Panavision Unveils Primo 65 Lens Series, Expanding Classic Look to 65mm Format

Optical Design and Characteristics

The optical philosophy behind the Primo 65s focuses on delivering a clean, high-contrast image that avoids an overly sharp or clinical digital feel . Panavision's designers made specific choices to retain a natural, organic quality in the image:

• Controlled Aberrations: Some optical aberrations are intentionally preserved to create a flattering softness that is particularly appealing for close-ups .
• Bokeh and Flare: The lenses produce a round bokeh with a subtle cat's-eye effect towards the edges of the frame. Multiband flares are designed to cascade attractively across the elements without becoming a dominant distraction .
• VFX-Ready Breathing Control: Breathing has been significantly improved compared to older designs, making the Primo 65s a reliable choice for visual effects plates and other VFX-intensive workflows .
• Familiar Internal Layout: The optomechanical construction echoes that of the original Primo lenses, a detail that will feel immediately familiar to experienced lens technicians and assistants .

A Complementary Wide Zoom

Alongside the prime set, Panavision also announced the 65ZW 20-36mm T4 wide zoom, providing a compact zoom option with full 65mm-format coverage for situations that demand flexibility in focal length .

The Primo Heritage and Market Context

The Primo name carries significant weight in cinema history. The original Primo primes, introduced in the late 1980s, were the industry's first completely matched family of primes and zooms designed for cinematography . They debuted on Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun and went on to shoot iconic films like Titanic, The Matrix, and Black Panther, as well as television staples like Friends and The Sopranos . The series has been recognized with a Technical Achievement Award and a Scientific and Engineering Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, along with an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Development .

Over the years, Panavision expanded the Primo lineage with the Primo 70 lenses, which offered a sharper, higher-contrast look, and the Primo Artiste series, which went in the opposite direction with a softer, lower-contrast, vintage-inspired aesthetic. Both of those series were designed for VistaVision-size sensors . The new Primo 65 lenses now join Panavision's existing family of 65mm-format optics, which already includes the 65 Vintage, System 65, Sphero 65, and Super Panavision 70 series . The complete Primo 65 series is scheduled to be available for rent through Panavision later in 2026 .