In the cine lens market, DZOFILM is a bit of a newcomer — but don’t be fooled. Its lenses are incredibly light, affordable, and produce some very unique images. DZOFILM hadn’t released a new lens in nearly a year, so they had to come up with something special. That’s exactly what they did with the recent announcement of its new Full-Frame Catta Cinema Zoom lenses.
With a solid optical foundation, DZOFILM cinema lenses utilize some serious optics that create a cinematic feeling. DZOFILM strives to meet the current market’s demand for full-frame lenses that can accommodate larger format cameras. The new Full-Frame Catta Cinema Zoom lenses are available in both 35-80mm and 70-135mm focal lengths. Taking a look at these two new pieces of glass, let’s talk about what we know so far.
Key Features of the Catta Cinema Lenses:
- Available Focal Lengths – 35-80mm, 70-135mm
- T2.9 – T22 Aperture
- Front Filter Size 77mm
- Focus Rotation Angle 240°
- Iris Rotation Angle 75° / 80°
- 16 Blade Iris With Soft Bokeh
- Minimal Breathing
- 35mm-80mm T/2.9 weighs 1532g
- 70mm-135mm T/2.9 weighs 1597g
- E Mount (additional RF/L/Z/X mount available)
- Body Color: White
DZOFILM lenses are used primarily by indie filmmakers who wish to use cinema glass in their productions. They are extremely affordable and in terms of cost-effectiveness, their glass is regarded as one of the most reasonable and ideal sets.
Focal Lengths
As part of DZOFILM’s third zoom series, the Catta 35-80mm T2.9 and 70-135mm T2.9 cover the majority of focal lengths in a variety of film, documentary, and broadcast projects. By using 35-80mm and 70-135mm, cinematographers can create cinematic images without sacrificing time for lens swapping. The 70-135mm magnification ratio is 1.9x while the 35-80mm is 2.3x.
Lighter, Stronger
The 35mm-80mm T/2.9 weighs only 1.53kg, and the 70mm-135mm T/2.9 weighs less than 1.6kg. By using polycarbonate and glass fiber on the lens shell, DZOFILM was able to decrease the weight. The specifications and craftsmanship of the lenses are based entirely on cinema-grade standards. With a manual focus range of 270°, users will have a smooth operating experience. Mechanically and optically, these two lenses are identical and create a perfect combination of wide-angle and telephoto for perfect articulation.
In addition to these zoom lenses being highly portable, they would be an excellent option for live shows, run-and-gun filmmaking, documentaries, and so much more. Considering their lower weight, they should work well on gimbals when shooting a fast-moving scene, as well as making for a lighter gear bag in general.
Rear ND Slot
In addition to the front detachable 77mm filter, the Catta Zoom lenses feature a rear plug-in filter so users can easily add and remove the rear ND/UV/Streak/Mist filter as needed. You can use the original filter or any other filter depending on your shooting situation.
Real-World Color
By embracing the design philosophy of natural, original, and authentic, Catta Zoom lenses reproduce real-world colors on a compact but comprehensive sensor. It helps to record the most realistic scenes and makes it easier to color-correct your images in post production. The Catta lenses also promise to deliver flattering, natural skin tones.
Smooth Bokeh, Finer Details
Catta’s 16 blades of the diaphragm and aperture range of T2.9-T22 produce a round and smooth bokeh along with natural transition in the image. Shooting clear details and characteristics of a subject is made possible by the extremely close focus distance.
Breathing Control
Despite the minimal breathing found in all DZOFILM cine lenses, you can now find even better performance in the Catta lineup. There is practically no visible breathing when racking focus. While an audience watches the images unfold on screen, the edge of the frame remains constant. This allows them to immerse themselves in the narrative as the story unfolds.
Wrapping Up
With every smooth rotation, DZOFILM strives to inspire its users. Their cine lenses can operate at their peak performance even under the most challenging conditions. With flexibility and durability, you can explore the unknown with ease. Simply pick up your DZOFILM cine lens and capture your story.
Both lenses are currently available for pre-order at Adorama and will start shipping around mid-December. DZOFILM will also have a black metal body version with PL/EF mounts available sometime in 2022. If you’d like to see the lenses in action, head on over to YouTube for a demo.
