Who owns or has shot with the XEEN primes?

puredrifting

puredrifting

Major Contributor
I noticed that B&H has some ridiculously good deals on the Xeen primes going on right now in EF mount. I've never used them but just viewed a few DP reels
with people who are shooting with them and they don't look bad at all for the money. They lack the electronic mount that the CN E primes would have but are
1/3 of the cost and in most of the tests I've seen, they fold up well againsthe CN Es, surprisingly well. I would be using these mostly for handheld shooting and I
would also invest in a real EVF for our C200, probably the Zacuto Kameleon since I wouldn't have AF to rely on. I would use these for shoots that are a bit more
blocked and rehearsed than my documentary shoots where anything can happen.

In compiling my reels lately, I've noticed I've actually shot several studio dance pieces, two for Sony and one for YouTube RED over the past year or two.
Situations with a lot of movement but with dancers also hitting marks and staying areas. I also know the CN Es have a 300 degree focus throw, but with the Xeens
they only use a 200 degree throw, much better for handheld focusing without an AC. My thought is, I have the EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS II as my longer tele lens, possibly
assemble a set of the Xeens with the 16mm t/2.6, the 24mm t/t1.5 and the 50mm t/1.5. So I would have AF for long stuff and the primes for wider handheld stuff
up to short tele. I shot a piece the other day at a live event with the 70-200 and I have to say, I am still totally in love with the look of that lens. For a $2k lens, the
images look pretty "expensive" so I don't feel the need for primes over 50mm.

But I am not nearly as impressed with the images from my EF 24-105mm f/4.0 IS II, the EF S 17-55mm f/2.8 and even though my Canon still primes are sharper, they suck
for operating, focus by wire, clicky stupid aperture controls too. I'm beginning to warm to the idea of NOT using DPAF when I am in situations where there are
rehearsals, marks, blocking, which is happening more and more. Would still use the zooms with DPAF though for interviews with shallow DOF to keep rocking,
shifting in their seat talent in sharp focus.

Thoughts on the Xeens, only if you have rented them or own them? I know they're not technically brilliant and they certainly aren't Zeiss or Cookes, but the reels and scenes I've been seeing shot with them,
they look surprisingly good and at $1,500.00 each on sale, $1,000.00 off, they are making me think.
 
Jaime Valles said:
That said, I would still probably prefer the SLR Magic APO HyperPrime Cine lens set:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1278818-REG
Click to expand...

Yes.

Xeens are kind of like "my first cine primes" . But they're bland in my view.

The APO's and microprimes (Same design as the APO's) are way better lenses for look and personality. Only down side is the focal length range isn't filled out as much yet, but they have more to come.

JB
 
If you want short focus throw and small size why not just go with Rokinon Cine DS? The Xeens are "just" Rokinons in a larger housing. The 6-lens Rokinon DS set is only $2,449.95. I could be mistaken but I don't think you gain anything optically with Xeens over Cine DS. Filters are less costly for the smaller DS than for Xeens. ( and also less surface area so less flaring, right? )
 
Yeah my understanding is they are optically identical to Rokinon DS, which themselves aren't amazing, but at least you can get a 4-lens set for ~$1500 which is pretty cheap. You're really paying a lot for a lot of extra size and weight and the only benefits are mechanical.
 
I've used them a couple times. Yes, they're very cheap for cine lenses but the age old saying holds true. You get what you pay for.

I've also heard they are just rehoused rokinons that are a fraction of the price
 
John Brawley said:
Yes.

Xeens are kind of like "my first cine primes" . But they're bland in my view.

The APO's and microprimes (Same design as the APO's) are way better lenses for look and personality. Only down side is the focal length range isn't filled out as much yet, but they have more to come.

JB
Click to expand...

I saw these at a trade show, not really understanding what they were. Still liked them. Going to have to put them through the paces soon.

Thanks for bringing them to our attention!
 
nyvz said:
Yeah my understanding is they are optically identical to Rokinon DS, which themselves aren't amazing, but at least you can get a 4-lens set for ~$1500 which is pretty cheap. You're really paying a lot for a lot of extra size and weight and the only benefits are mechanical.
Click to expand...

For work, one would need to travel with backup DS lenses. I’ve heard of internal lens elements coming loose inside and rattling about. So, for a peace-of-mind, the DS lens set might have to double?

Way back when, i thought the Xeen’s were said to be a new design and obviously more robust mechanics. Thought they at least had different lens coatings. Was that all marketing back then? Did i remember wrong?
 
James0b57 said:
Way back when, i thought the Xeen’s were said to be a new design and obviously more robust mechanics. Thought they at least had different lens coatings. Was that all marketing back then? Did i remember wrong?
Click to expand...

Same here. I didn't think they were optically exactly the same. If they indeed are just rehoused Rokinon Cine DS lenses and the only difference is how they operate mechanically, then you really can save a bundle by going with the regular Rokinons.

Has anyone done a comparison video of the Rokinons vs the Xeens?
 
The frustrating thing about the Rokinon Cine DS is that they all have 77mm filter rings except the 85mm and 100mm which have 72mm and 67mm. Granted, you can easily do without the 100mm, but the 85mm would be a popular size to build a collection of primes.
 

I think the takeaway here is that lenses do matter, but just not as much as the DP culture and marketing from lens makers sometimes makes lenses out to matter. Excellent cinematography can be produced on Xeens, dreadful cinematography can be produced on Master Primes.


If I've said anything here you disagree with, find to be incorrect, or just think plainly stupid, do not hesitate to say so. I'm still learning some 3 decades into this and appreciate feedback from others. And I'm still struggling with my own lens lust. Somebody talk me down from buying another focal length Otus, please.
 
I agree 100%. I'm perfectly happy with my Canon EF lenses at the moment (16-35, 24-70 & 70-200 f/2.8, 28-300 f/3.5-5.6, 18-135 f/3.5-5.6 and 50 f/1.8) and see no reason to purchase anything else right now. In fact, I see autofocus technology improving by leaps and bounds in the coming years, so at this point I wouldn't buy any lens without built-in AF motors.

Sorry for taking the Xeen discussion off course!
 
Whether they are the exact same optical design or not I think the important point here is that they are nearly the same and you are paying primarily for the mechanics. If you need the cine lens form factor and smoother more precise mechanics and markings and consistent lengths and fronts then they are a deal. If not they may just take up more space in your case (and wallet). Either you need that or you dont. Same is true for pretty much any cine lens under $10k. Nearly all low end cine primes are based on still lens designs or have still lens equivalents that are optically identical or nearly identical. CN-E primes are just L optics, CP.3/CP.2 are just ZF.2 optics, Sigma Cine are just Art optics, etc. I think maybe only the Tokina Vista lenses are new designs in that price range...
 
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