FS7: Under $5K Cinema Lens Test - XEEN, Canon CN-E, Tokina Cinema, Zeiss ZF2, and Leica R

Yeah of course, when you push up a follow focus and rack back and forth, there is ever so slightly some flex in the mount of the adapter causing some back focus issues. I got this both on my Metabones and Leica Novaflex adapter. For this test, I focused using my hand rather than a follow focus unit. I didn't want the chances of a follow focus to throw off the test with back focus issues.

If you wondering, I don't push my follow focus hard up against the lens causing this flex. It is caused by the rotation of the follow focus unit.
 
Thanks for the tip. I'll have to check it myself . Haven't noticed it no far. Extremely disturbing if it checks out for me also. I'm assuming this was with standard meatiness MarkIV rather than speedbooster, though no reason to assume to would be any different. Sounds like it should be described as an E Mt problem rather than an adapter problem though. Have you checked with native E Mt lenses. Wonder if it could be a defective unit also.
More testing by others would be appreciated to know if its a one off or not. I only have the 18-200 to test with and there is no way to use a follow focus.
 
advice on mount

advice on mount

Chime in with your thoughts here if you would be so kind.

I own a Sony Fs7 and I am considering the Xeen 50mm. The lens is available in an e-mount version, however, my thought is that the PL version is the way to go. PL has more rental possibility. Not that I would do it, but the EF mount Xeen 50mm would allow for use of speed booster, the e-mount would not. Correct?

As shallow as it may be, I have it in my head that PL is THE top of the line and were I to resell the Xeen a PL version would have the best resell value since it would most appeal to all the RED owners. And there is just something about PL glass that makes me feel like it is a REAL cine lens.

Should I even bother with a prime and instead just stick with my Canon 24-70L? Should I just pickup a Rokinon Cine DS 50mm, pass on the Xeen 50mm, and put the savings towards the Kino 4' 4-bank I have always wanted?

My thoughts with acquiring the Xeen were:

* wanting a prime for its increased sharpness over the Canon EF zooms. ( is a Xeen 50mm more sharp than a Canon 24-70mm at 50mm? )

* wanting a Cine prime for its greater focus travel over that of still lenses.

* wanting an interview lens with a physical iris. ( Tired of stepped iris. )

* wanting to make my camera package more "high end" than just consisting of Canon EF zooms.
 
Chris, thanks for doing this. I appreciate your time testing and renting.

Xeen is impressively "good", Tokina seemed real nice to me and I really liked the warmth but the breathing makes it unusable to me.

Great test!
 
JPNola said:
Chime in with your thoughts here if you would be so kind.

I own a Sony Fs7 and I am considering the Xeen 50mm. The lens is available in an e-mount version, however, my thought is that the PL version is the way to go. PL has more rental possibility. Not that I would do it, but the EF mount Xeen 50mm would allow for use of speed booster, the e-mount would not. Correct?

As shallow as it may be, I have it in my head that PL is THE top of the line and were I to resell the Xeen a PL version would have the best resell value since it would most appeal to all the RED owners. And there is just something about PL glass that makes me feel like it is a REAL cine lens.

Should I even bother with a prime and instead just stick with my Canon 24-70L? Should I just pickup a Rokinon Cine DS 50mm, pass on the Xeen 50mm, and put the savings towards the Kino 4' 4-bank I have always wanted?

My thoughts with acquiring the Xeen were:

* wanting a prime for its increased sharpness over the Canon EF zooms. ( is a Xeen 50mm more sharp than a Canon 24-70mm at 50mm? )

* wanting a Cine prime for its greater focus travel over that of still lenses.

* wanting an interview lens with a physical iris. ( Tired of stepped iris. )

* wanting to make my camera package more "high end" than just consisting of Canon EF zooms.
Click to expand...

I would consider the PL mount and grab this adapter if you are going that route. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1105835-REG/wooden_camera_wc_194000_pl_to_e_mount_adapter.html Best support if you need a cheeseplate on top of the camera. I decided to grab a Xeen set with the EF mount so I could use the Speedbooster. Plus I also shoot other EF cameras from time to time, so having that mount available is quite nice. I wouldn't get the e-mount since it locks you into a very small market of Sony cameras. I would only consider the PL or EF. Have no fear though, I do believe these mounts are interchangeable. I contacted Xeen to find out some pricing details for doing the switch. My plans are to upgrade to PL in the future if I move to a PL system.

