CINEMA GLASS
ARRI
If you really do demand the best and have the budget to match, then little comes close to the cameras and lenses made by Arri, which now has a range of more lightweight and compact lenses at a lower price than its flagship Signatures. This is the latest Ensō Prime line: 14 all-manual lenses ranging from 10.5mm super-wide to 250mm telephoto. The look produced by these lenses can be fine-tuned to suit different projects. There’s a Vintage Elements kit that comes with rear filters to change the look, and includes different strengths to alter the out-of-focus highlights and rendering of images at the centre and edge of each frame. It also comes with shims to calibrate each lens perfectly to individual cameras. As they are light and more compact than the Signature ranges, the Ensōs are ideal for handheld use and very close focusing. As always with Arri, the price is high. A six- lens kit of the 18, 24, 32, 47, 75 and 105mm costs £81,333/$86,940, plus more for the Vintage Elements kit. Individual lenses will cost from £10,171 for the 21, 28, 40 or 58mm versions up to £20,247 for the 250mm prime. The lenses also feature fast apertures,
at T2.8 for the 10.5 and 250mm, T2.5 for the 14 and 150mm lenses and T2.1 for the remaining optics. The 250mm can be extended to 350 and 500mm with 1.4x and 2x extenders. All have a 95mm front diameter, identical gear ring positions and include Cooke/i lens communication. When the Elements accessories are used, this information is included in the lens metadata to speed up post work. arri.com
“As they are light and more compact than the Signature ranges, Arri’s Ensōs are ideal for handheld use and very close focusing”
IRIX
Once you’ve used the Swiss- designed Irix cine lenses, you’d never believe they were a budget offering. The whole range feels premium, with great image quality, and many have unique features to make them easier to handle – all without a scary price tag. On some of its lenses, Irix uses a second focusing ring called the adaptive ring for easier handheld use, but others do away with this for a totally conventional feel. Conventional is great, but the adaptive ring brings something different to the market and is a handy addition. It’s strange the whole range doesn’t use it. In terms of the optical performance, all the lenses are designed for 8K shooting and we’ve tested them on an 8K camera with no issues at all. They offer minimal vignetting, virtually no focus breathing and the rounded aperture
blades provide a beautifully smooth bokeh. Irix has some stunning- quality cine prime lenses. The range includes an 11mm T4.3 and 15mm T2.6, as well as T1.5 lenses in 21, 30, 45mm and now 65mm. There are also a pair of T3.0 150mm lenses in standard telephoto or 1:1 macro, and it’s a great short telephoto. Irix’s lenses are well built and boast features like magnetically attached lens hoods. They’re available in Sony E or PL mounts too. The latest 65mm has a refined optical system for a low level of distortion and aberration. The 11-bladed iris provides beautiful bokeh and smooth adjustment between T1.5 and T16. With low focus breathing and close to human field of view, the Irix 65mm cine lens is a great choice for filming natural-looking scenes. irixlens.com
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