Canon L Glass vs Rokinon Cine Primes for Video at DVinfo.net

Evan Bourcier · September 30th, 2012, 11:28 AM

Hey guys, looking at upgrading to some new primes that're full frame capable for when I upgrade to a 5dii soon, what's the consensus between the Canon L primes and the Rokinon Cine Primes? For half as much a 35mm t1.5 looks good with declicked aperture and lens gear, though the L would be nice for the photo side... Strictly speaking video, how do the lenses compare? Bokeh, Sharpness, etc...

Thanks,
Evan

Simon Wood · September 30th, 2012, 12:17 PM

I'm looking at buying a set of these from B&H; the 14mm, 24mm & 35mm. I'll get the 50mm and 85mm cine versions when they are released.

I have read good reviews of these over on some other forums. Seemingly they stack up very well against Canon L series lenses, and are in some cases sharper than Nikon lenses. The only issue seems to that there is a little more CA with these than with L series lenses (though it is negligible).

There are a lot of positive reviews over on RedUser; seemingly they work well at 5K, so they should be up to the task for any HD work.

See this article comparing them to Zeiss optics:

Showdown: Rokinon Vs. Zeiss Matthew Duclos' Circle of Confusion

Scott Stoneback · September 30th, 2012, 10:21 PM

I say do it. I've got a 35mm 1.4 and it is a really good looking lens. No complaints on the video side of picture quality. Plus, the build quality is substantial... feels like a solid, sturdy lens. It is about the size of the 24-105 L lens.

Evan Bourcier · September 30th, 2012, 11:43 PM

Quick update, after reading a number of reviews, I bought a Canon 35mm 1.4 L, but will probably also be buying at least one Rokinon Cine soon. I might rent the Cine 35mm t1.5 and do a comparison video.. Anyone try any specific Cine's from rokinon and have thoughts/comparisons to canon versions?

Buba Kastorski · October 1st, 2012, 07:19 AM

I've had 85mm (non cine) for a while and all i can say it is a very sharp lens and for less than $400 it is a literally no-brainer, my 24mm cine is on the way and i will be collecting the whole set as cine lenses will be released.

Victor Nguyen · October 2nd, 2012, 11:17 PM

I don't think they will be releasing a 50mm even though they really need to. Just so yall now, there are very little difference in the optic themselves when comparing the cine vs. non-cine. I have rokinon 35mm and 85mm non-cine and am loving it.

Simon Wood · October 3rd, 2012, 01:11 AM

On their Facebook page they said they are working on the 85mm and 50mm (85mm is coming first).

Markus Nord · October 3rd, 2012, 01:58 AM

That would be really nice with at 50 from Samyang...

I'm using the 8 (on 7D), 14 and 35 (no cine, but will "upgrade") and I'll get the 24 and 85...

/Markus

Markus Nord · October 5th, 2012, 12:55 PM

I just declicked my 35, pretty quick, if you are intertested how, do a quick search any you probably will find a YouTube clip. So, no won't get the cine lens, I make same cine gear on my own ( in my friends metal shop) to work with my D|Focus. Now I'll check my 14... Hope that one is as easy...

Edit:
Just finished the 14... Exact the same way as the 35. One small differens... The small pin that the "metallic brass" ring hock up on looks a little different. This one is the small peg in the hole attached to the spring.

Evan Bourcier · October 5th, 2012, 09:47 PM

I do have the non-cine 85 as well, I'm a pretty big fan. Sucks pretty hard for photo to be honest, but I love it for video. Just did my first shoot with the new 35L tonight, super big fan! Thinking I might get the 8mm cine to rock on the glide cam, but if I'm not pulling focus might as well get the non-cine.. I'd be down for a 50cine big time, can toss my 1.8 hah.

EDIT: Anyone know anything of a good cine 135?

Noa Put · October 6th, 2012, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Thinking I might get the 8mm cine to rock on the glide cam

That's almost fisheye on a crop camera and definitely on a full frame which will give you serious deformed images, probably ok if you do skater video's or for that one particular shot where you want to capture a very large building but for all other general steadicam work the 14mm is a better choice.

Markus Nord · October 6th, 2012, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noa Put

That's almost fisheye on a crop camera and definitely on a full frame which will give you serious deformed images, probably ok if you do skater video's or for that one particular shot where you want to capture a very large building but for all other general steadicam work the 14mm is a better choice.

The 8 is a fisheye and on an APS-C sensor it got almost 180 degree frame. On a FF it vinjett ALOT! And useless for video. If you would cut of the sun hood and crop the 1080 to 720, then you may get a frame without stuff in its way, but what's the point?
On FF the 14 is better... (But the 8 on a APS-C is wider).

Victor Nguyen · October 6th, 2012, 10:21 AM

why would you want to fly with a fish eye? I found that even at flying at 16mm, there's some distortion in the Tokina 11-16. Now I prefer to fly at 24mm.

@ Evan: cine 135? you can use manual 135. Zeiss is always good. I have a pentacon "bokeh monster" 135 f 2.8 and I'm extremely happy with it. There are also a bunch of good cheap 135 too.

