Tokina Vista-C 35mm T1.5 Cinema PL

Tokina Vista-C 35mm T1.5 Cinema PL – A fast T1.5 cine-prime with vintage aesthetics

Tokina Vista-C 35mm T1.5 Cinema PL is part of the Vista-C series of cine-primes, carefully designed for cinematographers seeking a unique and characterful image while maintaining modern reliability. This lens has been developed after extensive consultation with experienced cinematographers and rental companies, making it an excellent choice for both professional and aspiring filmmakers. With its advanced optics and coatings, the Vista-C 35mm offers a distinctive look and exceptional performance for today’s film productions.

Optical character and image rendering

Vista-C primes are optically tuned to provide a refined vintage aesthetic, making them ideal for filmmakers who want to convey a classic feel in their work. Expect mild field distortion and a natural light falloff, resulting in an organic and soft image. The lens features a 9-blade curved aperture that creates a pleasing bokeh and maintains rounded out-of-focus highlights, which is crucial for achieving the desired visual effect. Additionally, the contrast is intentionally slightly lower, producing expressive blue and red flare tones, perfect for dramatic scenes. The warmer overall character, with reduced green tones, makes this lens an excellent choice for modern large-format digital cine cameras.

Aperture, coverage, and performance

The fast maximum aperture of T1.5, along with T22 as the smallest aperture in the series, allows filmmakers to work with shallow depth of field and smooth focus pulls. Vista-C primes offer near-zero focus breathing, ensuring that the image framing remains unchanged during focus adjustments. The lens covers full-frame and large format sensors with an image circle exceeding 46.7 mm, making it suitable for sensors up to 65 mm, including ARRI ALEXA 65 Open Gate. With a focal length of 35 mm, this lens is an excellent part of a set that spans focal lengths from 18 mm to 135 mm.

Mechanical design and handling

Mechanically, the Vista-C lenses are constructed in a robust, all-metal housing, ensuring durability and long-term use. This 35mm PL model has several different mounts, including ARRI PL, and uses 0.8 MOD cine gear for focus and aperture control. With approximately 300° of focus movement, filmmakers can perform precise manual pulls. All lenses in the series share the same outer form factor, making handling predictable and efficient. The set has an outer front diameter of 114 mm and consistent gear positions, facilitating quick lens changes when using matte boxes and FIZ systems. These mechanical choices effectively support workflows for both feature films and commercial production.

Specifications

• Maximum aperture: T1.5
• Minimum aperture: T22
• Image circle: >46.7 mm
• Coverage: Full-frame and large format sensors up to 65 mm
• Focus movement: Approx. 300°
• Front diameter: 114 mm
• Mount: ARRI PL

Frequently asked questions

Does the product require phantom power?
No, the Tokina Vista-C 35mm T1.5 Cinema PL does not require phantom power to operate.

What type of aperture does the lens have?
The lens has a 9-blade curved aperture that creates a pleasing bokeh.

What sensors does the lens cover?
The lens covers full-frame and large format sensors with an image circle that exceeds 46.7 mm.

What is the mechanical design of the lens like?
The Vista-C lenses are constructed in a robust, all-metal housing for durability and long-lasting use.