X-tract 18-28mm T8: redefining macro cinematography by Jose Antunes

X-tract 18-28mm T8: redefining macro cinematography Designer {of professional} cine lenses for all filmmakers, DZOFILM launched this January its new X-tract 18-28mm T8, a probe zoom that provides a brand new macro perspective.

With a slender design that permits it to simply entry slim, hidden areas, capturing microscopic particulars invisible to the bare eye and remodeling them into gorgeous imagery, the brand new X-tract 18-28mm T8 0° wide-angle probe zoom lens opens new dimensions in macro cinematography, providing better inventive flexibility and potential.

DZOFILM says that “its full-frame design is compatible with Super 35 sensors, providing an equivalent focal length of approximately 22-35mm T8 in Arri Alexa 35 Open Gate mode, covering key focal lengths for commercial work. The probe’s zoom versatility allows flexible adjustments in tight spaces, enhancing spatial depth and perspective. With a constant aperture, it ensures consistent brightness across all focal lengths.”

The identify ‘X-tract’ is impressed by the phrase ‘extract,’ which means ‘to draw out the essence.’ Combining a T8 massive aperture, wide-angle zoom macro capabilities, and a spacecraft-inspired design, it redefines macro cinematography. The X-tract lens turns into a software for exploration and discovery, extracting distinctive visible creativity from unknown dimensions and views.

Minimum working distance: 6mm

The lens options 7 high-refractive-index (HRI) lenses and 6 extra-low-dispersion (ED) lenses, hanging, DZOFILM claims, “an optimal balance between size and weight while minimizing chromatic aberrations, distortions, and optical flaws common in probe lenses. Its innovative differential distribution of HRI lens delivers prime-level image quality and accurate color temperature, effectively reducing the yellowish tint commonly seen in other probe lenses. Distortion is kept within ±2% across the entire zoom range, with near-zero distortion and focus breathing at 24mm, ensuring precise rendering of intricate micro-details.”

With a most magnification ratio of two.1:1, the X-tract reveals the intricate textures of on a regular basis objects and creates extremely detailed visuals. When capturing tiny objects like insect wings, water droplets, sand grains, and miniature gadgets, it brings out microscopic constructions which are usually invisible to the bare eye. The minimal focusing distance is decreased from the normal 56.3cm (1’11”) of probe lenses to 47.3cm (1’6″), with a minimal working distance of simply 6mm (0.2″), permitting the lens to nearly contact the topic for finer macro particulars.

The lens gives a clean 300° focus throw, crafted, the corporate provides, “with micron-level precision and tested for high-frequency durability”, to make sure seamless focus transitions and enhanced depth of area management. The X-tract sequence probe zoom lens contains a parfocal design that locks focus throughout zooming, sustaining sharpness even with refined actions or fast focal size modifications, permitting for the traditional Hitchcock dolly zoom impact in macro pictures.

Native breath management

The X-tract sequence options native breath management, decreasing respiration results to only 0.5% on the 24mm (in comparison with 39.2% in different 24mm probe primes). With a relative illumination (RI) of 70.7% (vs. 54.9% in different 24mm probe primes), focus respiration turns into nearly imperceptible, minimizing the necessity for post-production changes. This ensures seamless visible continuity and stability throughout focus shifts, delivering immersive and spectacular cinematic visuals.

Constructed from aerospace-grade aluminum alloy, the lens weighs simply 1.09 kg, with a size of 41.5 cm and a entrance diameter of solely 29.6 mm, providing clean operation in slim areas similar to between ebook pages or inside miniature fashions. DZOFILM says that “it provides greater flexibility and compatibility compared to larger macro setups. The rear-heavy design shifts the lens’ balance closer to the camera body, making it easier to maintain stability on tripods, sliders, stabilizers or MOCO, reducing shake and enabling precise focus and zoom adjustments. When used with sliders or robotic arms for large-range movements, it offers superior control precision, minimizing post-production adjustments.”

The X-tract 18-28mm T8 0° wide-angle probe zoom lens is offered now with a really useful worth of $3,499.00. Other corporations providing probe lenses for video are Laowa and AstrHori.