ARRI introduces the Ensō Prime cine lens series, and the Ensō Vintage Elements kit adds further versatility with six modular elements. The designers created these lightweight, compact lenses for a wide range of productions and camera setups, from handheld rigs to studio configurations. Their flexible design allows filmmakers to create a variety of looks without complex gear adjustments. The initial release includes six-lens kits, with the complete lens line set to be available in 2025.
The Inspiration Behind the “Ensō” Name
The name “Ensō” derives from a Zen calligraphy circle, symbolizing the smooth and efficient design of these lenses. You can pair the Ensō Prime lenses with Ensō Vintage Elements, modular attachments that enhance their versatility. These elements mount on the back of the lens, providing different levels of sharpness or softness. Once you attach the element, the lens records the information in its metadata, and ARRI’s Hi-5 hand unit compensates for any focal changes. This design allows users to easily adapt the look of their footage without interrupting the creative flow.
Versatile Apertures for Every Focal Length
Ensō lenses feature fast apertures, optimized for a variety of shooting environments:
- T2.8 for the 10.5mm and 250mm lenses
- T2.5 for the 14mm and 150mm lenses
- T2.1 for the rest of the lens lineup, including 18mm, 21mm, 24mm, 28mm, 32mm, 40mm, 47mm, 58mm, 75mm, and 105mm models
You can extend the 250mm lens to 350mm and 500mm by using optional Ensō 1.4x and 2x extenders, providing a comprehensive range of cine primes for film, corporate, documentary, or commercial productions.
Close Focus and Metadata Features
One of the standout features of the Ensō Prime lenses is their ability to focus extremely close, with a 1:4 magnification ratio. For instance, the 32mm lens offers a close focus range of just 10 inches. Each lens in the series comes equipped with built-in chips that provide metadata to your camera, ensuring accurate tracking of settings and performance. Additionally, all lenses have identical gear ring positions and share a common 95mm front diameter, making them highly adaptable across various setups.
Ensō Vintage Elements: Customizing Your Look
The Ensō Vintage Elements kit adds further versatility to the lenses, offering six modular elements. These include three levels of positive vintage bokeh for softer looks and three levels of negative vintage bokeh for sharper, more defined images. You can purchase these elements individually or as a kit, and you can easily mount them onto the back of any Ensō Prime lens. Once installed, the lens automatically records the changes in its metadata, allowing seamless integration with the ARRI Hi-5 hand unit.
Pricing and Availability
Ensō Prime lenses are available for pre-order at Bhphotovideo.com in both imperial and metric versions. The company offers several bundles and kits:
- A set including 18mm, 24mm, and 32mm lenses is priced at $40,240.
- A set including 47mm, 75mm, and 105mm lenses is priced at $42,490.
- The Core 6-lens set, which includes 16mm, 24mm, 32mm, 47mm, 75mm, and 105mm lenses, is available for $86,940.
- The Ensō Vintage Elements kit is sold separately for $6,650.
Each kit provides a comprehensive range of cine primes, making the Ensō Prime line an excellent choice for filmmakers seeking flexibility and high-end performance.
Sirui has recently launched two new cinema lenses: Sirui NightWalker 16mm T1.2 and 75mm T1.2. These high-aperture cinema lenses primarily support Super35 sensors. However, users can adapt them to other sensor formats by using adapters or speed boosters. As a result, cinematographers have greater flexibility in their choice of camera systems.
