NiSi Raises the Bar with New T1.4 Aureus Primes

NiSi is set to expand its footprint in the cinema lens market with the introduction of the new Aureus Prime series—full-frame, T1.4 cinema lenses designed for uncompromising image quality and professional workflows. The new line builds on the momentum of the Athena Primes, which launched in 2023 with focal lengths from 14mm to 85mm and later grew to include 18mm, 40mm, and 135mm options. That series quickly established NiSi as a serious player among filmmakers seeking sharp, consistent optics and solid mechanical design at a competitive price point.

A Closer Look at the Aureus Primes

The Aureus series aims to bridge the gap between speed and precision—a fast T1.4 aperture across the line delivers both impressive low-light flexibility and a shallow depth-of-field aesthetic that cinematographers increasingly demand in modern visual storytelling. While plenty of lenses can open up wide, not all can maintain composure while doing so. The Aureus Primes promise high optical performance even wide open, offering romantic fall-off and a smooth bokeh character that suggests attention to detail in optical design rather than reliance on brute-speed alone.

Each focal length—18mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm—shares a unified mechanical design, with matching 300° focus rotation and consistent housing dimensions for hassle-free lens swaps in production environments. This kind of mechanical parity isn’t just a spec-sheet brag; it’s the kind of practical engineering that speaks to NiSi’s growing maturity in the cinema space. One particularly clever touch: the focus scales can be flipped between metric and imperial units by removing the front shroud —a small but thoughtful feature that allows a single lens to be adapted to regional or personal preferences without sending it out for service.

Optical Performance and Features

We had a chance to perform some tests with pre-production units and, as usual, we’ll wait to offer our opinion until we’ve tested production units. Optically, the use of ultra-low dispersion elements is said to tame chromatic aberrations and maintain edge-to-edge sharpness without the kind of distortion or color fringing that typically creeps in on more aggressively priced fast primes. NiSi also touts minimal focus breathing—a detail often overlooked in this price bracket but critical for focus pulls that stay grounded in the cinematic language.

The inclusion of a rear filter mount continues NiSi’s trend of thoughtful design, echoing the Athena series’ strengths in compact shooting setups—ideal for gimbal work, car rigs, or any situation where real estate is tight and front matte boxes become burdensome. While the Aureus lenses share some of that same utility-minded thinking, they step up in both scale and optical ambition. Each Aureus Prime measures 110mm in length and weighs in at approximately 1,300 grams—a noticeable increase over the Athena Primes, which average around 800 grams and 3.2 inches in length. This added heft and extended barrel suggest a more complex optical formula, likely in service of that fast T1.4 aperture and improved correction across the frame. It’s a tradeoff cinematographers will need to weigh: portability versus performance.

Each lens features a 90mm front diameter and 86mm filter thread—both relatively uncommon specs that point to the unique optical and mechanical design. There’s talk of NiSi including a 95mm adapter ring for the front so that users can deploy industry-standard accessories that interface with a 95mm front diameter, but this is unconfirmed as of writing this. While this might limit off-the-shelf accessory compatibility, NiSi’s deep roots in the filter market all but guarantee a matching line of filters and accessories will follow, providing a streamlined ecosystem for shooters. Each lens also includes luminous markings on the barrel for the focus and iris scales, as well as focal length identifiers—both on the lens body and the caps—making them easy to locate quickly in low-light conditions or while working out of a case on set.

Compatibility and Visual Cohesion

Interestingly, NiSi positions the Aureus Primes as a natural companion to their existing Athena line—suggesting a shared visual DNA across coatings and contrast rendering. This could prove invaluable for productions mixing lens sets or looking to maintain continuity across A and B cameras. Of particular note, the Aureus series features a significantly more conservative rear element protrusion compared to the Athenas, improving physical compatibility with a broader range of camera systems—especially those with internal ND filters or other design elements that can interfere with extended rear optics. It’s a subtle yet impactful design shift that demonstrates NiSi’s responsiveness to user feedback and evolving production needs.

All Aureus lenses will be available exclusively in PL mount—an intentional move that speaks to their focus on high-end cinema applications. Unlike the Athena Primes, which offered native mirrorless options, the Aureus line favors industry-standard lens mounts for maximum reliability and durability on set. For users on mirrorless platforms, a high-quality PL adapter will enable broad compatibility with mounts like E, RF, L, and Z, ensuring these lenses remain flexible across a wide range of modern camera bodies. All focal lengths in the series cover full-frame and Vista Vision formats, making them a strong option for large-format cinema cameras.

It’s worth noting that the Aureus Primes are fully passive—there are no electronics, no communication pins, and no embedded lens metadata. While this simplicity benefits durability and cost, it may be seen as a downside for productions that rely on real-time lens data, especially in virtual production environments or post-heavy pipelines where accurate metadata can streamline everything from focus pulls to compositing. That tradeoff is reflected in the price point, which remains significantly lower than many of the digital-ready cine primes on the market today.

Pricing and Availability

The Aureus Primes are expected to begin shipping in July 2025. Pricing lands at $2,599 for the 18mm and $2,299 for each of the remaining focal lengths from 24mm to 85mm. A 5-lens set will be available for $9,999, packaged in a custom hard case with precision-cut foam for transport and protection. As always, we recommend ordering through Duclos Lenses for expert service, support, and the assurance that your gear arrives production-ready. Whether the Aureus lives up to NiSi’s “zero compromise” claim remains to be seen, but on paper, it marks another confident step in the brand’s evolution from filter-maker to serious optical manufacturer.

As always, tech specs for lens geeks:

Specification	18mm	24mm	35mm	50mm	85mm
Max Aperture	T1.4	T1.4	T1.4	T1.4	T1.4
Format	Full Frame / Vista Vision	Full Frame / Vista Vision	Full Frame / Vista Vision	Full Frame / Vista Vision	Full Frame / Vista Vision
Image Circle	Ø46mm	Ø46mm	Ø46mm	Ø46mm	Ø46mm
Mount	PL	PL	PL	PL	PL
Minimum Focus	10″	1′ 1″	1′ 2″	1′ 10″	3′
Front Diameter	90mm	90mm	90mm	90mm	90mm
Filter Thread	86mm	86mm	86mm	86mm	86mm
Iris Blades	Undisclosed	Undisclosed	Undisclosed	Undisclosed	Undisclosed
Optical Layout	Undisclosed	Undisclosed	Undisclosed	Undisclosed	Undisclosed
Body Material	Painted Aluminum	Painted Aluminum	Painted Aluminum	Painted Aluminum	Painted Aluminum
Data Protocol	Passive	Passive	Passive	Passive	Passive
Length	110mm	110mm	110mm	110mm	110mm
Weight	1300g	1300g	1300g	1300g	1300g