With the Zeiss Otus ML family successfully—if deliberately slowly—making its way onto Sony E, Canon RF, and Nikon Z mounts via the 50mm and 85mm f1.4 launches, the obvious question burning in the photography community is: what focal length is next?
The good news is that leaks and insider conversations point directly to the completion of the original Otus family line-up. Multiple sources, including recent chatter on Photo Rumors, suggest that the next announcement from Zeiss will arrive soon and will be either the Otus ML 28mm f1.4 or the Otus ML 100mm f1.4.
A Race Between Wide and Tele
The expansion of the Otus ML line beyond the 50mm and 85mm focal lengths is not a matter of if, but when, as the original DSLR Otus quartet included 28mm and 100mm options, both renowned for their absolutely staggering optical performance.
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The Otus ML 28mm f1.4: This wide angle prime is a strong contender. The original 28mm Otus was one of the most complex lens designs of its time, delivering corner to corner sharpness that was previously unheard of for a wide-angle lens with an f1.4 aperture. A new mirrorless version, leveraging the shorter flange distances, would likely be a slightly more manageable size than its immense DSLR counterpart (which weighed nearly 1.4kg). Photographers shooting landscape, architecture, and astrophotography are eagerly waiting for this blend of apochromatic correction and extreme speed. Given the success of wide-angle third party primes on mirrorless, the timing for Zeiss to introduce their flagship option couldn’t be better.
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The Otus ML 100mm f1.4: Equally likely is the 100mm lens, a favorite among portrait, fashion, and commercial photographers for its sublime rendering and the way it isolates subjects. The original 100mm f1.4 Otus was one of the last DSLR lenses the company produced, and bringing it to mirrorless would instantly give Zeiss the longest and fastest non-macro prime in the line. This lens is built for incredible depth compression and buttery smooth bokeh, and a mirrorless iteration would perfectly complement the 85mm ML that is currently entering the market.
What to Expect from the New ML Lens
Regardless of whether the new lens is the 28mm or the 100mm, the defining characteristics of the Otus ML series are guaranteed to carry over. These lenses are uncompromising:
- Apochromatic Design: The core selling point remains the near elimination of chromatic aberration and color fringing, ensuring outstanding color fidelity and high contrast even when shooting wide open against challenging light sources.
- Precision Manual Focus: We can expect an equally robust all metal build with the signature yellow scale markings and a long, smooth, mechanically-dampened focus throw, catering exclusively to those who demand absolute control over the focus plane.
- Cinema Ready: Just like the 50mm and 85mm, the new lens will almost certainly feature an aperture ring with a de click switch, making it an instant favorite for high end video production and focus pulling.
We anticipate that whichever focal length is announced next will be priced in the premium tier, likely falling between $3,000 and $4,000 USD considering the complexity of the glass and the Otus branding. The photography community should stay tuned, as recent whispers suggest the announcement of the next Otus ML lens is imminent.