We have just added a brand new set of NiSi Athena Prime cine lenses to our rental lineup at Cinemachine (Perth, Western Australia) – a 5-lens full frame kit that includes the 14mm T2.4, 25mm T1.9, 35mm T1.9, 50mm T1.9 and 85mm T1.9 in PL mount. The Athena primes have quickly gained a reputation as a highly capable, modern cine lens set that delivers impressive optical performance, fast apertures and excellent consistency across the range, all at an accessible price point.
Designed to cover full frame sensors, the Athena lenses offer a fast T1.9 aperture on all focal lengths except the ultra-wide 14mm, which comes in at T2.4. This makes them a strong option for low-light shooting while still maintaining a clean, controlled image. NiSi also claims extremely low focus breathing across the set.
One of the standout features of the Athena series is their physical consistency. All five lenses share the exact same size, weight profile (~800g), 77mm front filter thread, and identical focus and iris gear placement. This makes lens swaps fast and painless, especially for productions running follow focus systems, matte boxes or working on gimbals and handheld rigs.
In terms of image character, the NiSi Athena primes lean towards a clean, modern look with a strong emphasis on controlled contrast and colour consistency. NiSi states that the lenses were designed to achieve high micro-contrast with ultra-low chromatic aberration, and this shows in the overall rendering. This makes them a solid option for productions that want a dependable, repeatable look rather than strong optical quirks or heavy lens character.
Overall, the NiSi Athena primes are a great all-rounder option for a wide range of productions. They will be particularly useful for commercials, corporate work, narrative projects and owner-operator style shoots where consistency, speed and reliability are key. Thanks to their compact size, lightweight design and matching gear placement, they are also well suited for gimbal, handheld and fast-moving setups.
For productions looking for a modern, sharp full frame cine lens set that offers excellent value, minimal focus breathing and easy on-set usability, our NiSi Athena lenses are a very compelling choice. Get in touch today to rent our 5-lens NiSi Athena Prime kit for your next shoot.