NiSi Cine Lens Athena Prime 35mm T1.9 E-Mount (Without Drop-in Filter)

NiSi Cine Lens Athena Prime 35mm T1.9 E-Mount (Without Drop-in Filter) – T1.9 aperture for soft bokeh and full-frame compatibility

This NiSi Athena Prime 35mm is part of the Athena Cine Lenses series and delivers a T1.9 maximum aperture for strong subject separation and attractive bokeh. It ships in the Sony E mount without the Drop-In filter option. The lens shares the design language and mechanical features of the Athena line to fit smoothly into professional cine workflows.

Designed for filmmakers and versatile shooting

The Athena series covers focal lengths from 14mm ultra-wide to 135mm portrait and telephoto, giving cinematographers flexibility across many shooting scenarios. The 35mm model specifically offers the T1.9 aperture that matches several other primes in the series to provide consistent exposure and a coherent look when switching lenses.

Optical performance and image characteristics

• Actual T-stop measurement: The series uses T-stops to indicate actual light transmission for consistent exposure across focal lengths.
• Soft bokeh and background separation: The 35mm has a maximum aperture of T1.9 to help achieve shallow depth of field and pleasing out-of-focus areas.
• Low chromatic aberration and micro-contrast control: The optics are designed to reduce chromatic aberration and to preserve fine image detail.
• Large image circle: The lenses provide a 46mm image circle, making them suitable for full-frame and even large-format sensors.
• Minimized focus breathing: The Athena primes are designed so the change in field of view when pulling focus from minimum focus distance to infinity is extremely small.

Mounts and the Drop-In filter system

The Athena series is available in ARRI PL, Canon RF, Sony E, Panasonic/Leica L and Fuji G mounts. NiSi offers a Drop-In filter system across certain mounts for added flexibility:

• RF, L and G mount lenses have a Drop-In filter option.
• E-mount lenses are available in two versions: with Drop-In filter and without Drop-In filter. This listing is for the E-mount version without the Drop-In filter.
• PL-mount lenses utilize a rear filter.

NiSi also provides weather sealing for the Drop-In filter when used with the appropriate mount and filter components.

Important compatibility notes

• Sony FX9 cameras cannot use the E-mount with Drop-In filters. This is an important compatibility limitation when pairing Athena Drop-In-equipped E-mount lenses with that camera model.
• To achieve infinity focus and clear images, it is important to use the Drop-In clear filter on RF, L, G and E mounts when the Drop-In option is employed, and to use the rear filter on PL-mount lenses.

Mechanical design and handling

• Consistent handling across the series: All Athena Prime lenses are similar in weight, which reduces the need to rebalance a gimbal when switching between lenses in the series.
• Filter thread: All lenses, except the 14mm, share a 77mm front filter thread for accessories.
• Matched controls: Aperture and focus rings are matched across the range for predictable operation and easier lens swaps.
• Focus throw and markings: The lenses offer a 300° focus rotation and fluorescent focus scales in both imperial and metric units for precise focus pulls in varied lighting conditions.
• Standard gearing: Both focus and iris gears use a 0.8 mod standard, making them compatible with most follow focus and matte box systems.

Accessories

• NiSi 77mm close-up lens (sold separately) can reduce the minimum focus distance to create macro-like effects when needed.

Use cases

• Documentary and narrative cinematography where matched aperture and color rendition across a lens set are needed.
• Projects requiring full-frame or large-format capture, thanks to the 46mm image circle.
• Shots that benefit from shallow depth of field and smooth background separation using the T1.9 aperture.
• Gimbal work or multi-lens productions that benefit from similar lens weights and matched ring positions.

Smart FAQ

Question: Is this 35mm E-mount lens the version with the Drop-In filter?

Answer: No. This listing is for the Sony E-mount version without the Drop-In filter option.

Question: Will this lens cover full-frame or larger sensors?

Answer: Yes. The Athena Primes provide a 46mm image circle, which makes them suitable for full-frame and even large-format sensors.

Question: Can I use the E-mount Drop-In option on a Sony FX9?

Answer: No. The Sony FX9 cannot use the E-mount with Drop-In filters. If you plan to use Drop-In filters on E-mount lenses, verify camera compatibility beforehand.

Question: Do I need to rebalance my gimbal when swapping Athena lenses?

Answer: Generally no. All Athena Prime lenses are similar in weight, reducing the need to rebalance when switching lenses in the series.

Question: How do I achieve close-up or macro-style shots with this lens?

Answer: Use the NiSi 77mm close-up lens (sold separately) to reduce minimum focus distance and create macro-like effects.

Question: Are the focus and aperture controls cinema-standard?

Answer: Yes. The lenses use 0.8 mod focus and iris gears, have a 300° focus rotation, and include fluorescent focus scales in both imperial and metric units to support precise cinema-style focus pulls.