CINE LENS SPECIAL
CINEMASCOPE BY SIRUI
Affordable lenses are what Sirui is all about, and its line-up includes different anamorphic series as well as fast primes. Starting with the smallest sensor in Micro Four Thirds cameras, there’s the Mars anamorphic set of 24mm, 35mm, 50mm and 75mm in a fitted Peli case. Moving up in size are Super 35 anamorphics in 24mm, 35mm, 50mm and 75mm in L, E, RF, Micro Four Thirds or FZ mounts. If used on full- frame cameras, they must be set to Super 35 mode as the image circle is not big enough to cover the whole sensor. These optics give a 1.33x ratio for a 2.4:1 aspect ratio in 16x9. Sirui’s full-frame anamorphics include the £1039/$1199 Venus 50mm T2.9 1.6x as well as 35mm, 75mm, 100mm and 135mm T2.9 lenses. A full set including a 1.25x adapter is $6555, but not listed for the UK. There’s new cine lenses like the Jupiter 24mm, 35mm and 50mm, plus a Night Walker 24mm T1.2. sirui.com
SAMYANG FOUR INDIE PRODUCTION
edge of frame – a key factor in the famous cinematic look. This works together with the trademark contrast performance that renders excellent skin tones typical of the trademark Cooke Look. The lenses are very sharp in the centre, but there is some delicate fall-off towards the edges when shot wide open. This slight softening is what gives the lenses their character, keeps your focus on the subject and is relatively subtle. You can go some way to correcting marginal drop-off in post with sharpening if you want a more clinical look. It’s not an overly soft, low-contrast look that’s too strong for anything except arthouse flicks. Cookes can be used on lots of projects as the look is subtle and gives impressive three-dimensionality. The SP3s also feature optical coatings that ensure control of excessive flare, and they flare nicely – especially the 100mm. They’re also built to match each other accurately for colours, and made to work perfectly alongside a set of the full-fat Panchro /i Classics in PL mount. The focus ring throw is 160° for precise control and the focus distance is non- linear. Focusing the Cookes by hand is a tactile joy you simply cannot match with electronically controlled lenses. Racking focus is not a problem. These aren’t just for shooting cinematic, narrative dramas but for everyday use. They are smaller than the rival Zeiss Nanos, and with the Cooke Look many have always wanted. cookeoptics.com
Though Samyang has autofocus lenses for general stills and moviemaking, the Korean brand also offers four different manual focus cinema glass ranges to suit all budgets. Sometimes Samyang is branded Rokinon in the US. The most attainable cine lenses are the VDSLR MK2 range available in 14mm T3.1, 24mm T1.5, 35mm T1.5, 50mm T1.5, 85mm T1.5 and 135mm T2.2. These Mark II versions have improved weather sealing, focal lengths on both sides, a new design and nine aperture blades. They are available individually from £517/$399, but also in a set of the 14mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm and 85mm for £2454 in the UK. Moving up in terms of size and quality, the Xeens are a set of relatively
large cine primes suitable for 8K capture. The range is 14mm T3.1, 16mm T2.6, 20mm T1.9, 24mm T1.5, 35mm T1.5, 50mm T1.5, 85mm T1.5 and 135mm T2.2. They are all built with a consistent form and optical performance, and look similar to the original, large Zeiss CP.2 lenses. A five-lens set of a 14mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and 135mm in EF mount is on offer for a bargain £5994. In the US, the bundle adds the 24mm lens and goes for $8170. When Zeiss revealed the CP.3s, a smaller and lighter set of Xeen primes called the CF range made an appearance. These use carbon-fibre composite in the lens barrel to save some weight, have a 95mm front section to fit a broader range of matte boxes and new coatings to improve image quality. They are available in 16mm T2.6, 24mm T1.5, 35mm T1.5, 50mm T1.5, 85mm T1.5 and 135mm T2.2 sizes. A set of six in PL costs £8394 – while in the US a set of five omits the widest lens and costs $8075. More recent is Samyang’s high-end range, the Xeen Meister set. A kit of five Meister lenses in 14mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm and 85mm with maximum T stops ranging between T1.3 and T2.6 is a much more substantial £22,794 in PL mount. They also come in Sony E and Canon EF fit. samyanglens.com
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