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Featured IBC Interview: Michael Schiehlen, Sales Director of Camera Lens Division, Carl Zeiss AG

Q: Can you give us a brief history on Zeiss?

A: The Carl Zeiss Group is a leading group of companies operating worldwide in the optical and opto electronic industries. Impressive creations of photography and cinematography have been developed with lenses from Carl Zeiss since 1890. They helped to create distinctive images in many famous movies as the Trilogy of the Lord of the Rings or The King’s Speech.
In cooperation with ARRI, Carl Zeiss developed the Ultra Prime lenses which have the widest focal range of prime lenses together with world famous Master Prime lenses which have an optical performance surpassing that of all standard speed primes. For the Master Prime lenses Carl Zeiss engineers have lately received the third Scientific and Engineering Award.
Innovative products as the Compact Prime CP.2 lenses and lately introduced Compact Zoom CZ.2 deliver high image quality in a winning combination for cine and HD video applications and offer great flexibility by an interchangeable mount system. This allows the lenses to fit a wide range of cameras (PL, EF, F, MFT and E mount) from traditional cine to HDSLR systems. Thanks to the full-frame coverage on 36x24 sensors the lenses will remain compatible with future cameras employing this sensor size.

Q: What does Zeiss pride itself in most, and what sets it apart from other companies?

A: Carl Zeiss takes pride in being able to develop lenses that will suit the exact application requirements that our customers require. From lenses for photography up to lenses for cinematography used in big Hollywood productions. Carl Zeiss have the expertise and equipment to provide the best optical solutions.

Every year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presents not only the well-known Oscar for actors and directors, but also the Scientific and Engineering Award for film productions. Lenses resulting from the partnership between ARRI and Carl Zeiss have already received the highest award for recording technology three times.

The latest Scientific and Engineering Award (Academy Plaque) of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (©A.M.P.A.S.®) has been awarded to two Carl Zeiss engineers during a festive ceremony on February 11 in Los Angeles. Carl Zeiss design engineer Uwe Weber and his late colleague Dr. Jürgen Noffke, who passed away in 2011, have been awarded for the mechanical and optical design of the ARRI/ZEISS Master Prime cine lenses.

Our corporate culture is based on a commitment to customer service, and innovation in optics. Through these two passions we strive to offer our customers the best in products and services to help them to create outstanding images.

Q: What are you looking forward to seeing during the 2012 IBC show?

A: First of all it´s always a good chance to meet our customers and to have face to face conversations. After being at NAB 2012, I am looking forward to see once more not only surprised, but also impressed faces of our customers as we have again innovative solutions to present at IBC 2012.

I am also curious to see new HD Video / Cine style cameras which might enter the market. Every new camera - no matter what sensor size or mount is used - gives our customers the chance to proof the flexibility of our Compact Prime and Zoom lenses with their interchangeable mount system.

Q: What product is Zeiss highlighting at this year’s IBC Show?

A: We will show our new lenses (introduced at NAB Show 2012) for the first time in Europe; the new Compact Prime CP.2 15 and 135mm, a set of three new Compact Prime CP.2 Super Speed lenses and last but not least, our first Compact Zoom CZ.2 70-200/T2.9. It is the first member of a new compact cine zoom lens family.

As a world premiere at IBC 2012 we will also show two additional new cine lenses which expand our existing portfolio. Very exciting times!

Last but not least, our visitors will have the chance to test the new Carl Zeiss anamorphic lenses (presented on the CZ and also ARRI booth) which we developed in cooperation with our partner ARRI.

Q: What industry trends do you see on the horizon in regards to the production world?

A: Production budgets are becoming smaller and smaller, but having said that, it is obvious that the demand for professional gear in the entry-level HD video/cine market remains high. The cost for larger sensors will get more and more affordable in future and large sensor cameras could become the standard in the motion picture industry. With our Compact Prime and Zoom lenses we are ready, as the family covers the full frame sensor size of 36x24mm.
4k is the buzz phrase these days and the only thing I can comment on this: Carl Zeiss Compact Prime and Zoom lenses are 4k ready.

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

A: The worldwide economy is under pressure. Nevertheless we won´t stop our innovation roadmap in order to set market standards and especially to provide our customers with valuable solutions in optics.