ARRI cine zoom 9.5–18mm T2.9, announced 2013 — ultra-wide with very low distortion and a 34.5mm image circle that later turned out to cover ALEXA 35 Open Gate.
The ARRI Ultra Wide Zoom (UWZ 9.5–18mm T2.9) fills a gap in professional lens supply: focal lengths below 18mm with minimal distortion. Conventional ultra-wide-angle lenses in this range typically exhibit pronounced barrel distortion — the UWZ largely avoids this.
The Misunderstanding with the Alexa 35
The UWZ is often described as a lens "for the Alexa 35 Open Gate." This reverses the timeline: ARRI announced the UWZ in December 2013, and deliveries began in April 2014 — the Alexa 35 arrived in 2022. What is true is the coverage. ARRI gave the lens an image circle of 34.5 mm and explicitly called it future-proof at the time; Alexa 35 Open Gate measures 27.99 × 19.22 mm, or 33.95 mm diagonally. It fits — with a good half millimeter of reserve. The zoom was not designed for this sensor, it covers it.
Practical Use
The UWZ is built for confined spaces where wide shots are needed without an anamorphic look: commercials, music videos, quick observation in small locations. The price for this is size and weight — unavoidable in this focal length range, but manageable with appropriate rig planning.
Combination with Signature Primes
The UWZ is commonly used to complement a Signature Prime set: it covers the range below 18mm, and the primes cover the rest. The optical character matches — both families deliver a clean, precise image.
Related terms
Quiz
1. Was beschreibt „ARRI Ultra Wide Zoom" am besten?
2. Zu welchem Department gehört „ARRI Ultra Wide Zoom"?