The Canon 24-70 is a very nice solid zoom. I have it myself and use it in the test I did. The nice thing about zooms is being able to capture things quickly. I like to use zooms during events and documentary shoots since I do not have time to switch out primes for different shots. I would also consider something like the 24-105 f/4 with Speedbooster since it has IS. I also love the Sigma 24-105 Art but I do believe it is currently hard to find.

starcentral said:
Chris, thanks for doing this. I appreciate your time testing and renting.

Xeen is impressively "good", Tokina seemed real nice to me and I really liked the warmth but the breathing makes it unusable to me.

Great test!
Click to expand...

Thanks Dennis! I bought a set of Xeens after this test. Couldn't pass up the quality for price. The Tokina was a big let down for me, I was really rooting for it because of its amazing range and price point. It didn't surpass my Canon 24-70 II though, so I saw no interest in shooting more with it. I also rented the Tokina 16-28 Cinema zoom and while I do not have any footage to post, it produced the same results as the 50-135. I wouldn't consider either lens, to be honest.
 
I would get EF mount versions so you could use them with a speedbooster and get alternate speeds and focal lengths, plus resale with EF means all the dlsr and C300 users and Red Ef mount users would be interested, and they would be the market for low budget cine glass.
 
JPNola said:
Chime in with your thoughts here if you would be so kind.

I own a Sony Fs7 and I am considering the Xeen 50mm..
Click to expand...

Whats the point on buying one cine lens? I wouldnt even consider those Xeen lenses as they dont appear to make a 16 or 18, which is needed to make a set.

Any job using cine lenses will be part of a package with a proper focus puller and probably a remote focus.. a setup that will be unusable with your FS7 and any EF lenses because it torques the system so much.

Any client who can see lens breathing or suchlike will reject all shots from your EF glass. So that client will want a whole project on the one lens?.. or wont!

If you want a fast prime 50 with much better mechanics and focus travel than modern plastic EF glass do your self a favour and spend $50 on a used Canon FD f1.8 lens. You dont need 1.4 or 1.2 because you cant hold focus at 2 anyway.

Anyone who thinks such FD lenses are not sharp go find an exhibition of '80s still photos shot on kodachrome and those lenses and wonder if the images are soft.

No-one is ever going to rent one lens or even a set that doesnt start at 18mm. The only single lens that will rent is the cabrio or CN canon zooms.
 
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I'm surprised the little mention about built quality, CN-E, ZEISS, etc are workhorses that will last forever. My experience with Rokinon is really bad their Quality Control and Build quality is really disappointing for a professional environment.

You don't really want to compromised a project because a $2K lens Focus ring was broken.
 
The fact of the matter is that they still represent an improvement on modern AF stills lenses which I assume most people making to move up will be coming from.

For me, these don't offer anything better than my current Contax Zeiss set and certainly don't look as nice so I'll be sticking with what I have and renting when I need more.
 
That is why I shared my test, so people can make their own assumptions. That is the great thing about what we do, there is so many options to choose from with cameras and lenses. What you might think will work for you, might not work for others. Neither is wrong or right. I found my Leica's weren't the image I wanted for my work, I preferred the warmth and detail of Canon's and Xeens. Since I already own the 24-70, I decided to grab the Xeen lens set as my first cinema lens set. I know the set is incomplete now, but they will be adding lens in the future. If I bought the whole set at once (5-6 lenses), I would be broke. I would rather build my kit as I go. I also like I can change the mounts like the Zeiss CP2s so the lenses can move up to new cameras.

The external build quality of the XEENs are on par with Canon CN-E. Both lenses sport a metal housing with smooth focus rings. The mounts on both lenses are very robust too. In the regard to build quality, I will only use my lenses and plan to not rent these out. A rental house might have different experiences and these might not be a great buy. I remember Lens Rentals opened the lens up and found the focus ring could be at fault later in the life of the lens. For every time I use my lenses, I am sure LensRentals set will be used 10-20 times. That starts to add up quickly.
 
If I didn't have any glass at all right now for sure I'd buy a set of these. They are good enough for a lot of jobs.
 
Based on their current lineup of Rokinon DS lenses - the remaining lenses for Xeen would probably be a 14mm, 35mm, and 135mm.
 
There's currently a Group Buy going on for Xeen primes at Hot Rod Cameras, ends this Tuesday. You have to email, call or message for details.
 
Trust me, if I had the 12k plus the desire to carry heavy glass I would grab those. Those were the only two factors that kept me away. I do lots of small productions where I am operating solo all day and the extra weight adds up after awhile.

The images from what I saw put those things into Ultra Prime / Schneider Xenar III territory. They have that extra character that isn't in the lower end glass like the XEENs.
 
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