Among the numerous brands, the collaboration between Arri and Zeiss has undoubtedly brought several classic and highly regarded lens series to the film industry. Among them, Ultra Primes and Master Primes, as two different levels of prime lens series, each possess unique advantages and characteristics. This article will conduct a comprehensive comparison review of these two series, delving into their similarities and differences through specific data, parameters, and testing as a foundation.
I. Brand and Background
The collaboration between Arri and Zeiss has a long history, jointly introducing numerous high-quality cinema lenses. Ultra Primes and Master Primes, as the fruits of this collaboration, represent different levels of prime lens technology. Ultra Primes, as the go-to choice for mainstream prime lenses, are renowned for their excellent optical performance and wide range of focal lengths, making them ideal for film, television, advertising, and other fields. On the other hand, Master Primes, as a top-tier lens series, are celebrated for their ultimate optical performance and unique coating technology, making them the preferred choice for film and advertising shoots.
II. Comparison of Lens Characteristics
1. Focal Length Range and Aperture
Ultra Primes offer 16 high-performance prime lenses with a focal length range from 8mm to 180mm and an aperture ranging from T1.9 to T3.6. This focal length range covers various shooting needs from ultra-wide angles to telephotos, making Ultra Primes an ideal choice for multi-scene shooting.
In contrast, Master Primes provide 14 T1.3 high-speed lenses with a focal length range from 12mm to 150mm. Although the focal length range is slightly narrower than Ultra Primes, Master Primes boast an aperture of T1.3, which is a rare large aperture among cinema lenses, enabling brighter and clearer images in low-light environments.
2. Optical Performance
Ultra Primes are renowned for their excellent optical performance. The lenses employ high-quality optical glass and coating technology, ensuring high contrast and low dispersion in images. In actual shooting, Ultra Primes present delicate and realistic image effects, meeting the needs of most shooting scenarios.
Master Primes, however, excel even further in optical performance. The lenses utilize aspherical lenses and the unique T*XP anti-reflection coating technology, further enhancing image contrast and color rendition. Additionally, Master Primes possess top-tier breathing and distortion control performance, eliminating the “breathing” effect when adjusting focus and avoiding issues like scaling or resizing.
To compare their optical performance more specifically, we can refer to some test data. For instance, in resolution tests, Master Primes exhibit good center image quality even with the aperture fully open, with slightly inferior edge performance. Upon stopping down the aperture to T2, they achieve excellent overall resolution, delivering superb center-to-edge uniformity and resolution levels. In comparison, Ultra Primes also exhibit excellent resolution performance, but may fall slightly behind Master Primes under extreme aperture conditions.
3. Breathing Effect and Distortion Control
Breathing effect and distortion control are crucial metrics for evaluating lens performance. Ultra Primes perform exceptionally well in terms of breathing effect and distortion control, meeting the needs of most shooting scenarios. However, in film shooting that pursues ultimate image quality, these performances may still have room for improvement.
Master Primes completely eliminate the breathing effect, ensuring that the image does not “breathe” when adjusting focus, avoiding issues like scaling or resizing. Additionally, Master Primes possess top-tier distortion control performance, virtually eliminating all types of distortion phenomena. This performance advantage makes Master Primes the preferred choice for film and advertising shoots.
4. Mount and Compatibility
Both Ultra Primes and Master Primes adopt the PL mount design, making them compatible with most Arri cameras and other PL mount-supported photography equipment. However, with the continuous development of digital photography technology, some new cameras may adopt other types of mount designs. In response to this change, some lens manufacturers have begun to offer multiple mount options to meet the needs of different users.
While Ultra Primes and Master Primes currently mainly offer PL mount versions, Zeiss has also launched other mount versions of the Supreme Primes lenses to meet broader market demands. For instance, Supreme Primes are available in PL, LPL, and EF mount options, allowing users to choose the appropriate lens version based on their photography equipment.
III. Comparison of Actual Shooting Applications
In actual shooting, Ultra Primes and Master Primes each have their strengths. Ultra Primes, with their wide range of focal lengths and excellent optical performance, are ideal for multi-scene shooting. Whether it’s for films, television series, or advertisements, Ultra Primes can provide stable and reliable performance.
However, in film shooting that pursues ultimate image quality, Master Primes become the go-to choice. Their ultimate optical performance, top-tier breathing and distortion control performance, and unique coating technology enable Master Primes to capture more delicate and realistic image effects. For example, in films like “Blade Runner 2049,” “Leap,” and “Corpus Christi,” Master Primes played crucial roles in delivering stunning visual experiences to audiences.
IV. Price and Cost-Effectiveness
As a top-tier lens series, Master Primes come with a hefty price tag. Their high price is mainly due to their excellent optical performance, unique coating technology, and exquisite craftsmanship. However, for film production teams that pursue ultimate image quality and have sufficient budgets, the investment in Master Primes is undoubtedly worthwhile.
In contrast, Ultra Primes are more affordable. While their optical performance and manufacturing process may be slightly inferior to Master Primes, Ultra Primes still provide stable and reliable performance at a more reasonable price. This makes Ultra Primes an ideal choice for many low-budget films, television series, and advertising shoots.
In terms of cost-effectiveness, we need to make choices based on specific shooting needs, budgets, and lens performance. If ultimate image quality is pursued and the budget is sufficient, then Master Primes are undoubtedly the best choice. If the budget is limited and a wide range of shooting scenarios need to be covered, then Ultra Primes are a more economical option.
V. Conclusion and Outlook
Through this comprehensive comparison review of Arri/Zeiss Ultra Primes and Master Primes, we can see that these two series of lenses each have their strengths. Ultra Primes are ideal for multi-scene shooting with their wide range of focal lengths and excellent optical performance; whereas Master Primes are the preferred choice for film and advertising shoots with their ultimate optical performance, top-tier breathing and distortion control performance, and unique coating technology.
In the future, with the continuous development of digital photography technology and the increasing demands of audiences for image quality, we believe that Arri and Zeiss will continue to introduce more high-quality cinema lenses to meet market demands. We also look forward to seeing more innovative technologies applied to bring more possibilities to film shooting. Through this comparison review, we hope to provide useful references and assistance for film production teams in choosing lenses. When selecting lenses, we need to comprehensively consider factors such as shooting needs, budgets, and lens performance to make the best decision.
Check Out Our