ZEISS Expands Otus ML Family With New 1.4/35 Storyteller Lens

ZEISS has announced the addition of the ZEISS Otus ML 1.4/35 to its Otus ML lens range, catering to photographers focused on intentional, narrative-driven imagery.

Designed for street, travel, and documentary photography, this manual-focus lens translates the optical excellence of the renowned Otus line into a format specifically for modern mirrorless systems. Available for Sony E, Canon RF, and Nikon Z mounts, the new 35mm focal length offers a versatile balance between capturing wide environmental scenes and isolating key subjects with precision.

The ZEISS Otus ML series continues to deliver natural color rendition, exceptional sharpness, and signature micro contrast. A fast f/1.4 aperture provides accurate depth of field control, directing the viewer's attention with clarity while producing a soft, elegant bokeh that separates subjects from the background. An advanced aspherical Distagon lens design minimizes distortion and chromatic aberrations, further enhancing image fidelity. Combined with the legendary ZEISS T* coating, reflections are reduced, flare is minimized, and both contrast and color accuracy are elevated.

Manual focus as a creative tool
Manual focusing with the ZEISS Otus ML series is not just a technique – it is an artistic process. Photographers can make precise adjustments that ensure each shot is captured with intention. True to the ZEISS legacy of precision optics, the Otus ML 1.4/35 features millimeter-accurate control. The tech becomes invisible, giving you more creativity to tell the stories that matter.

Building on the 1.4/50 and 1.4/85, the new ZEISS Otus ML 1.4/35 expands this compelling range of storytelling tools for photographers who create across different genres. From vibrant street scenes to immersive documentary environments, this focal length offers the perfect balance: wide enough to set the scene, yet tight enough to isolate key subjects.

Optical excellence for the finest details
Engineered for exceptional performance even at f/1.4, the ZEISS Otus ML lenses reveal remarkable detail and texture, especially in low-light environments where the human eye begins to struggle. Distortion and chromatic aberrations are effectively reduced, resulting in sharper images and cleaner color transitions.

The ZEISS T* anti-reflective coating further ensures clarity by reducing stray light and ghosting, enabling photographers to maintain full control across challenging lighting conditions.

The distinctive ZEISS Look: Vivid. Sharp. Nearly three-dimensional
Otus ML lenses deliver the unmistakable ZEISS visual language. Their combination of true color reproduction, outstanding sharpness, and unparalleled micro-contrast creates images with an almost three-dimensional character. Subjects stand out with powerful presence, separated smoothly from the background by a beautifully rendered bokeh shaped through a 10-blade aperture.

The shallow depth of field when shot on fast aperture not only enhances storytelling but guides the viewer's eye to what truly matters.

Precision engineering, purpose-built for mirrorless systems
The ZEISS Otus ML series carries forward the craftsmanship of the legendary Otus family, known worldwide as best-in-class manual prime lenses. The new ML design features a smooth metal focus ring with helicoid mechanism, providing a precise rotation range that enhances focusing accuracy. An aperture de-click option allows seamless and quiet transitions, ideal for both photography and videography.

Built with a full-metal construction, the lenses deliver exceptional durability and a premium tactile feel. Optimized for modern mirrorless cameras, they offer a uniquely connected shooting experience. Clearly marked yellow scales ensure quick, accurate adjustments in any environment.

A legacy reimagined
ZEISS' heritage in optical design, decades of pioneering research, innovation, and precision engineering, forms the foundation of the Otus ML line. The distinctive quality of the classic Otus family has been carried to Otus ML for the needs of the modern mirrorless era, combining tradition with cutting-edge performance.

The ZEISS Otus ML trio
• ZEISS Otus ML 1.4/50 – Explore your story.
A foundational tool in every photographer's kit. Its smooth manual focus enables images with exceptional depth, emotion, and nuance—perfect for portraits, streets, and cinematic visuals.
• ZEISS Otus ML 1.4/85 – Portray your story.
The portrait specialist. With its ability to isolate subjects beautifully, the 1.4/85 captures detail, character, and emotion with powerful clarity.
• ZEISS Otus ML 1.4/35 – Compose your story.
A storyteller's lens. Ideal for street, travel, or documentary work, it transforms fleeting moments into intentional compositions, bringing geometry, light, and expression together in a single frame.

Prices and availability
The new ZEISS Otus ML 1.4/35 will be available from specialty retailers Spring, 2026 at $2,299.

www.zeiss.com/otus-ml