Tokina Vista-C 35mm T1.5 Cinema Sony E

Tokina Vista-C 35mm T1.5 Cinema (Sony E) – Fast T1.5 for shallow depth of field and large format

Tokina Vista-C 35mm T1.5 is part of the high-quality Vista-C series of cinema primes, designed for filmmakers seeking a combination of vintage-inspired aesthetics and modern optical performance. With its fast aperture of T1.5 and ability to create shallow depth of field, this lens is ideal for both film production and photography, where detail and image character are of utmost importance.

Distinct, vintage-inspired optics

Vista-C primes are carefully optically tuned to provide a refined vintage aesthetic, reflected in their ability to produce mild field distortion, natural gradation, and softer edges. This optics provides a smooth and pleasing bokeh that is perfect for emotional scenes where the focus must be on the subject. The contrast is slightly reduced, creating a softer image, and the lens reproduces expressive blue and red flare tones, giving your films a unique visual style. Additionally, the redesigned anti-reflective coatings reduce a green tint and provide a warmer overall rendering, making the images feel more inviting and natural.

Despite the cinematic character of the lens, the Vista-C design maintains high resolution in the center of the image, which is crucial to meet the demands of modern large image sensors in digital film. Thus, you get a classic, organic feel in the images without compromising detail level.

Large format and aperture features

Vista-C primes are constructed to cover full-frame and large format sensors, with an image circle exceeding 46.7 mm. This means they are compatible with "full-frame plus" cameras and also ARRI ALEXA 65 Open Gate, making them extremely versatile for various productions. The fast maximum aperture of T1.5 and the minimum aperture of T22 allow for work with shallow depth of field and precise exposure steps, giving filmmakers full control over the atmosphere and feel of the image.

Furthermore, the lenses exhibit virtually no focus change (focus breathing) in practice, allowing focus pulls to be made smoothly without distracting changes in the frame. This feature, combined with the fast T1.5 aperture, makes the series particularly suitable for shots that require careful control over depth of field, which is crucial for creating the desired feel in each scene.

Mechanics and handling

Mechanically, the Vista-C lenses are built in a robust, all-metal housing, ensuring durability and long-lasting performance even during demanding shoots. The series is available in several different mounts and uses a 0.8 MOD cine gear for focus and iris control. Each lens offers approximately 300° focus rotation for precise manual handling during focus pulls, making it easier to capture the perfect shots.

All lenses in the series share a consistent outer form factor, meaning they have a front diameter of 114 mm and consistent gear positions. This allows for quick and predictable lens changes when using matte boxes and FIZ systems. A 9-blade curved iris preserves soft, rounded out-of-focus points when stopping down the aperture, further enhancing the image quality.

Key features

• Fast maximum aperture: T1.5 with minimum aperture T22 in the series
• 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: with softer edges, reduced contrast, natural gradation, and subtle field distortion
• Warm red and blue flare tones: with redesigned coatings to minimize green dominance and enhance color reproduction
• Virtually nonexistent focus breathing: for smooth focus pulls without distractions

Frequently asked questions

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

What type of image sensors is the Tokina Vista-C 35mm T1.5 Cinema designed to cover?
The lens is designed to cover full-frame and large format sensors.

How much focus rotation does the lens offer for manual handling?
The lens offers approximately 300° of focus rotation for precise manual handling.

What material is the Tokina Vista-C 35mm T1.5 Cinema made of?
The lens is built with a robust, all-metal housing.