Panavision Announces Primo 65 Lens Series for 65mm Format

Designed to replicate the look of the original Primo lenses, the new series brings a classic cinematic character to modern large-format cameras.

Key Details

The series includes 12 focal lengths: 21mm T2, 27mm T2, 30mm T2, 35mm T2, 45mm T2, 50mm T2, 65mm T2, 80mm T2, 100mm T2, 125mm T2, 170mm T2, and 225mm T2.5.

All lenses use Panavision's SP70 mount, share a 4.44-inch front diameter, and have common focus/iris ring positions.

Red and yellow engravings pay homage to the original Primo series. The lenses support 65mm, large-format, and Super 35 digital cameras.

Design Philosophy

According to Panavision, the optical approach "favoured an artistic touch over a pure mathematical design," aiming for clean, high-contrast images without being overly sharp.

The company stated that select aberrations keep the image feeling natural and organic, with a flattering softness for close-ups. Breathing control is improved for visual effects workflows.

The lenses produce round bokeh with a subtle cat's-eye effect at edges and multiband flare described as an attractive cascade.

Background on Primo Lineage

The original Primo lenses were introduced in the late 1980s as the first fully matched family of primes and zooms for cinematography.

They were used on films such as Empire of the Sun, Casino, Titanic, The Matrix, and Black Panther, and TV series including Friends, The Sopranos, This Is Us, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

The Primo line has received awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Television Academy. Subsequent variants include the Primo 70 (sharper, higher contrast) and Primo Artiste (softer, lower contrast), both designed for VistaVision-size sensors.

Statement from Panavision

"The internal layout of the Primo 65s echoes the optomechanical design of the original Primos. In terms of their contrast, focus falloff and more, the Primo 65s are a true match to our 35mm-format Primos."
— Dan Sasaki, senior vice president of optical engineering and lens strategy

Complementary Product

Panavision also introduced the 65ZW 20-36mm T4 wide zoom lens.

Availability

Primo 65 lenses are scheduled for rental availability later in 2025.