Tokina Vista-P 18mm T1.5 Cinema Sony E

Tokina Vista-P 18mm T1.5 Cinema (Sony E) – Vintage-inspired lens with unique bokeh and lower contrast

Discover the Tokina Vista-P 18mm T1.5 Cinema lens, a professional prime lens designed for filmmakers seeking a vintage-inspired aesthetic with modern optical characteristics. This lens is specifically tailored for Sony E-mount and offers a fantastic combination of lower contrast and a distinct Petzval-like bokeh, making it an excellent choice for both film and photography projects.

Optical Character and Performance

The Vista-P series is the result of an advanced optical design that increases the distance between lens elements, creating a more expressive image reproduction. The 18mm T1.5 lens creates strong spherical distortion and a swirling background bokeh while maintaining high resolution in the center of the image. With its design, chromatic aberration is effectively controlled, preserving sharpness in the critical part of the image. This allows filmmakers to capture details with high precision.

The reduced contrast gives the lenses a vintage character, which is perfect for those who desire a softer, more cinematic look. The lens is also designed to have minimal focus breathing, making re-compositions and focus pulls both subtle and easy to repeat. With a fast maximum aperture of T1.5, you can work efficiently in low light and create a shallow depth of field, while T22, the smallest aperture, allows for greater depth of field when needed.

Mechanical Design and Cine Features

The Tokina Vista-P lenses are built with robust metal housings, providing the durability necessary for film production. They are equipped with industry-standard cine gears, including 0.8 MOD focus and iris gears, as well as a focus rotation of approximately 300°. This allows filmmakers to perform precise and repeatable focus pulls. Additionally, the series has consistent gear positions across different focal lengths, facilitating quick lens changes when using matte boxes and FIZ systems.

Each Vista-P prime has a uniform front diameter of 114 mm and a front filter thread of 112 mm. These matching dimensions make it easier to swap accessories on set and ensure that production runs smoothly.

Large Format Coverage and Resolution

The Vista-P lenses are designed to handle large format recording and have an image circle of 46.7 mm, making them suitable for full-frame, VistaVision, and digital 65 mm sensors. This coverage makes the lenses ideal for high-resolution workflows up to 8K, while preserving the stylized rendering the series is known for.

Mounts and Compatibility

The Vista-P series is available in several different mount options, including PL, EF, MFT, E, and LPL. This specific lens is compatible with Sony E-mount cameras, providing filmmakers the flexibility to use it with various camera systems and rental packages. This broad support for mounts makes it easier for producers to adapt to their needs.

Main Features

• Vintage-style, lower contrast rendering with strong spherical distortion and swirling Petzval-like bokeh
• Fast T1.5 maximum aperture with T22 minimum, 9-blade rounded iris, and soft, rounded bokeh
• Large format coverage with an image circle of 46.7 mm, suitable for up to 8K recording
• Robust metal housing and standardized cine gears for professional use
• Precise, repeatable focus pulls with 300° focus rotation
• Uniform front diameter of 114 mm and front filter thread of 112 mm for easy accessory swapping

Frequently asked questions

What type of lens is the Tokina Vista-P 18mm T1.5 Cinema?
It is a vintage-inspired prime lens for Sony E-mount, designed for filmmakers seeking unique bokeh effects.

What aperture does the Tokina Vista-P 18mm T1.5 Cinema have?
The lens has a fast maximum aperture of T1.5 and a minimum aperture of T22.

What is the optical character of the Tokina Vista-P 18mm T1.5 Cinema?
The lens has lower contrast, strong spherical distortion, and a distinct Petzval-like bokeh, providing a softer, more cinematic look.

How is the mechanical design of the Tokina Vista-P 18mm T1.5 Cinema?
The lens is built with a robust metal housing and features industry-standard cine gears, including 0.8 MOD focus and iris gears, as well as a focus rotation of approximately 300°.