Lockcircle PRO M.95 System Converts ZEISS Otus Lenses to 95mm Cinema Standard

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by Fabian ChaundyJuly 4^th, 2017

The newly announced Lockcircle PRO M.95 System for Zeiss Otus is designed to convert photography lenses to a cinema-standard 95mm front diameter for accessory use.

Shooters usually start their journey in filmmaking with photography lenses — that’s just the way things go. As we advance, though, we start adapting that glass to more cinema-oriented purposes, most commonly with the use of lens gears in order to use certain accessories like follow-focus systems. However, that is only half the story, as many cine accessories — such as certain types of matte boxes — work better with the cinema-standard 95mm front diameter of those big honking cinema primes. With that in mind, the Lockcircle PRO M.95 System aims to bring your smaller photo lenses closer to a cine-style platform.

Lockcircle PRO M.95 with ZEISS Lens Gears: converting the ZEISS Otus for cine use.

The Lockcircle PRO M.95 System works by screwing onto the front thread of your lens and effectively increasing its front diameter to the industry-standard 95mm. This gives you enough clearance to use accessories such as Lockcircle’s very own Mat Box, an ingenious solution that compensates for lens barrel extension due to focusing or zooming. The inside of the PRO M.95 adapter features a 90mm filter thread should you wish to use any smaller filters or screw-on accessories. 

Although the Lockcircle PRO M.95 System is mostly marketed for the ZEISS Otus range — with an aluminium build and finish made to match the appearance of this particular product line — you can use it on any other photography lens with a filter thread size from 52mm to 90mm with the use of various adapters. The Otus kit includes the PRO M.95 System adapter, as well as front and rear lens caps with the engraved focal lengths of 28/55/85mm of the Otus line. The price is $149 for the kit for a single focal length.

This solution may be cheaper than rehousing your lens to a cine-standard front diameter, but I can imagine many shooters who use universal matte boxes with solutions like “donuts” to compensate for non-standard lens diameters will probably pass on a $150 product that could be considered just a very expensive set of step-up rings…

For more information, visit Lockcircle.com

Are you a ZEISS Otus user? Does the Lockcircle PRO M.95 System sound like something that would make your life easier on set? Please let us know in the comments below!