An answer to "Do the Rokinon cine lenses breath?"

I did a quick search of the non-cine 24mm and found lots of good reviews, with one exception. The Canon mount version had some problems of being only F1.8 or F2 at maximum aperture. However, according to one source that was corrected and both the NIkon and Canon mounts are both F1.4 now.

One thing I was interested to read was that when the Samyang 24mm was compared to the Sigma 24mm F1.8 and both were set at F2 the Samyang was still significantly brighter.
 
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Postmaster said:
That's why t-stops are more telling.
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It was an F stop comparison with the non-cine version and means the Sigma probably wasn't really an F1.8 lens. Wider than F2 it becomes very difficult to have great corner sharpness and minimal light fall off.

But yes, having actual T stops will be great.
 
We have a T-stop testing bench at AbelCine. You would be amazed at the lenses which are labelled a given T-stop that they do not actually achieve. And I'm not talking about cheap lenses here.
 
MPB said:
a cine lens is about mechanics, that's generally what the premium is for, even in superior slr lenses. so the glass is as good and many others, but the reason we're looking for a cine lens is how it handles, and holds up over time. i guess i'm just a little curious how they pull this off for <$600.
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its $600 because its not a real cinelens. Its JUST the same exact still lens with a declicked aperture, and gears added. Nothing has been changed re the actual lens. same breathing, same focus throw same everything. So that is not hard to pull off.
 
jambredz said:
its $600 because its not a real cinelens. Its JUST the same exact still lens with a declicked aperture, and gears added. Nothing has been changed re the actual lens. same breathing, same focus throw same everything. So that is not hard to pull off.
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My first thought is, then the Red zoom that rehoused the Sigma lenses isn't a cine lens either?

My second thought is, do you own one of their cine lenses so you can compare? My 35mm hasn't arrived yet so other than below I think we're guessing.

Lets see what we do know:


  1. The Nikon mount Rokinon cine focuses the [edit: remove=cine] Nikon direction.
  2. Rokinons always had a long cine type focus throw anyway, nearly 180 degrees.
  3. From the test in the OP with the Epic it doesn't look like its breathing.
  4. The focus ring on my Rokinon 8mm cine is definitely more dampened than the stills version 8mm. I know that's dampening grease, but hey that's what all cine lenses use.
  5. Uniform front diameters for 24mm and above.
  6. Clear T markings instead of F stop markings.

If mechanics are what its missing, what is the Rokinon lacking?

35mmCineUpright.jpg

But, maybe I'm odd as I've always thought other cine lenses were over priced for the few differences they actually have.
 
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Mitch Gross said:
We have a T-stop testing bench at AbelCine. You would be amazed at the lenses which are labelled a given T-stop that they do not actually achieve. And I'm not talking about cheap lenses here.
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Mitch, can you test a Rokinon and tell us if the T-stop markings are anywhere near accurate?
 
I just got the still version of the 85 and 24 and they feel very solid, I didn't even realize until this thread that the housings were plastic. Great images, sharp, wonderful for manual focusing and work great in a follow focus. I got Nikon mount to be able to adapt to 5D, GH2 and D800 and geared it for my follow focus. Plugged some holes in my Nikon AIS collection to leave me with a 18, 24, 35, 50, 85, 135 kit. Since buying the 24 and 85 Rokkinons, however, I haven't used any other lenses!
 
Duke M. said:
My first thought is, then the Red zoom that rehoused the Sigma lenses isn't a cine lens either?

My second thought is, do you own one of their cine lenses so you can compare? My 35mm hasn't arrived yet so other than below I think we're guessing.

Lets see what we do know:
  1. The Nikon mount Rokinon cine focuses the cine direction.
  2. Rokinons always had a long cine type focus throw anyway, nearly 180 degrees.
  3. From the test in the OP with the Epic it doesn't look like its breathing.
  4. The focus ring on my Rokinon 8mm cine is definitely more dampened than the stills version 8mm. I know that's dampening grease, but hey that's what all cine lenses use.
  5. Uniform front diameters for 24mm and above.
  6. Clear T markings instead of F stop markings.
If mechanics are what its missing, what is the Rokinon lacking?

View attachment 58782

But, maybe I'm odd as I've always thought other cine lenses were over priced for the few differences they actually have.
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Comparing the Red zoom and the sigma lens where the only similarities between them is the GLASS is kind of an unrealistic and unfair comparison. The sigma is god awful for mechanics (for cine use). Whereas the RED is a totally new lens (Except the glass of course). Fact is the Rokinon the same basic lens which is a STILLS lens. I'm not fighting against it and its only $50 more...which is much lens than say Duclos mods. Are duclos modded zeiss ZF.2 lenses cine lenses. Uhm...no. Do they use the same glass...yup. I have the Rokinon 35 and 85 stills version...do I think its worth going through the hassle of selling them and buying these...mmm maybe not. Not when i can just add a gear. I don't do iris pulls so that doesn't apply to me. Something like an iris pull will ruin a shot for me. Like you, I also think cine glass is overpriced but maybe thats cuz i cant afford any.

edit: just re read post and edited since it seemed a bit harsh as if i was starting an argument :) I wasn't. Oh and BTW the Nikon version of this lens focuses the Nikon way...not "Cine". I was told that by the person who shot the Epic footage. I do notice on the Rokinon FB page they just have no clue as to what they are selling, because someone asked about the focus direction and they told them erroneous info. Also they dont even know what PL mount is when someone asked about doing them in PL mount. Its clear that they are just the mouth pieces (and not very good at that) and not the actual manufacturers.
 
