In case you are an unbiased filmmaker trying to construct up your individual package you doubtless have one main issue to think about—price range. Cinema gear prices cash. Some huge cash. Fortuitously there was an enormous push over the previous decade to make high-quality tools far more inexpensive.
Being spoiled for alternative isn’t at all times the best although, trigger now you’ll have to kind by a variety of cinema primes earlier than touchdown on which one is likely to be the very best for you.
Or, you possibly can try CVP’s overview of the highest 4 price range cine prime lens units which might be designed for full-frame cameras.
There are 4 units up for analysis:
Pricing
Pricing is an efficient place to start out once we are speaking about price range lens units.
Meike is probably the most inexpensive with every lens operating round $1,000. DZOFilm is the subsequent step up with every coming in round $1,399. Rokinon/Samyang value their XEEN CF at round $2,000 a lens.
Dulens remains to be up for preorder, however it’s wanting like pricing goes to be near the Meike lenses on the backside finish of this listing.
Picture Credit score: Meike
Inventive Comparability
Kicking issues off is a fast part with some footage from all of the lens units. Being cautious to maintain the framing and settings equal between the lenses they created just a few totally different photographs to reveal the aesthetics of every set.
That is going to come back down to non-public opinion at this level. Every has a considerably distinct look, particularly when you begin flaring. This can be a must-watch part.
Focal Lengths
Let’s check out the listing of choices from every model.
Rokinon’s XEEN CF set contains 5 lenses: 16, 24, 35, 50, and 85mm. All are T1.5 besides the 16mm, which is T2.6.
Meike’s FF Prime has a complete of six lenses: 16, 24, 35, 50, 85, and 105mm. All of those are T2.1 besides, once more, the 16mm which is T2.5. There may be an upcoming 135mm T2.4 however there aren’t any particulars but.
Picture Credit score: DZOFilm
Shifting on to DZOFilm you’ll discover probably the most selection with 10 lenses: 16, 21, 25, 35, 40, 50, 75, 100, 125, and 90mm. All of those are T2.1, apart from the 16mm which is T2.8. There may be one other word with the 90mm being a T2.8 and in addition being a macro lens.
Dulens is the latest and hasn’t made too many various lenses but solely providing a complete of three lenses: 43, 58, and 85mm. There’s a 31mm on the way in which and each one is T2.4.
Apertures
DZOFilm clearly has probably the most and most are decently quick at T2.1 which matches up with a majority of the Meike line. Dulens is barely slower at T2.4 and Rokinon is generally quicker at T1.5.
Lens velocity is usually a enormous issue to think about.
Tied to that’s the aperture design. The Meike, DZO, and Dulens all have 11-blade diaphragms whereas Rokinon upgraded to a 16-blade design. When stopped down this might leads to rounder bokeh.
Measurement and Construct
All of the units made certain to match up with themselves, so it doesn’t matter what set you purchase you’ll have an identical bodily form between all of your glass.
Rokinon does have the most important lenses, doubtless because of that quicker most aperture. And on the opposite finish you will have Dulens and Meike. Meike then loses on weight and that makes the Dulens the lightest and smallest.
This dimension is usually a shortcoming as Dulens put the aperture ring far again on the lens, which may make it tough to regulate or to mount a controller.
All of the lenses ought to assist matte packing containers with out situation. All besides the XEENs have customary filter threads as properly.
All do have customary 0.8 pitch gearing. The main target throws are totally different for every. Rokinon has 200º rotation, Dulens has 260º rotation, DZOFilm makes use of 270º rotation, and Meike has the longest throw with 330º of rotation.
Markings
Typically ignored in relation to price range lenses, it’s price wanting on the precise markings on the outside of the lens.
Dulens, Meike, and DZOFilm have each imperial and metric markings whereas the Rokinon XEENs solely have one or the opposite and also you’ll have to select if you buy them.
Now for location. Meike solely has them on the left, or operator, facet.
Sadly, not one of the lenses had markings that have been lifeless on so shims or different changes is likely to be price it.
Mounts
There’s no level find the right lens if you happen to can’t truly mount it in your digital camera.
Meike’s units can be found for ARRI PL, Canon EF, Canon RF, Leica L, and Sony E. The PL and EF mounts could be bodily swapped. This isn’t the case for the mirrorless choices.
DZOFilm solely makes ARRI PL and Canon EF variations of the Vespids however they’re interchangeable.
Rokinon has ARRI PL, Canon EF, and Sony E with kits obtainable to swap the mounts.
Dulens sticks with simply ARRI PL and could be swapped with a individually obtainable Canon EF mount obtainable.
Picture Credit score: Dulens
You’ll should be considerate about your alternative. Going with PL or EF leaves the door open for adapters for working with many extra cameras however there are advantages for mirrorless mounts being straight mounted.
Optics
There’s lots to start out speaking about right here.
Shut focus goes to the Vespids and there’s a devoted macro within the bunch. Meike and Dulens are comparable too. Everybody falls pretty shut.
