ZEISS has opened registration for the closed BETA phase of CinCraft Virtual Lens Technology, a new plugin that brings real-world lens characteristics into digital compositing. The software is designed for Nuke and targets VFX professionals who want to achieve authentic optical effects without relying on filmed reference plates.

Part of the expanding CinCraft ecosystem, the Virtual Lens simulates how physical lenses behave — from cat-eye bokeh and focus fall-off to chromatic aberration and distortion. The technology uses raytracing principles and GPU acceleration to reproduce these artefacts in real time, making it possible to apply consistent, lens-true effects across shots directly within a 2D workspace.

Artists can select from a digital library of lenses in the same way they would rent optics from a camera house, allowing postproduction teams to match footage from various sources or stylise shots without compromising realism. ZEISS positions the tool as a bridge between production and post, closing the gap between on-set optics and digital finishing.

The closed BETA runs from December 2025 through February 2026, and participants will receive access to the Nuke plugin along with direct feedback channels to the ZEISS development team (Tell them “Hi!” From the Digital Production Team when you do ). Applications are open now via zeiss.com/vlt-closed-beta.

The move expands ZEISS’ footprint in virtual production and post workflows. With products like CinCraft Scenario and CinCraft Mapper, the company has already established a digital backbone for lens data and camera tracking. The new Virtual Lens Technology extends that legacy into compositing — where glass meets pixels, and optical physics go fully virtual.

Official BETA Registration: zeiss.com/vlt-closed-beta

Virtual Glass: ZEISS Enters the Simulated Optics Game

The post ZEISS CinCraft Virtual Lens Enters BETA: Real Glass, Virtual Magic first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

ZEISS has taken a step into the world of virtual lens emulation with the launch of ZEISS Virtual Lens. This “digital twin technology” is designed to replicate the optical characteristics of real lenses (Not Only ZEISS, but others as well) and integrate them into VFX, and it will replicate the changes in breathing, bokeh, etc. according to the visual behavior of its real twin lens.

This isn’t just for showreels – ZEISS is positioning the Virtual Lens tech as an industrial-grade simulation platform intended to accurately match the real behavior of cine optics. That includes lens-specific features like distortion, lens breathing, and chromatic aberration—key phenomena that matter deeply in compositing, tracking, and CG/VFX integration.

Simulation Meets Integration: Where and How It Works

The ZEISS Virtual Lens is designed for integration into compositing and rendering environments, though ZEISS doesn’t yet name which hosts are officially supported – propably it is going to be Nuke. What’s confirmed: this is intended to be part of the digital camera’s data stream. According to ZEISS, this also has benefits developers and compositors who want to integrate optics into their own workflow. Digital lenses are going to be provided per focal length and represent one real lens per digital – and therefor allow flexibility in applying the lens look of a digital lens freely on any camera format.

Live at FMX: Tech Demo and Artist Feedback

If you’re attending this year’s FMX in Stuttgart, you can experience the ZEISS Virtual Lens firsthand. On Wednesday, May 7 at 2:30 PM, ZEISS experts Jonathan Demuth and Marius Jerschke will present the technology in a seminar alongside Nicolas Borens, Head of 2D Film at MPC Paris. The session will cover Borens’ initial testing experience and his take on how the tech might impact everyday production work. Attendees looking to test the virtual optics themselves can visit the ZEISS booth at the FMX Marketplace for a hands-on demo.

Reality Check: Production-Readiness

For VFX and post, accurate lens simulation can be a make-or-break detail when matching CG to plate. But before you start throwing away your calibration charts: the ZEISS Virtual Lens tech is still fresh out of the lab. For now, the Virtual Lens is in a closed beta with selected testers. Stay tuned about any updates regarding an open beta phase or a public product release. ZEISS notes that development is ongoing, and recommends getting in touch directly to evaluate current capabilities and potential integration into existing workflows. In other words: don’t drop this into your next comp until you’ve kicked the tires.

Available Now (Sort Of), Price TBD

The ZEISS Virtual Lens technology is available in its developer-facing form. There’s no pricing, no store link, and no downloadable installer – a techdemo. Interested parties should contact ZEISS directly via their official site.

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Source: ZEISS – Virtual Lens Technology

The post Virtual Glass: ZEISS Enters the Simulated Optics Game first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

The latest update to ZEISS’s CinCraft Scenario camera tracking system (Version 2.1) opens new possibilities for virtual production and broadcast professionals by adding full manual calibration capabilities for spherical lenses. This upgrade allows users to manually calibrate lenses without relying on predefined templates—an advantage for those working with a wide variety of lenses or for situations where proprietary templates are unavailable.

CinCraft Scenario 2.1 adds key features and improvements for enhanced control. Users gain Manual Lens Calibration to create and calibrate custom lenses, and a Manual CamBar Offset option to adjust offsets directly in the dashboard. A new Clip Name Field auto-fills on ARRI and Sony cameras, while remaining editable on others. Other updates include an External Encoder Homing Reminder for calibration changes, a unified Lens Finetuning and Manual Calibration workflow, and improved guidance for CamBar Offset Calibration. Additionally, a Link Update Status alert appears with outdated Links, a Marker Placement Warning resets markers when re-entered, and a Low Density Point Cloud option and Default Tracking Smoothing are now available for simplified tracking setups.

Expanded Manual Calibration and Lens Flexibility

CinCraft Scenario 2.1’s calibration process provides guided steps for users to set essential lens parameters (focus, aperture, zoom) within the software, initiating a calibration with a chart. This first pass can then be refined until satisfactory results are achieved. Users now have the option to create new lens templates for third-party lenses, broadening compatibility beyond ZEISS lenses.

