Tokina Vista-C 35mm T1.5 Cinema Canon EF

Tokina Vista-C 35mm T1.5 Cinema Canon EF – Fast T1.5 and coverage for large-format

The Tokina Vista-C 35mm T1.5 Cinema lens for Canon EF is designed for filmmakers seeking high quality and professional performance. This lens is part of the Vista-C prime series and is perfect for those who want to create a characterful and cinematic image. With its fast T1.5 aperture and large sensor coverage, this lens can deliver fantastic results in various recording environments.

Optical character and image rendering

The Vista-C primes are carefully optically adjusted to achieve a refined vintage aesthetic. They offer mild field distortion, natural falloff, and softer edges, resulting in a smooth and pleasing bokeh. The contrast is slightly lowered to give the images a more organic feel. The lenses also create expressive blue and red flare tones, providing a warmer rendering while minimizing green color casts compared to previous Vista designs. Additionally, the lenses have high central resolution, making them suitable for modern large-format digital cine cameras.

Coverage, aperture, and focus behavior

The Vista-C series is designed to cover full-frame and large-format sensors with an image circle exceeding 46.7 mm. This means they can be used with “full-frame plus” cameras and also ARRI ALEXA 65 Open Gate sensors. The lenses offer a fast T1.5 maximum aperture and T22 as the minimum aperture, making them highly versatile. An important feature is that they exhibit virtually no focus breathing, allowing for work with shallow depth of field and smooth focus pulls without disturbing changes in the image angle.

Mechanical design and consistency

The Vista-C lenses are constructed with a robust, all-metal housing and are available in several different mounts, including Canon EF. The series has a consistent outer form factor, making lens changes quick and predictable on set. All lenses have the same front outer diameter and common gear positions, facilitating use with matte boxes and FIZ systems. The 9-blade curved iris provides soft and rounded highlights when the aperture is stopped down.

Key features

• Fast T1.5: maximum aperture with T22 as the minimum aperture across the series
• Coverage: full-frame and large-format with image circle >46.7 mm, suitable for sensors up to 65 mm and ALEXA 65 Open Gate
• Vintage-inspired rendering: softer edges, reduced contrast, natural falloff, and subtle field distortion
• Flare tones: warm red and blue tones with redesigned coatings to minimize green bias and enhance color reproduction
• Focus breathing: nearly nonexistent and high central resolution for modern cine production
• Mount: ARRI PL mount with 0.8 MOD focus/iris gears and approximately 300° focus travel
• Outer diameter: common 114 mm front and consistent gear positions for quick lens changes
• Bokeh: 9-blade curved iris for soft, round bokeh

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum aperture on the Tokina Vista-C 35mm T1.5 Cinema lens?
The maximum aperture is T1.5.

What type of sensors does this lens cover?
The lens covers full-frame and large-format sensors with an image circle exceeding 46.7 mm.

How does the lens affect focus breathing?
The lens exhibits virtually no focus breathing, allowing for smooth focus pulls without distracting changes in the angle of view.

What type of housing does the Tokina Vista-C 35mm T1.5 Cinema lens have?
The lens is constructed with a sturdy, all-metal housing.