Zeiss SUPER speed

Set of five black camera lenses with focus rings and markings, arranged on a white background.
FOCAL LENGTH APERATURE CLOSE FOCUS FRONT DIAMETER WEIGHT (lbs)
18mmT1.310"80mm3
25mmT1.310"80mm2
35mmT1.314"80mm2
50mmT1.32'4"80mm2
85mmT1.33'80mm2.5

   TECHNICAL DATA   

   OVERVIEW   

GRITTY REALISM

Arriving in the late 1970s and evolving through the 1980s, Zeiss Super Speeds (T1.3) changed the game for low-light cinematography on 16mm and 35mm film. Their faster aperture allowed DPs to shoot in more natural, available light conditions, influencing the gritty realism of countless independent films and early music videos.

"The Godfather" movie poster with a man in a tuxedo and a red rose, holding a finger near his face, and the title in bold letters.
Home Alone movie poster showing a surprised boy with hands on cheeks, two men peering through a window.
Movie poster for "Taxi Driver" featuring a man standing in front of a yellow taxi at night with city buildings in the background. Text includes cast names such as Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, and Cybill Shepherd. Directed by Martin Scorsese.

REFINED WARTH

They impart a slightly vintage Zeiss character: sharp centers with gentler edges, modest flare, and a natural but not overly warm color rendition. Their legacy includes contributions to seminal ’80s and ’90s works where pushing film stocks and embracing lower light levels defined the visual language of the era.