Oberkochen, Germany – October 16, 2025 – ZEISS announces an open call for the closed BETA testing phase of CinCraft Virtual Lens Technology, the innovative digital tool that brings authentic lens characteristics to compositing and visual effects workflows. This pre-release BETA program invites professional VFX artists to test the technology in real-world conditions and be part of the valuable feedback that will help refine the final release.
Building on the success of the ZEISS CinCraft ecosystem, the new Virtual Lens Technology introduces a one-click lens characteristic simulator that replicates the behavior of real-world optics within a 2D compositing environment. The Virtual Lens aims to further bridge the gap between production and post by enabling visual effects artists to achieve photorealistic, lens-true results with greater efficiency and consistency.
The technology leverages raytracing mechanics to reproduce optical effects such as cat-eye bokeh, chromatic aberration, distortion, focus fall-off and more, to ensure authentic lens behavior in a virtual workspace. Artists can select from a digital library of lenses with the ease of choosing physical equipment from a camera rental facility. Powered by GPU-based rendering, the system delivers smooth performance and quick, high-quality results across a wide range of compositing scenarios, from simple image adjustments and cleanup to complex visual effects sequences.
The closed BETA program will run for three months from December 2025 through February 2026. Once selected, participants will receive exclusive access to the CinCraft Virtual Lens plugin for Nuke. Feedback will be collected through a ZEISS generated form as well as direct correspondence. Participants’ invaluable input will directly contribute to the final product release. Applicants will be selected for the limited spaces, based upon relevant experience and technical requirements.
Applications are now being accepted. Interested digital artists and VFX professionals can apply to participate by completing the registration form at zeiss.com/vlt-closed-beta. Selected participants will receive confirmation of their submission via email.
ZEISS cinematography lenses have advanced the art of filmmaking for more than 80 years, earning multiple Scientific and Engineering Awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The CinCraft ecosystem extends this legacy into digital workflows with products and services such as CinCraft Scenario and CinCraft Mapper, designed to simplify virtual production, tracking, and compositing processes.
For more information about CinCraft Virtual Lens Technology and upcoming updates, visit zeiss.com/virtual-lens-tech.
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ZEISS Cinematography
ZEISS high-end cinematography lenses have been advancing the film industry for more than 80 years and have received numerous honors, including three Scientific and Engineering Awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Today, around the world, filmmakers choose ZEISS lenses for their productions.
The ZEISS cine lens portfolio now includes the Nano Prime family of six high-speed (T1.5 throughout) cine lenses made specifically for mirrorless full frame cameras in addition to the Lightweight Zoom LWZ.3 for Super 35 as well as the full frame Compact Prime CP.3 and CP.3 XD, and Cinema Zoom CZ.2. The high-end lens families Supreme Prime,Supreme Prime Radiance and Supreme Zoom Radiance combine a generous range of focal lengths in two different coating styles with unsurpassed quality for all types of cameras.
The ZEISS CinCraft ecosystem offers lens data-related services and products for visual effects and virtual production. CinCraft Scenario is a flexible real-time camera tracking system for use in various environments indoors and outdoors, both for live and post application and incorporating lens data for streamlined calibration. CinCraft Mapper provides frame-accurate lens distortion and shading data for compositing and matchmoving.
Headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany, ZEISS Cinematography is represented in: Los Angeles, California and White Plains, New York, USA; Mexico City, Mexico; Cambridge and London, UK; New Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, India; Beijing and Shanghai, China; Taipei, Taiwan; Singapore; and Tokyo, Japan.
Press contact
ZEISS Cinematography
Benjamin Hagen
Phone: +49 7364 20-3979
Email: benjamin.hagen@zeiss.com