All of the lenses are full-frame however they’ve barely totally different picture circles. Dulens truly is available in on the largest with 46.7mm, DZOFilm is shut at 46.5mm, after which you will have Meike at 45mm adopted by Rokinon at 43.3mm.
To maintain the video underneath management they targeted on the 50mm and 85mm choices, although they do have a full lens comparability device on the CVP web site.
Bokeh
Bokeh is normally a distinguishing a part of a lens’s aesthetics. It’s a very private desire.
Dulens has some cat-eye and swirl to the bokeh as you progress to the perimeters. That is frequent with large-format glass. The apochromatic design appears to carry up as there may be little or no chromatic aberration within the assessments.
Meike is analogous, although it does present extra chopping throughout the body and a few texture. There may be some inexperienced CA across the highlights.
Rokinon stands out a good bit because of the broader most aperture. It additionally has heavy onion ring texture. Form is sweet within the middle and there may be once more swirling and chopping as you progress to the perimeters. Edges of the highlights are outlined with some inexperienced CA.
The DZOFilm Vespids are freed from texture and present a small quantity of inexperienced CA. These have probably the most misshapen bokeh of all of the choices.
Stopping down does assist all of the lenses fairly a bit.
Lens Flare
Lens flare is one other subjective space of curiosity with lenses.
They grabbed a flashlight, shined it proper down the middle of the lens after which moved it to the facet to see how every reacts. You’ll simply need to examine this out and decide your desire.
Sharpness/CA
Utilizing a VENICE 6K with the PL-mount variations of every lens they put all of them up towards a really powerful decision chart.
DZOFilm is up first with the Vespid 50mm and exhibits just a little purple and blue fringing simply exterior the middle. It resolves decently throughout the body however there may be fringing on the corners. Stopping down helps however remains to be has the fringing.
Meike is sharper and has much less fringing. The fringing is totally different with blue and yellow coloration which is much less apparent. Stopping down helps decision however not the fringing.
Rokinon’s XEENs are quickest and large open at T1.5 they’ve nice resolving within the middle although there may be robust fall off within the corners. It might not resolve as a lot as Meike however it has barely much less fringing.
Dulens wins with the least fringing however appears to have the bottom quantity of distinction. It’s nonetheless good however it drops off in the direction of the corners.
Respiratory
DZOFilm has the least quantity of respiration however a far margin. The opposite three lenses appear to have lots of respiration, at the very least with the 50mm.
Closing Ideas
You may’t go fallacious with whichever alternative you make right here, however they’re totally different and is likely to be higher off in sure conditions.
The Meikes are barely inconsistent throughout the set however resolve very properly, have wonderful respiration efficiency, and an awesome value level.
Picture Credit score: Rokinon/Samyang
Rokinon/Samyang have a really distinct look, the quickest apertures, largest dimension, and largest value.
Dulens have a stability of character and resolving energy plus they’ve an apochromatic design that dramatically reduces CA. They’re additionally very small.
DZOFilm has probably the most selection with the Vespid set although they’re a bit extra inventive with their look. They’re constructed properly and are well-liked.
So, which of those would you buy?
[source: CVP]
Order Hyperlinks:
DZOFilm VESPID 16mm T2.8 Cine Lens (B&H, Amazon)
DZOFilm VESPID 21mm T2.1 Cine Lens (B&H)
DZOFilm VESPID 25mm T2.1 Cine Lens (B&H, Amazon)
DZOFilm VESPID 35mm T2.1 Cine Lens (B&H)
DZOFilm VESPID 40mm T2.1 Cine Lens (B&H)
DZOFilm VESPID 50mm T2.1 Cine Lens (B&H, Amazon)
DZOFilm VESPID 75mm T2.1 Cine Lens (B&H, Amazon)
DZOFilm VESPID 100mm T2.1 Cine Lens (B&H, Amazon)
DZOFilm VESPID 125mm T2.1 Cine Lens (B&H, Amazon)
DZOFilm VESPID 90mm T2.8 macro Cine Lens (B&H, Amazon)
Meike 16mm T2.5 FF Prime Cine Lens (B&H)
Meike 24mm T2.1 FF Prime Cine Lens (B&H)
Meike 35mm T2.1 FF Prime Cine Lens (B&H)
Meike 50mm T2.1 FF Prime Cine Lens (B&H)
Meike 85mm T2.1 FF Prime Cine Lens (B&H)
Meike 105mm T2.1 FF Prime Cine Lens (B&H)
Rokinon XEEN CF 16mm T2.6 Cine Lens (B&H, Amazon)
Rokinon XEEN CF 24mm T1.5 Cine Lens (B&H, Amazon)
Rokinon XEEN CF 35mm T1.5 Cine Lens (B&H, Amazon)
Rokinon XEEN CF 50mm T1.5 Cine Lens (B&H, Amazon)
Rokinon XEEN CF 85mm T1.5 Cine Lens (B&H, Amazon)