Tokina Vista-P 85mm T1.5 Cinema PL

Tokina Vista-P 85mm T1.5 Cinema PL – Vintage-style lower-contrast rendering with swirly Petzval bokeh

The Tokina Vista-P 85mm T1.5 Cinema PL is a large-format prime crafted for filmmakers who seek a vintage-inspired, lower-contrast image while keeping modern optical precision. Based on the original Vista Prime series, the Vista-P optical design increases spacing between elements to create a more expressive image with strong spherical distortion and characteristic swirly, Petzval-type bokeh.

Optical characteristics and image rendering

The 85mm Vista-P features a fast T1.5 maximum aperture and a 9-blade curved iris, which together produce smooth, rounded bokeh and enable shallow depth of field. The design intentionally reduces contrast and emphasizes a crisp central sharpness with more stylized rendering toward the edges, giving a classic, characterful look that still performs on modern large-format cinema cameras.

Optically, Vista-P is tuned to increase spherical distortion and swirly background rendering while retaining high resolution and controlled chromatic aberration. In addition, focus breathing is kept to a minimum so that reframing during pulls remains subtle and predictable. The fast T1.5 aperture also provides flexibility for low-light work and shallow-focus creative choices.

Mechanical design and compatibility

Mechanically, the 85mm Vista-P uses a robust all-metal cine housing with industry-standard cine gears. It features 0.8 MOD focus and iris gears and offers approximately 300° of focus rotation for precise, repeatable focus pulls. The lens maintains a consistent front diameter across the Vista-P series—114 mm—with a 112 mm front filter thread, and gear positions are matched across focal lengths to speed up lens changes when using matte boxes and FIZ systems.

Mount flexibility is part of the design. The Vista-P series, including this 85mm T1.5, is available with multiple mount options: PL, EF, MFT, E and LPL. This gives compatibility across a wide range of cinema cameras and rental packages.

Availability and workflow options

Tokina offers the Vista-P series both as new lenses and as a one-way modification to existing Vista Primes. This option gives productions that already use the Vista ecosystem an additional creative choice without replacing their entire lens set. With a large 46.7 mm image circle, Vista-P primes cover full-frame, VistaVision and digital 65 mm sensors, making them suitable for high-resolution capture up to 8K.

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

Technical specifications

Who this lens suits

The Tokina Vista-P 85mm T1.5 PL suits narrative filmmakers, music video creators and commercial productions that want a stylized, swirling bokeh look combined with modern cine mechanics. It also fits productions that need large-format coverage for high-resolution capture and crews that value matched gear positions for fast lens changes and consistent matte box or FIZ setups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Which sensors and resolutions does the Vista-P 85mm cover?
Answer: The lens features a 46.7 mm image circle and covers full-frame, VistaVision and digital 65 mm sensors, making it suitable for high-resolution capture up to 8K.

Question: What mount and mechanical options are available for this lens?
Answer: The Vista-P 85mm is available in multiple mounts—PL, EF, MFT, E and LPL—and uses all-metal cine housing with 0.8 MOD gears, approximately 300° focus rotation, a matched 114 mm front diameter and a 112 mm filter thread to simplify integration with matte boxes and FIZ systems.

Question: How does the Vista-P rendering differ from standard primes?
Answer: Vista-P primes intentionally deliver lower contrast, increased spherical distortion and a swirly, Petzval-type bokeh while maintaining high center resolution and controlled chromatic aberration, offering a vintage-inspired look that still performs on modern large-format cameras.

Question: Can existing Vista Primes be converted to Vista-P specification?
Answer: Yes. Vista-P lenses are available as new lenses and as a one-way modification to existing Vista Primes, providing a creative upgrade path for productions already using the Vista ecosystem.