitivities. They quickly became popular for night exteriors and low-light work. B Speeds were used on many iconic films of the 1970s and 1980s โ perhaps most famously by Michael Chapman on Taxi Driver.
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