The ZEISS Otus 100mm f/1.4 is the latest addition to the Otus line up. The 100mm joins the 28mm f/1.4, 55mm f/1.4, and the 85mm f/1.4.
The Otus series of lenses are all manual focus lenses and are available in Canon EF and Nikon F mount. With adapters they can easily be used on other camera systems.
I reviewed the ZEISS Otus 55mm and 85mm f1.4 four years ago and you can read that review here.
Otus 100mm f/1.4
ZEISS claims that the Otus 100mm f/1.4s one of the best lenses in its class due to its low sample variation, outstanding imaging performance, and superior build quality.
Even though the Otus 100mm f/1.4 was developed for 35 mm full-frame cameras, ZEISS says that the lens gives you the quality and look of a medium-format system.
Apochromat
Because this lens is an apochromat, chromatic aberrations (axial chromatic aberations) are corrected with elements of special glass with anomalous partial dispersion. The chromatic aberrations are therefore significantly below the defined limits. ZEISS claims that bright-dark transitions in the image, and especially highlights, are reproduced almost completely free of color artifacts.
High Contrast
Aberrations caused by extreme differences between shadows and highlights are particularly obvious in images captured at night. ZEISS says that thanks to the outstanding correction of lateral chromatic aberration, complex shots can be produced with absolute perfection.
No color fringing
Sources of light located in front of or behind the plane of focus present particular challenges to every lens. In the case of the ZEISS Otus, longitudinal chromatic aberration is so low that practically no colour fringing occurs.
Aspherical design
ZEISS says that the aspherical lens design ensures consistent imaging performance throughout the entire focusing range as well as sharpness to the periphery of the image. The asphere’s more complex surface profile can reduce or eliminate spherical aberration and also reduce other optical aberrations compared to a simple lens.
Specifications
| Focal Length | 100 mm |
| Aperture rangeH | f/1.4 – f/16 |
| Camera mountN | Canon EF-Mount (ZE) | Nikon F-Mount (ZF.2) |
| NFormat compatibility | Full Frame |
| Focusing range | 1.0 m (39.4″) – ∞ |
| Lens elements | groups | 14 / 11 |
| Filter thread | 86mm |
| Length (without lens caps) N | ZE: 129 mm (5.07″) | ZF.2: 127 mm (4.98″) |
| Weight | ZE: 1405 g (3.10 lbs) | ZF.2: 1336 g (2.95 lbs) |
Price
I couldn’t find any pricing yet for the lens, but given the fact that the rest of the Otus lenses retails between $3990 USD to $4990 USD I would expect the 100mm f/1.4 to sit somewhere within that range. UPDATE: The lens now has a price of $4990 USD.
