Zeiss B-Speed (Super Speed Mk I) Planar 50mm T1.4

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First-generation Zeiss high-speed primes from 1975, nicknamed B-Speeds after their Arri bayonet mount. Their signature is a nine-blade iris that closes to a rounded triangle, giving triangular out-of-focus highlights at mid stops. Marked T1.4, which technicians regard as optimistic on the longer focal lengths such as this one; the optics are close relatives of the later T1.3 Mk II/III but the barrels are small with no focus gears.

Key specs

Focal length

50 mm

Max aperture

T1.4

Mount

ARRI Bayonet, PL

Image circle

Super 35

Field of view by sensor

Full frame

39.6° horizontal · frames like 50 mm on full frame

Super 35

28° horizontal · frames like 72.3 mm on full frame

Micro Four Thirds

19.6° horizontal · frames like 104 mm on full frame

What it goes on

Original barrels are Arri bayonet only and lack gears, so most rental sets are either PL-converted with added gear rings or fully rehoused (TLS, GL Optics, P+S Technik) while keeping the triangular iris. Arri-B to PL-camera adapters are not practical; conversion is the norm.

• PL camerasNativeALEXA 265, ALEXA 35, PYXIS 12K, PYXIS 6K +15 more
• Sony E camerasWith adapterRonin 4D-6K, Ronin 4D-8K, Alpha 1 II, Alpha 7 IV +13 more

  Wooden Camera E to PL · Vocas PL to E · Metabones PL-E. Solid and common. Support the lens — the E-mount is not built to carry a heavy cine zoom on its own.

• Canon RF camerasWith adapterEOS C400, EOS C50, EOS C70, EOS C80 +10 more

  Wooden Camera RF to PL · Canon PL-RF (C400 / C80) · Kipon PL-RF. Common; use lens support with heavy glass.

• L-Mount camerasWith adapterCinema Camera 6K, PYXIS 12K, PYXIS 6K, Ronin 4D-6K +6 more

  Leitz L-PL · Wooden Camera L to PL · Sigma MC-31. Common; use lens support with heavy glass.

• Micro Four Thirds camerasWith adapterMicro Studio Camera 4K G2, Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, Lumix BGH1, Lumix GH6 +1 more

  Wooden Camera MFT to PL · MTF PL to MFT. Works, with a 2x crop on Super 35 glass relative to full frame.

• LPL camerasWith adapterALEXA 265, ALEXA 35, ALEXA Mini LF, URSA Cine 17K 65

  ARRI PL-to-LPL Adapter. ARRI's own adapter, passes LDS / Cooke /i lens data.

• Nikon Z camerasWith adapterKOMODO-X 6K S35, V-RAPTOR [X] 8K VV, V-RAPTOR XE

  Wooden Camera Z to PL · Kipon PL-NIK Z. Common; use lens support with heavy glass.

• Canon EF camerasWith adapter· by flange mathsALEXA 265, ALEXA 35, ALEXA Mini LF, Pocket Cinema Camera 6K G2 +14 more

  8 mm of room for a plain ring. Check rear-element and mirror clearance before buying.

• Leica M camerasWith adapter· by flange mathsALEXA 265, ALEXA 35, ALEXA Mini LF, Ronin 4D-6K +1 more

  24.2 mm of room for a plain ring. Check rear-element and mirror clearance before buying.

• B4 (2/3") camerasWith adapter· by flange mathsURSA Broadcast G2, URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2, AJ-CX4000

  4 mm of room for a plain ring. Check rear-element and mirror clearance before buying.

• Nikon F camerasWith adapter· by flange mathsURSA Mini Pro 12K, URSA Mini Pro 12K OLPF, URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2

  5.5 mm of room for a plain ring. Check rear-element and mirror clearance before buying.

See every camera this lens fits →

Sources: cinematechnic.com, cinematechnic.com