The first batch of Zeiss Milvus lenses was a mix of tried and true optical designs finished with a more modern design that incorporates dust and splash protection and a smooth rubber focus ring, along with complete optical redesigns of older lenses that had some room for improvement. The series did quite well in testing, with old classics like the Milvus 2/100M showing that they could still go toe-to-toe with the competition, and some under performers like the Planar T* 1,4/50 benefitting from an all new optical design in the form of the excellent Milvus 1.4/50.
The second wave of Milvus lenses is here, and like the first, it's a mix of old and new optical designs. The ultra-wide Milvus 2.8/15 uses the same optical formula as the T* 2,8/15, and the telephoto Milvus 2/135 is the superb Apo Sonnar T* 2/135.
The third, another ultra-wide angle, is an improved version of the T* 3,5/18 that can still be purchased as part of the Classic line. The Milvus 2.8/18 is a half-stop brighter, and manages to use smaller, more affordable 77mm front filters (as opposed to the 82mm filters that the older lens supports), all while focusing just a little bit closer—as close as 0.25 meters, instead of the 0.3 meters supported by the elder 18mm.
All three new Milvus lenses sport similar designs. Their metal barrels are finished in matte black, and paired with felt-lined metal lens hoods. Canon-mount versions don't have a physical aperture ring, but if you're buying for a Nikon you do have the option of using a ring that can be set to utilize click stops or turn freely to set the f-stop. The lenses are pure manual focus designs with a smooth rubber grip on the focus ring.
The freely turning ring is a plus for cinematographers who want to mount the lenses to the latest high-end video cameras. Zeiss promises that the lenses deliver enough resolution to be used with 6K recording devices, and our lab tests of the Milvus lenses released to date and the older Classic line confirm that these lenses deliver excellent performance, whether you are capturing stills or moving images.
With this announcement, only the older Distagon T* 2/25, Distagon T* 2,8/25, Distagon T* 2/28, and Distagon T* 1,4/35 await the Milvus makeover. There's no guarantee that any or all of those lenses will get upgrades, of course.
The new Milvuses will go on sale at the end of October. The 2.8/15 is priced at $2,699, the 2.8/18 is $2,299, and the 2/135 is $2,199. There are discounts available for buying in bulk—if you purchase three or four Milvus lenses together you'll get an 8 percent discount, and if you buy five or more you'll get 10 percent off the total.