CamBar Offset Adjustment and Clip Name Recognition

A new feature in CinCraft Scenario 2.1 enables manual adjustment of the CamBar offset—the distance between the camera and the CamBar—without depending on the automatic “Offset Assistant” or switching to a wide-angle lens. Product Manager Tom Evans notes that this streamlines on-set operations by speeding up adjustments. Frequently used offsets can also be saved, enabling quick setup when switching between different camera rigs. Additionally, the software now recognizes clip names automatically on ARRI and Sony cameras, streamlining data management in post. For cameras lacking auto-name functionality, users can manually input the clip name during recording.

Enhanced Export Features with Undistortion ST Maps and Point Cloud

The CinCraft Export 2.0 update brings added post-production tools, notably with the introduction of Undistortion ST Maps. These maps replace the need for lens grid shots at setup, allowing for a straightforward distortion correction that can be re-applied in later compositing stages. This feature, paired with CinCraft’s Distortion Maps, simplifies lens distortion handling, particularly useful for VFX teams aiming to streamline workflows.

Further, the Export 2.0 release introduces a Point Cloud feature for VFX teams, providing spatial data on the camera’s environment and position during production. This data comes in PTS format for Unreal Engine and FBX format for Nuke, offering flexibility across common VFX software. The Point Cloud allows VFX artists to visualize the filming space, which assists in aligning camera tracking for accurate compositing in post.

Bug Fixes for Improved Stability

CinCraft Scenario 2.1 also brings a host of bug fixes to enhance user experience and stability. Key issues addressed include: resolving discrepancies between frontend and backend renderers, fixing calibration retargeting when moving lenses between cameras, and ensuring that manual and template lenses are copied correctly when cloning a camera. Additional fixes include correcting an inverted view when using the Ncam Mk2 Camera Bar, displaying the correct zoom value, and addressing inaccurate initial offset values used for CamBar offset in lens calibration. The update also resolves issues with encoder mapping when fields are left blank, unblocking the UI for nodal input values, and making the center shift line visible during calibration. Furthermore, it delivers smoother zoom with /i zoom lenses and /i encoder cables, and ensures Canon and Fujinon encoders are accurately marked as “normalized.”

Availability and Support

The updated CinCraft Scenario 2.1 and Export 2.0 software are available for download as of November 7, 2024. ZEISS is offering online live demos covering the new calibration process, and additional training materials, including videos and documentation, are accessible via ZEISS’s CinCraft website. To review the full release notes, visit ZEISS’s CinCraft Scenario 2.1 release page. CinCraft Export 2.0 is available for download here.

Pricing and Caution

Users are encouraged to assess these new features for stability and simplicity within their workflows before implementation. For exact pricing, please refer to the official CinCraft product page – and remember to contact the team if you have any questions.

With these updates, ZEISS continues to refine its virtual production tools, keeping practical needs like lens flexibility and post-production accuracy in mind—though the real verdict will come once production artists put them to the test.

The post ZEISS CinCraft Scenario 2.1: Manual Calibration and Enhanced Export Features first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

CinCraft Scenario is based on Ncam’s unique tracking technology and Zeiss’ expertise in lens data – Zeiss presents a new and flexible camera tracking system as part of its CinCraft ecosystem.

Zeiss CinCraft Scenario provides camera tracking data for use in real-time rendering engines for virtual production or live compositing. Users can also record the tracking data for post-production: “It is well known that camera tracking is extremely useful for pre-visualisation and virtual production. CinCraft Scenario is particularly useful for VFXs as the system records the tracking data on set for use in post-production.

The camera tracking system can be used in almost all conditions and setups – indoors and outdoors, on film sets, with bluescreens or greenscreens and in LED volumes. This is made possible by the hybrid tracking technology, which can detect not only industry-standard reflective markers, but also environmental features such as object edges. CinCraft Scenario also works with digital markers on LED walls that are invisible to the main camera.

CinCraft lens data

As part of the CinCraft ecosystem, Scenario accesses the Zeiss lens database – initially with Zeis and Arri/ZEiss cine lenses, other standards and systems may soon follow. Their integration makes the system “plug-and-play” capable and avoids the tedious process of lens mapping and calibration.

Modular components

CinCraft Scenario works with commercially available equipment and is compatible with the most important camera and lens encoder systems to provide all the data required for correct tracking. The system consists of various hardware and software components that can be customised to meet the individual requirements of each user:

– CinCraft CamBar records raw data from the environment and forwards it.
– CinCraft Origin, which runs the main software, aggregates the data to calculate position and movement
– CinCraft Link connects CamBar and Origin and enables access to the user interface via mobile devices.

The modular software components make it possible to calculate position and movement, record data, export the recorded data to industry-standard file formats and integrate it into the Unreal Engine in real time.

Availability

Users can configure the CinCraft Scenario Camera Tracking System according to their requirements or select one of four pre-configured bundles. The system will be available at selected retailers and via the Zeiss CinCraft website in early Q4 2023.

For more information, visit zeiss.ly/cincraft-scenario.

The post Cincraft Scenario is coming! first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Lens manufacturer Zeiss has acquired Ncam – the British specialist for virtual production / camera tracking is set to bring expertise for VFX workflows in-house. Incidentally, Ncam was honoured with the “Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Development” for its technology in 2016 – and Ncam’s hybrid camera tracking technology makes it possible to spatially locate the camera on set – both indoors and outdoors. This data is essential for compositing (live and offline) and, of course, for virtual production. If you want to know more – we’ve featured Ncam several times in this magazine. Here are two of the articles for free download:

DP2105_Ncam

Ncam in use at “Face the Darknes”

Zeiss, who some time ago were looking in the direction of VFX/compositing with the CineCraft system(here is the article from DP 22:05), are thus expanding their expertise – and perhaps everything from the lens to the projector will soon come from a single source? We’ll keep you up to date!

The post Zeiss takes over NCam first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.