By technical editor Matt Allard:
Former Schneider optics guy Ryan Avery has teamed up with Duclos lenses optical specialist Matt Duclos to launch a new range high quality purpose built M4/3 Mini Prime cinema lenses. Called Veydra, derived from the Greek “Phae” or bright, they will initially be available in focal lengths of 16mm, 25mm, 35mm and 50mm and Avery expects to have them available from Jan 2015. A 12mm will follow later and should ship in June 2015.
Avery was frustrated at having to use 3rd party lens mount adaptors or photography stills lenses on cameras such as the Panasonic GH4 and BMPCC and saw a need for purpose built cinema lenses that include all the features you would find in high end cinema glass, but in a compact M4/3 mount.
While a lot of M4/3 glass on the market is optically very good (especially the Voigtlander range of f0.95 primes), few are designed for cinema use. Until now if you wanted to put a cinema lens on a M4/3 camera your choice was limited. Most likely you needed to use a lens adaptor. The combined price of a good quality cinema lens and mount adaptor combination was out of reach for a lot of filmmakers budgets.
The whole Veydra set will be around the price of a single full frame cinema prime lens. Importantly the lenses will be a matched so you will get a consistent look no matter what focal length you are using. The lenses have a 300 degree focus rotation, constant T-Stop, 9 blade iris for a round bokeh and high quality aluminum housings.
According to Avery the Veydra Mini Prime lenses also feature:
• Resolution that exceeds 4K
• Cinema 0.8 module focus and iris gears
• Consistent front 80mm outside diameter & 77mm filter threading
• Similar length for quick lens changes
• Constant T2.2 aperture for easy lighting set ups
• Brass plated mounts for durability.
Hotrod camera’s Illya Friedman is offering the 4 lens set (50,35,25,16mm) for $2,499.00, secured with a $200 non-refundable deposit at time of Preorder. The five lens set will cost $3,199.00 with a $400 deposit at time of Preorder.
Friedman is enthusiastic about the quality of the Veydra glass, calling them “closer to an Ultra Prime than a Rokinon”. I’m optimistic that with Avery at the helm and Matt Duclos heavily involved in the design process, that you are going to get a quality product that is meticulously built. The level of performance they look to be offering for he price will no doubt have a lot of M4/3 shooters looking seriously at the Veydra Mini Prime Cinema lenses.
Here is more info on the lenses:
Veydra Mini Prime 12mm T2.2 M4/3
The Veydra Mini Prime 12mm T2.2 is a wide focal length for Micro 4/3 cameras. Equivalent to the field of view for a 24mm lens in Full Frame 35mm stills format, this lens allows for wide angle views such as scene establishing shots or handheld/aerial gimbal use.
Veydra Mini Prime 16mm T2.2 M4/3
The Veydra Mini Prime 16mm T2.2 is a mid to wide focal length for Micro 4/3 cameras. Equivalent to the field of view for a 32mm lens in Full Frame 35mm stills format, this lens is great for everyday and handheld/aerial gimbal use.
Veydra Mini Prime 25mm T2.2 M4/3
The Veydra Mini Prime 25mm T2.2 is a standard focal length for Micro 4/3 cameras. Equivalent to the field of view for a 50mm lens in Full Frame 35mm stills format, this lens most closely replicates a natural human eye field of view.
Veydra Mini Prime 35mm T2.2 M4/3
The Veydra Mini Prime 35mm T2.2 is a standard focal length for Micro 4/3 cameras. Equivalent to the field of view for a 70mm lens in Full Frame 35mm stills format, this lens is perfect for portrait shots or interviews.
Veydra Mini Prime 50mm T2.2 M4/3
The Veydra Mini Prime 50mm T2.2 is a telephoto focal length for Micro 4/3 cameras. Equivalent to the field of view for a 100mm lens in Full Frame 35mm stills format, this lens is perfect for detail, portrait and longer shots where a tight field of view is required.
The Veydra lenses are also being offered on Kickstarter:
$699 ($899 to $1199 value) = Choose any one Veydra Mini Prime Lens. Get the Veydra t-shirt and special thanks on our website.
$2499 ($3695 value) = Get the first Veydra Mini Prime lens set of four focal lengths. Includes 16mm, 25mm, 35mm, and 50mm lenses. Plus a Veydra t-shirt and thanks on our website.
$3199 ($4895 value) = Get it all. Set of five Veydra Mini Prime lenses. Includes 12mm (Ships June 2015), 16mm, 25mm, 35mm, and 50mm lenses plus a Veydra T-Shirt and thanks on our website.
