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ZEISS CP.3 18mm T2.9 Cinema Lens

The Zeiss 18mm T2.9 is a 18mm f/2.9 cinema lens designed for PL Mount mount cameras. Check GearFocus for current availability, with buyer protection on every purchase.

ZEISS CP.3 18mm T2.9 Cinema Lens

ZEISS CP.3 18mm T2.9 Cinema Lens

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Lens Overview — Zeiss 18mm T2.9

The ZEISS CP.3 18mm T2.9 is a full-frame cinema prime lens designed for professional motion picture and video production. Built around a PL Mount, it sits firmly in the wide-angle category and is tailored for the Cinema/Video camera ecosystem. With a maximum aperture of T2.9, this lens offers solid light-gathering capability for a wide-angle prime, making it a practical choice for shooting in controlled or well-lit environments where a wide field of view is needed.

The lens operates entirely in manual focus mode, which is standard practice in professional cinema workflows where focus pullers rely on precise, repeatable control rather than autofocus. At 861.8 grams, it carries a meaningful but manageable weight for a cinema prime of this caliber, and its full-frame coverage means it can be deployed across a broad range of cinema camera bodies without vignetting concerns. The PL Mount is the industry-standard interface for professional cinema lenses, ensuring broad compatibility with high-end cinema camera platforms.

No image stabilization is present, which is typical for a manual cinema prime where stabilization is handled at the rig or camera level. Altogether, the CP.3 18mm T2.9 represents a purposeful wide-angle option for cinematographers working in serious production environments.

Key Features — Zeiss 18mm T2.9

18mm Wide-Angle Prime: A fixed focal length delivers a wide field of view well suited for establishing shots, interiors, and immersive environmental storytelling.

T2.9 Maximum Aperture: Calibrated in T-stops for precise exposure consistency across a matched lens set, with solid light-gathering capability for a wide-angle cinema prime.

Full-Frame Coverage: Image circle covers full-frame sensors, making the lens deployable on a broad range of cinema camera bodies without vignetting.

PL Mount: Industry-standard cinema mount ensures compatibility with professional camera platforms from ARRI, RED, and others.

Manual Focus Design: Smooth, dampened focus ring provides the precise, repeatable focus pulls expected in professional cinema workflows.

Consistent Lens Mechanics: Shared front diameter and consistent gear positions across the CP.3 lineup allow for fast lens swaps without adjusting follow focus or matte box setups.

Lens Specifications — Zeiss 18mm T2.9

Zeiss 18mm T2.9 full specifications
SpecDetail
Use CasesDocumentary, Real Estate, Video / Cinematography
Lens TypeCine
FormatFull Frame
Zoom/PrimePrime
Focal Length18mm
Maximum Aperturef/2.9
Camera SystemCinema / Video
Lens MountPL Mount
AutofocusNo
Focus TypeManual
Image StabilizationNone
Weight861.8g

Description — Zeiss 18mm T2.9

The ZEISS CP.3 18mm T2.9 is a prime cinema lens built for professional motion picture production, featuring a PL Mount and Full Frame coverage. With a maximum aperture of T2.9, it delivers solid light-gathering performance for a wide-angle cinema prime, while the 18mm focal length places it firmly in the wide-angle category — ideal for expansive establishing shots, interiors, and environmental storytelling. The lens is manual focus only, consistent with professional cinema practice where precision and repeatability are prioritized over automation.

Weighing in at 861.8 grams, it is manageable within a cinema rig setup. The PL Mount interface connects it to a wide range of professional cinema camera platforms. There is no image stabilization, so stabilization is handled externally as is common in professional production workflows.

This lens is purpose-designed for the Cinema/Video camera system, making it a dedicated tool for cinematographers who need a reliable, wide-angle prime in a professional lens lineup.

Pros — Zeiss 18mm T2.9

  • ✓Full-frame coverage (lensFormat: Full Frame) provides flexibility across a wide range of cinema camera sensor sizes
  • ✓Maximum aperture of T2.9 offers meaningful light collection for a wide-angle prime
  • ✓PL Mount (mount.lens: PL Mount) ensures compatibility with professional cinema camera platforms

Cons — Zeiss 18mm T2.9

  • ✗T2.9 maximum aperture is relatively modest compared to faster cinema primes, limiting low-light performance
  • ✗Manual focus only (autoFocus: false) — not suitable for any run-and-gun or hybrid shooting scenario requiring autofocus
  • ✗No image stabilization (imageStabilization: None) means handheld or gimbal use depends entirely on external stabilization

Reviews — Zeiss 18mm T2.9

Videos — Zeiss 18mm T2.9

ZEISS CP.3 - Lens Review & Test Footage — Oxenfree

Resources & Downloads — Zeiss 18mm T2.9

Manuals & Guides

Frequently Asked Questions — Zeiss 18mm T2.9

What camera mount does the ZEISS CP.3 18mm T2.9 use?+
This lens uses a PL Mount, which is the standard interface for professional cinema cameras. It is listed as the sole mount option in the specifications. Shooters using other camera systems would need to verify mount adapter compatibility.
Does this lens cover full-frame sensors?+
Yes, the specifications confirm a Full Frame lens format, meaning it is designed to cover full-frame cinema sensors without vignetting. This makes it versatile across a range of professional cinema camera bodies.
Does the ZEISS CP.3 18mm T2.9 have autofocus?+
No, the lens is manual focus only. This is standard for professional cinema lenses, where focus pullers use follow-focus systems for precise, repeatable control during production.
How heavy is the ZEISS CP.3 18mm T2.9?+
The lens weighs 861.8 grams. This is a moderate weight for a full-frame cinema prime and should be considered when planning rig balance and support configurations.
Is this lens suitable for video or photography use?+
The specifications list the camera system as Cinema/Video and the lens type as Cine, indicating it is purpose-built for motion picture and video production rather than still photography use.
What focal length category does the 18mm CP.3 fall into?+
The specifications classify this lens under the Wide Angle focal length range. At 18mm on a full-frame sensor, it provides a broad field of view suited to environmental, architectural, and establishing shots in cinema production.

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