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jambredz said:
Comparing the Red zoom and the sigma lens where the only similarities between them is the GLASS is kind of an unrealistic and unfair comparison. The sigma is god awful for mechanics (for cine use). Whereas the RED is a totally new lens (Except the glass of course). Fact is the Rokinon the same basic lens which is a STILLS lens. I'm not fighting against it and its only $50 more...which is much lens than say Duclos mods. Are duclos modded zeiss ZF.2 lenses cine lenses. Uhm...no. Do they use the same glass...yup. I have the Rokinon 35 and 85 stills version...do I think its worth going through the hassle of selling them and buying these...mmm maybe not. Not when i can just add a gear. I don't do iris pulls so that doesn't apply to me. Something like an iris pull will ruin a shot for me. Like you, I also think cine glass is overpriced but maybe thats cuz i cant afford any.

edit: just re read post and edited since it seemed a bit harsh as if i was starting an argument :) I wasn't. Oh and BTW the Nikon version of this lens focuses the Nikon way...not "Cine". I was told that by the person who shot the Epic footage. I do notice on the Rokinon FB page they just have no clue as to what they are selling, because someone asked about the focus direction and they told them erroneous info. Also they dont even know what PL mount is when someone asked about doing them in PL mount. Its clear that they are just the mouth pieces (and not very good at that) and not the actual manufacturers.
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I apologize for the misinformation and edited my prior post. As you said, the FB page has some less knowledgeable salespersons rather than techs from the factory, and what we really need is lens in hand. I just saw another post that said focus is in the Nikon direction. Its a non-issue for me, but since I'll want to mix in my cinevized Tokina 11-16mm they'll still all be going the same direction.

I don't think their perfect lenses by any means, but good enough to be called cinevized (as Duclos does), if not cine lenses.
 
Yeh not perfect but I also definitely agree that they are probably the best budget option currently. The nikon direction also isn't a big deal for me since all my lenses are nikon direction. Also if one has a decent follow focus that can be reversed then that's a non issue. I wish we could talk to the manufacturers...anyone know who does that? Because what I see on the FB page is alot of dodging of questions sometimes, no doubt because they don't know. I guess they try their best. But there's alot of " we may have that coming"....or "well see what we can do" when persons ask about a 50mm or another lens in development, nothing concrete. Anyway decent bunch of lenses for a decent price.
 
jambredz said:
Yeh not perfect but I also definitely agree that they are probably the best budget option currently. The nikon direction also isn't a big deal for me since all my lenses are nikon direction. Also if one has a decent follow focus that can be reversed then that's a non issue. I wish we could talk to the manufacturers...anyone know who does that? Because what I see on the FB page is alot of dodging of questions sometimes, no doubt because they don't know. I guess they try their best. But there's alot of " we may have that coming"....or "well see what we can do" when persons ask about a 50mm or another lens in development, nothing concrete. Anyway decent bunch of lenses for a decent price.
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Samyang, a big established optics company in Korea, is the manfacturer. They rebadge a lot of their stuff as Bower, Rokinon, Vivitar, etc. They have said several times, including and email to me, that they are working on a 50mm T1.5 to go with the set.
 
Duke M. said:
Samyang, a big established optics company in Korea, is the manfacturer. They rebadge a lot of their stuff as Bower, Rokinon, Vivitar, etc. They have said several times, including and email to me, that they are working on a 50mm T1.5 to go with the set.
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Great. ill prob pick it up. I love my supertak 50mm 1.4 and wont be selling it for anything...but i like physically large lenses. So much more working room. The supertak is pretty small. I doubt i'll pick up the 24mm Rokinon. I've seen two many mixed reviews. I don't know if its a quality control issue (which i can personally attest to having changed my 35mm multiple times).If you happen to pick it up though Duke it would be good to hear first hand from someone who actually knows what they are doing.

I kinda wished they made all their lenses like the 85mm. I find the build of the overall lens and feel of the focus ring to be much better than the 35mm design(which is shared by the rest of the line).
 
ok reading this thread I hear this a few times "Their NIKON VERSION focuses in the nikon turning" BUT what I'm trying to figure out is... does their canon version of the same cine lens turn in the opposite way, making it a true "cine" direction?
 
So what is the front diametre size of the 24, 35 and 85mm?


Duke M. said:
My first thought is, then the Red zoom that rehoused the Sigma lenses isn't a cine lens either?

My second thought is, do you own one of their cine lenses so you can compare? My 35mm hasn't arrived yet so other than below I think we're guessing.

Lets see what we do know:


  1. The Nikon mount Rokinon cine focuses the [edit: remove=cine] Nikon direction.
  2. Rokinons always had a long cine type focus throw anyway, nearly 180 degrees.
  3. From the test in the OP with the Epic it doesn't look like its breathing.
  4. The focus ring on my Rokinon 8mm cine is definitely more dampened than the stills version 8mm. I know that's dampening grease, but hey that's what all cine lenses use.
  5. Uniform front diameters for 24mm and above.
  6. Clear T markings instead of F stop markings.

If mechanics are what its missing, what is the Rokinon lacking?

View attachment 58782

But, maybe I'm odd as I've always thought other cine lenses were over priced for the few differences they actually have.
Click to expand...
 
I can only speak for the lenses I have which are the 35mm and 85mm (stills version). 35mm is 77 and the 85 mm is 72. I don't imagine this changing with the "cine" versions since they are the same body. I have however adapted all my lenses to be 77mm front. So my 85mm lens has a 72-77mm step up ring. Dirt cheap to add to your lens (and 77mm lens cap also dirt cheap).
 
rokinon and vivitar are great prime lenses. i never realized until now these are all samyang lenses. They've been around for awhile and if they are going into cine lenses at reasonable prices then i think they will be great.
 
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