FS7: Rokinon Cine Lenses For FS7

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karma17

Well-known member
I'm new to the FS7 and was just curious if anyone has had an good or bad experiences with the Rokinon or Samyang line of lenses, especially the cine lenses. There are reviews online, but I was interested in hearing from FS7 users. I was particularly interested in the Rokinon Cine 85 mm T1.5 and the Cine 35 mm T1.3 lenses, but I'm open to any advice or suggestions. Currently, I'm using the Loxia 21 mm, which seems to be a good overall lens, but I was specifically looking at faster lenses that don't require an adapter.

Any thoughts appreciated.
 
The 35mm is the best 35mm cine-style lens for the buck you can get in my opinion. It's almost as sharp at widest as it is at other stops.

The 24mm is not that great, it's soft already at 2.8. I've been thinking of getting the Sigma 20mm Art (not a cine lens though).

I also have the 14mm but haven't really used that much...
 
In my experience they flare really easy and only sharpen up at about T2, personally I would get more of the Loxia set - I switched from the Samyang (Rokinon) to the Loxia lineup and wouldn't switch back. The Loxia 50mm in particular is a real winner.
 
I have the 85 and love it. The only two issues: it's not the closest focusing lens ever made, and the grease in the iris ring will freeze up when the temp gets much below 32. That's 0 centigrade for the Imperially impaired. ;)
 
You won't get better bang for your buck than the Samyang/Rokinons. The mechanics are crap but optically they can be surprisingly good. They do have a tendency to flare (not in a nice way) when using a lens adapter, but as you are using native amount that shouldn't be such a big issue.
 
I use the 85mm and 50mm Rokinon Cine's for talking head interviews on my FS7, both in HD and 4K, and I find them to be fantastic.

The fact that they're T/1.5 and cover Full Frame for ~$500 is absurd. The only other lenses that fast and that offer that coverage start at $2000 for the Xeen's and $3500+ for everyone else. Full frame is important because I sometimes run the A7Sii as a B-Cam, and for 4K shooting the full frame is mandatory.

The results are sharp and pleasing and I haven't noticed any downsides. They feel well built too, and have survived many plane trips. Used with the Tilta follow focus it makes for a nice combo. I'm not a pixel peeper, but for shooting content that often ends up on the web and occasionally broadcast...it's hard to argue with the Rokinon cine primes.

That said, I do often feel guilty putting a $300-$500 lens on an $8,000 camera, but the market hasn't responded accordingly. There just isn't anything in the $1000-$1500 range that would warrant an investment in a set of primes, that one could pay off via rental fees in a reasonable amount of time. So for me it's the Rokinon's for regular size jobs, and renting of the big time lenses for when the budget calls for it.
 
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I have an entire set of Rokinons that I use, which I blogged about when I bought them:

http://ironfilm.co.nz/rokinon-cine-lenses/

dipstik said:
That said, I do often feel guilty putting a $300-$500 lens on an $8,000 camera, but the market hasn't responded accordingly. There just isn't anything in the $1000-$1500 range that would warrant an investment in a set of primes, that one could pay off via rental fees in a reasonable amount of time. So for me it's the Rokinon's for regular size jobs, and renting of the big time lenses for when the budget calls for it.
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Unfortunately true. Many more people can make a solid case for buying an FS7 and get a decent ROI from it, than can do the same for spending a few thousand per lens on a whole set of lenses.
 
dipstik said:
...That said, I do often feel guilty putting a $300-$500 lens on an $8,000 camera, but the market hasn't responded accordingly. There just isn't anything in the $1000-$1500 range that would warrant an investment in a set of primes...
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I'd recommend sticking with the Zeiss lines; that's the decision I came to after having tried the Sigma Cine Zooms etc. But I went with the Zeiss Milvus line over the Loxia because I could use a Speedbooster or a standard MB adaptor giving me additional FOV. The next choice for me would've been the Fujinon MK zooms but they hadn't released the second of the set at that point AND I'm not sure I want to be "married" to E-Mount lenses for future camera bodies and resell value down the road.
 
If I was using a cheaper camera I guess Rokinon would be OK. But with a FS7 I would try to get better quality lenses. I'm not a big fan of the Rokinons. They are what they are, cheap lenses. I think something like CP.2s are a better match to something like a FS7.
 
I was going to echo what Jeremey said about the Milvus line. They are in the $1,000 to $2,000-ish price bracket, and if you use a speed booster (and a little math), you can get two focal lengths from one lens-- perhaps saving you some money, depending on your needs.

As nice as a true cine prime would be, if limited by price, I will sacrifice the cine housing and related benefits before I will sacrifice optical quality. For example, I'd go with the Milvus 85mm (which is amazing) for $1,800 long before the 85mm XEEN at the same price. Or the new Sigma Art 85mm (even with its short focus throw) given its incredible performance.
 
I won't mention nikkors because they focus the wrong way.

A $30 canon fd is great

What you won't find in retro stills land is a 16/2 I'd get that from rokinon

As for the fs7 I've seen more problems with really sharp lenses

Yep I appreciate a $50g cine lens set - but if one is not in that club the first purchase should be a few old primes.
 
I regularly use the Rokinon 12, 16 & 85 mm lenses on my Fs7. The image from the 12 MM is dramatic when used for landscapes, forests, and buildings. The 16mm is perfect for handheld work. I use the 85 for sit-down interviews near wide open. It is sharp enough and has a pleasing separation effect. I would say that the color rendition of the Rokinons is neutral and really of no consequence as I am always grading my footage in Resolve to get the look that fits the scene. Threads on lens comparisons go off the rails quickly with folks strutting their stuff.
 
Not Rokinon... just thought I'd share what the Fujinon MK 18-55 looks like. This is at 35mm T2.9. It's the best investment I've made in lenses so far. Have no regrets paying this much for smooth tracking, 2.9 across the zoom, built in macro and an aperture you can close down completely.
 

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I have to agree, beautiful lens. I'm working toward this combo

tokina 11-16 cine, e mount (i own the stills version in EF mount)
fujinon 18-55 cine, e mount (already own)
fujinon 50-135 cine, e mount

rokinon primes, 24,35,50,85 EF mount. (already own) and completing that set with the 14, maybe 20, 100, 135.


I really enjoy the primes, they're cheap enough to just have with you and every once in a while get a shot with and really flex that 1.5-2.9 range in the low light. Big fan.
 
Shot a feature in 2016 with FS7 and Tokina 11-16, Sigma 19mm e mount (a $150 lens), Nikkor 35mm, Rokinon 50 and 85. Image quality was good enough to get past the gatekeepers at AMC theaters, so I'm a happy camper. Shot another one, Summer of '67 (now in post), hoping for a wider release this time.
 
karma17 said:
I'm new to the FS7 and was just curious if anyone has had an good or bad experiences with the Rokinon or Samyang line of lenses, especially the cine lenses. There are reviews online, but I was interested in hearing from FS7 users. I was particularly interested in the Rokinon Cine 85 mm T1.5 and the Cine 35 mm T1.3 lenses, but I'm open to any advice or suggestions. Currently, I'm using the Loxia 21 mm, which seems to be a good overall lens, but I was specifically looking at faster lenses that don't require an adapter.

Any thoughts appreciated.
Click to expand...

I recommend not buying them in E mount. That means if years down the road you switch to another camera system you can still keep on using your lens investments! :-)

Or heck, you could even use them on a stills camera such as say the new Nikon D850 (if you buy them in Nikon F mount, which is what I recommend: http://ironfilm.co.nz/rokinon-cine-lenses/ )
 
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