Tokina Vista-P 29mm T1.5 Cinema Sony E

Tokina Vista-P 29mm T1.5 Cinema Sony E – Vintage style with swirling bokeh and high performance

The Tokina Vista-P 29mm T1.5 Cinema lens is an excellent solution for filmmakers seeking a vintage-inspired aesthetic with modern optical performance. Designed for Sony E-mount cinema cameras, this lens offers a lower contrast look, providing a characterful image that truly stands out. With a unique optical design that increases the distance between lens elements, it creates an expressive image with strong spherical distortion and a distinctive, swirling bokeh, perfect for creative film projects.

Optical character and performance

The Vista-P design focuses on a maximum aperture of T1.5, allowing for stunning images even in low light. With a 9-blade curved iris, the lens produces a soft and round bokeh, providing a shallow depth of field that is ideal for dramatic scenes. The optical construction is specifically tuned to provide increased spherical distortion, creating a unique and stylized background while maintaining high resolution in the center of the image. Chromatic aberration is kept to a low level, resulting in detail richness that is critical for modern high-resolution sensors. Vista-P lenses are designed to work optimally with large-format cameras and can capture up to 8K resolution thanks to a large 46.7 mm image circle that covers full-frame, VistaVision, and digital 65 mm sensors.

Focus behavior and aperture control

The lens's focus behavior is optimized to minimize focus breathing, meaning that the change in framing during focus pulls is subtle and natural. With approximately 300° of focus movement, it provides cinematographers with precise control and repeatable focus pulls. The lens is equipped with cine-standard 0.8 MOD gears for both focus and iris, making it easy to use with matte boxes and FIZ systems. The fast T1.5 aperture offers great flexibility in low light and gives filmmakers creative control over depth of field. The minimum aperture is T22, providing maximum control over depth and exposure.

Mechanics, mount, and series consistency

Mechanically, the Vista-P 29mm features a robust all-metal housing, providing both durability and reliability during film production. The series maintains a consistent front diameter of 114 mm and a 112 mm front filter thread across the entire focal range, making it easy to use uniformly with various filters. Gear positions are matched across the series, facilitating quick lens changes. Mount options for the Vista-P line include PL, EF, MFT, E, and LPL, with the 29mm model specifically available in Sony E mount. For productions already using Vista Primes, there is the option to choose new Vista-P lenses or a one-way modification of existing Vista Primes, providing additional creative options within the same lens ecosystem.

Key features

• Vintage style: Lower contrast rendering with strong spherical distortion and swirling Petzval-like bokeh.
• Fast aperture: T1.5 maximum aperture and T22 as the minimum aperture, with a 9-blade curved iris for soft and round bokeh.
• Large-format coverage: 46.7 mm image circle, suitable for full-frame, VistaVision, and 65 mm digital sensors.
• High resolution: Preserves high image quality in the center and minimizes chromatic aberration.

Frequently asked questions

Does the product require phantom power?
No, the lens does not require phantom power.

What is the maximum aperture for this lens?
The maximum aperture is T1.5.

What type of image circle does the lens cover?
The lens has a large image circle of 46.7 mm that covers full-frame, VistaVision, and digital 65 mm sensors.

What material is the lens housing made of?
The lens has a sturdy housing made of full metal.