IB/E Optics has announced the upcoming release of its 70 Series Cine Primes (K70), a new lens family designed as a “love letter to large-format cinematography”.
Precision-crafted in Bavaria, the lenses are purpose-built for 65mm format cameras such as the ARRI ALEXA 65, Blackmagic URSA 17K, and Fujifilm GFX ETERNA.
With their blazing T1.7 aperture, advanced apochromatic correction, and internal focusing mechanism that maintains consistent lens length, the K70s are engineered to meet real-world production demands.
They remain lightweight, responsive, and are fully equipped with Cooke /i Technology metadata capabilities.
What sets the series apart is its 24mm prime, debuting at the wide end–a focal length that IB/E Optics says many competitors have yet to introduce in large-format coverage.
Equally significant is the K70’s 64.5mm image circle, ensuring not only flawless coverage for today’s 65mm systems but also future-proof performance for the next generation of digital cinema cameras with even larger sensors.
IB/E emphasises that the K70 series is not designed for customer or rental house tweaking; instead, all custom modifications, such as oval iris versions, are carried out exclusively at the company’s Bavarian factory to preserve optical precision.
Cinematographer Bradford Young ASC, who recently tested the K70s, shared his impressions: “As I said to you before, they are gorgeous lenses and we (my camera team and I) really enjoyed shooting some faces and spaces with them. The roll-off is impressive and the sharpness overall was really great.
“I will say that if you’re looking to really crack the large format cult, I think you want to lean towards something with more edge distortion and field curvature. Large format enhances what we all dislike about digital, the sterility of the image.
“As you know better than most, it’s glass that takes images to the next level. DPs want to use glass that looks past the manufacturer’s ‘sweet spot’ and finds hidden parts of the bokeh that we wouldn’t normally see. And that’s a beautiful patina for large format. If you could build that into your off-the-shelf design for the K70, the intentionality would be a revolution. Truly.”
Whether capturing epic landscapes or intimate close-ups, the K70 primes promise razor-sharp detail, smooth bokeh, and minimal breathing, offering filmmakers a cinematic depth unique to the 65mm format.
With a highly competitive price point and availability slated for the end of 2025, the IB/E 70 Series is positioned to become a popular option for a new generation of visionary filmmakers seeking to push the limits of large-format storytelling.
Find out more on the IB/E Optics website.
