Tokina Vista-P 105mm T1.5 Cinema PL

Tokina Vista-P 105mm T1.5 Cinema PL – Fast T1.5 vintage-style bokeh for large-format cinema

The Tokina Vista-P 105mm T1.5 Cinema PL is a large-format cine prime that combines vintage-inspired rendering with modern cinema mechanics. It delivers a lower-contrast, characterful image with strong spherical distortion and a distinctive swirly, Petzval-type bokeh while maintaining optical precision suitable for high-resolution capture.

Optical character and image rendering

Vista-P lenses are based on the original Vista Prime series but use an updated optical design. This redesign increases spacing between elements to create a more expressive image. As a result, you get reduced contrast, crisp central sharpness and more stylized rendering toward the edges.

Optically, the 105mm T1.5 is tuned to emphasize spherical distortion and swirly background rendering while controlling chromatic aberration. In practice, this means you can achieve a vintage-looking image with modern clarity, making it suitable for productions that want a specific, creative aesthetic without sacrificing resolution.

Aperture, bokeh and low-light performance

The lens features a fast T1.5 maximum aperture and a T22 minimum. A 9-blade curved iris produces smooth, rounded bokeh. Because of the fast T1.5 speed, you can work with shallow depth of field and retain flexibility in low-light situations.

Focus behavior and cinematography controls

Focus breathing is kept to a minimum, so reframing during focus pulls looks subtle and predictable. The lens provides approximately 300° of focus rotation, which allows for precise and repeatable focus pulls. Additionally, the lens uses 0.8 MOD cine gears for both focus and iris, facilitating easy integration with follow focus systems and motorized controls.

Mechanical design and handling

Mechanically, Vista-P lenses feature a robust all-metal cine housing. The series maintains matched gear positions across focal lengths, a consistent 114 mm front diameter, and a 112 mm front filter thread. These matched dimensions speed up lens changes when using matte boxes, filters and FIZ systems.

Large-format coverage and resolution

The 105mm provides a large 46.7 mm image circle that covers full-frame, VistaVision and digital 65 mm sensors. This coverage makes the lens suitable for high-resolution capture up to 8K, allowing it to integrate into large-format cinema workflows without compromising image quality in the center.

Mounts, availability and modification options

Mount options for the Vista-P series include PL, EF, MFT, E and LPL, giving flexibility across a wide range of cinema and mirrorless cameras. The Vista-P series is available both as new lenses and as a one-way modification to existing Vista Primes, providing an additional creative option for productions that already rely on the Vista ecosystem.

Key features

• Vintage-style, lower-contrast rendering with strong spherical distortion and swirly Petzval-type bokeh
• Fast T1.5 maximum aperture with T22 minimum, 9-blade curved iris and smooth, rounded bokeh
• Large-format coverage with a 46.7 mm image circle, suitable for full-frame, VistaVision and 65 mm digital sensors
• High resolution in the image center with controlled chromatic aberration and a more characterful look toward the edges
• Near-zero focus breathing and approximately 300° focus rotation for precise, repeatable focus pulls
• 0.8 MOD cine gears, all-metal housing, and matched 114 mm front diameter / 112 mm filter thread across the series
• Multiple mount options including PL, EF, MFT, E and LPL for broad camera compatibility

Typical use cases

With their expressive vintage character, fast T1.5 speed and modern cine mechanics, Tokina Vista-P primes fit narrative work, music videos, commercials and any production seeking a stylized, swirling bokeh look while staying within a robust large-format cine workflow.

FAQ

Question: Will the Tokina Vista-P 105mm cover my full-frame or large-format sensor?
Answer: Yes. The lens has a 46.7 mm image circle and is specified to cover full-frame, VistaVision and digital 65 mm sensors, making it suitable for large-format capture up to 8K.

Question: What kind of image look can I expect from this lens?
Answer: Expect a vintage-inspired, lower-contrast rendering with strong spherical distortion and a swirling, Petzval-type bokeh. The center remains crisp while the edges deliver more stylized character.

Question: How does the lens perform for focus pulls and on-set workflows?
Answer: The lens minimizes focus breathing and offers approximately 300° of focus rotation for precise, repeatable pulls. It also uses 0.8 MOD cine gears and a matched front diameter and gear positions across the series to speed up lens swaps with matte boxes and FIZ systems.

Question: Can I convert existing Vista Primes to Vista-P optics?
Answer: Yes. The Vista-P series is available both as new lenses and as a one-way modification to existing Vista Primes, allowing productions already invested in the Vista ecosystem to access the Vista-P look.

If you need specific mount information or have questions about rental or compatibility with a particular camera model, contact us and we will help source the right configuration for your workflow.