ZEISS Aatma: nine full frame cinema primes debut at BSC Expo

Derived from the Sanskrit word meaning “innermost essence,” “self,” or “soul”, the name Aatma introduces a set of nine high-end full frame T1.5 cinema primes from Zeiss, covering from 18 to 135mm.

The new Aatma lenses from ZEISS will debut at BSC Expo, the international event for film & TV production equipment & technology, which starts February 12, in London.  ZEISS will show the set of nine high-end full frame T1.5 cinema primes (18mm, 25mm, 35mm, 40mm, 50mm, 65mm, 85mm, 100mm, and 135mm) designed to marry the benefits of modern optical design with the nostalgic image characteristics that are popular today at Booth #319, during the event.

Introduced as  “contemporary full frame primes with a soulful legacy look”, the Aatma lenses draw inspiration from some of the most beloved ZEISS lenses of the 20th century, combining an emotion-driven look with the mechanical reliability, data integration, and workflow compatibility that’s expected for current production.

“With Aatma, we wanted to give cinematographers an expressive and characterful choice within the ZEISS offering,” says Jeanfre Fachon, Senior Product Manager Cinema at ZEISS. “Over the years, we have come to acknowledge how much some of our legacy lens lines are still appreciated. But instead of simply remaking them, we looked at their most appealing characteristics and drew inspiration to incorporate into a new optical design.”

The name “Aatma” was derived from the Sanskrit word meaning “innermost essence,” “self,” or “soul”. So, it is fitting that ZEISS Aatma lenses are designed to evoke emotion while maintaining consistency across the set. Their image character recalls, according to ZEISS, “classic ZEISS optics, offering softly painted skin texture with reduced contrast, smooth and vibrant focus transitions between planes, and a rich bokeh with a subtle soap bubble effect. This carefully created aesthetic allows cinematographers to achieve a nostalgic yet refined look that supports storytelling without compromising control and repeatability.”

Aatma lenses balance character with versatility. They produce, ZEISS continues, “an organic, emotionally resonant image while remaining suitable for a wide range of cinematic applications. Their rendering enhances texture and atmosphere, enabling filmmakers to infuse personal style into each frame while retaining the precision required for contemporary productions.”

While Aatma’s optical design draws from the past, its mechanical design reflects ZEISS’ modern high-end cinema lens standards, offering consistent ergonomics for modern workflows. The lenses retain the proven form factor, size, weight, and operability of ZEISS’ current premium cine lenses.

“Extensive positive feedback on ergonomics meant there was no need to reinvent the wheel—only to adapt what is already known and trusted to work seamlessly with Aatma’s optical design,” Fachon adds. Like all modern high-end ZEISS cinema lenses, Aatma comes equipped with ZEISS eXtended Data (XD) technology and is fully integrated into the ZEISS CinCraft ecosystem, supporting efficient workflows for visual effects, camera tracking, and virtual production.

A good example of what these lenses offer can be seen in the short film “Welcoming Grace”, shot by Pascale Marin, AFC, directed by Hélène de Roux. After completing production Pascale Marin commented: “I had four Aatma lens focal lengths for the film “Welcoming Grace,” which rendered skin tones beautifully with greater softness. And I love the way the focus falls off. This gives them a more distinctive character than I’m used to from other modern ZEISS lenses, while remaining truly reliable with their familiar ergonomics”.

The nine Aatma lenses – 18mm, 25mm, 35mm, 40mm, 50mm, 65mm, 85mm, 100mm, and 135mm, all T1.5 – are available as a complete set or individually. ZEISS Aatma lenses are available to order now, with deliveries expected to begin June, 2026 from authorized ZEISS Cinema dealers.

ZEISS 65mm format lenses on the way

Also ready for delivery in summer 2026 are the ZEISS Panoptes 65 lenses. This lens set is inspired by ZEISS’ modern full-frame lenses and will cover the larger sensor area of the Alexa 265, Alexa 65, Blackmagic URSA Cine 17K 65, etc. There will be 10 focal lengths: 25, 35, 40, 45, 55, 70, 90, 110, 135 and 180 mm — all T2.2.