September 30th, 2012, 11:28 AM	#1
Evan Bourcier Major Player Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Mashpee, MA Posts: 251	Canon L Glass vs Rokinon Cine Primes for Video Hey guys, looking at upgrading to some new primes that're full frame capable for when I upgrade to a 5dii soon, what's the consensus between the Canon L primes and the Rokinon Cine Primes? For half as much a 35mm t1.5 looks good with declicked aperture and lens gear, though the L would be nice for the photo side... Strictly speaking video, how do the lenses compare? Bokeh, Sharpness, etc... Thanks, Evan __________________ DSLR Photographer/Videographer from Massachusetts Portfolio at http://ebourcier.com

September 30th, 2012, 12:17 PM	#2
Simon Wood Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Entebbe Uganda Posts: 768	Re: Canon L Glass vs Rokinon Cine Primes for Video I'm looking at buying a set of these from B&H; the 14mm, 24mm & 35mm. I'll get the 50mm and 85mm cine versions when they are released. I have read good reviews of these over on some other forums. Seemingly they stack up very well against Canon L series lenses, and are in some cases sharper than Nikon lenses. The only issue seems to that there is a little more CA with these than with L series lenses (though it is negligible). There are a lot of positive reviews over on RedUser; seemingly they work well at 5K, so they should be up to the task for any HD work. See this article comparing them to Zeiss optics: Showdown: Rokinon Vs. Zeiss Matthew Duclos' Circle of Confusion __________________ http://vimeo.com/channels/guerrillafilms

September 30th, 2012, 10:21 PM	#3
Scott Stoneback Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 161	Re: Canon L Glass vs Rokinon Cine Primes for Video I say do it. I've got a 35mm 1.4 and it is a really good looking lens. No complaints on the video side of picture quality. Plus, the build quality is substantial... feels like a solid, sturdy lens. It is about the size of the 24-105 L lens.

September 30th, 2012, 11:43 PM	#4
Evan Bourcier Major Player Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Mashpee, MA Posts: 251	Re: Canon L Glass vs Rokinon Cine Primes for Video Quick update, after reading a number of reviews, I bought a Canon 35mm 1.4 L, but will probably also be buying at least one Rokinon Cine soon. I might rent the Cine 35mm t1.5 and do a comparison video.. Anyone try any specific Cine's from rokinon and have thoughts/comparisons to canon versions? __________________ DSLR Photographer/Videographer from Massachusetts Portfolio at http://ebourcier.com

October 1st, 2012, 07:19 AM	#5
Buba Kastorski Trustee Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,414	Re: Canon L Glass vs Rokinon Cine Primes for Video I've had 85mm (non cine) for a while and all i can say it is a very sharp lens and for less than $400 it is a literally no-brainer, my 24mm cine is on the way and i will be collecting the whole set as cine lenses will be released. __________________ I love this place!

October 2nd, 2012, 11:17 PM	#6
Victor Nguyen Major Player Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 289	Re: Canon L Glass vs Rokinon Cine Primes for Video I don't think they will be releasing a 50mm even though they really need to. Just so yall now, there are very little difference in the optic themselves when comparing the cine vs. non-cine. I have rokinon 35mm and 85mm non-cine and am loving it.

October 3rd, 2012, 01:11 AM	#7
Simon Wood Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Entebbe Uganda Posts: 768	Re: Canon L Glass vs Rokinon Cine Primes for Video On their Facebook page they said they are working on the 85mm and 50mm (85mm is coming first). __________________ http://vimeo.com/channels/guerrillafilms

October 3rd, 2012, 01:58 AM	#8
Markus Nord Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vastervik ,Sweden Posts: 639	Re: Canon L Glass vs Rokinon Cine Primes for Video That would be really nice with at 50 from Samyang... I'm using the 8 (on 7D), 14 and 35 (no cine, but will "upgrade") and I'll get the 24 and 85... /Markus __________________ www.nordproduktion.se https://vimeo.com/nordproduktion

October 5th, 2012, 12:55 PM	#9
Markus Nord Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vastervik ,Sweden Posts: 639	Re: Canon L Glass vs Rokinon Cine Primes for Video I just declicked my 35, pretty quick, if you are intertested how, do a quick search any you probably will find a YouTube clip. So, no won't get the cine lens, I make same cine gear on my own ( in my friends metal shop) to work with my D\|Focus. Now I'll check my 14... Hope that one is as easy... Edit: Just finished the 14... Exact the same way as the 35. One small differens... The small pin that the "metallic brass" ring hock up on looks a little different. This one is the small peg in the hole attached to the spring. __________________ www.nordproduktion.se https://vimeo.com/nordproduktion

October 5th, 2012, 09:47 PM	#10
Evan Bourcier Major Player Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Mashpee, MA Posts: 251	Re: Canon L Glass vs Rokinon Cine Primes for Video I do have the non-cine 85 as well, I'm a pretty big fan. Sucks pretty hard for photo to be honest, but I love it for video. Just did my first shoot with the new 35L tonight, super big fan! Thinking I might get the 8mm cine to rock on the glide cam, but if I'm not pulling focus might as well get the non-cine.. I'd be down for a 50cine big time, can toss my 1.8 hah. EDIT: Anyone know anything of a good cine 135? __________________ DSLR Photographer/Videographer from Massachusetts Portfolio at http://ebourcier.com

October 6th, 2012, 10:21 AM	#13
Victor Nguyen Major Player Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 289	Re: Canon L Glass vs Rokinon Cine Primes for Video why would you want to fly with a fish eye? I found that even at flying at 16mm, there's some distortion in the Tokina 11-16. Now I prefer to fly at 24mm. @ Evan: cine 135? you can use manual 135. Zeiss is always good. I have a pentacon "bokeh monster" 135 f 2.8 and I'm extremely happy with it. There are also a bunch of good cheap 135 too.