Tokina Vista-P 85mm T1.5 Cinema PL

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

Tokina Vista-P 85mm T1.5 Cinema PL is a meticulously crafted prime lens for filmmakers seeking to capture a vintage-inspired image with lower contrast while maintaining modern optical precision. This lens is perfect for those who want a unique visual style in their films. Based on the proven Vista Prime series, the optical design of Vista-P has been adjusted to increase the distance between lens elements, resulting in a more dynamic and expressive image with strong spherical distortion and the characteristic swirling bokeh typical of Petzval lenses.

Optical properties and image reproduction

With a fast maximum aperture of T1.5 and a 9-blade curved iris, the 85mm Vista-P offers a soft and round bokeh, allowing for shallow depth of field. The lens design intentionally aims to reduce contrast, resulting in sharp central focus with a more stylized image reproduction towards the edges. This gives a classic and characterful appearance that still performs on modern large-format cine cameras. Optically, the Vista-P is calibrated to maximize spherical distortion and the swirling background rendering while maintaining high resolution and controlled chromatic aberration. Additionally, focus breathing is minimal, keeping focus pulls subtle and predictable. The fast T1.5 aperture also provides flexibility for working in low light and opportunities for creative choices with shallow focus.

Mechanical design and compatibility

With its robust all-metal construction and industry-standard cine gear, the 85mm Vista-P is mechanically designed to withstand the demands of professional film productions. It features a 0.8 MOD focus and iris gear and offers a focus movement of approximately 300°, allowing for precise and repeatable focus pulls. The lens has a consistent front diameter of 114 mm across the Vista-P series, with a 112 mm front filter thread, simplifying the use of matte boxes and FIZ systems. Gear positions are matched across different focal lengths to facilitate quick lens changes.

Mount flexibility is a central part of the design. The Vista-P series, including the 85mm T1.5, is available with several different mounts: PL, EF, MFT, E, and LPL. This provides broad compatibility across a wide range of cine cameras and rental packages, making it a versatile choice for filmmakers.

Availability and workflow options

Tokina offers the Vista-P series both as new lenses and as a one-time conversion of existing Vista Primes. This option provides productions already using the Vista ecosystem with additional creative possibilities without needing to replace the entire lens set. With a large image circle of 46.7 mm, the Vista-P primes cover full-frame, VistaVision, and digital 65 mm sensors, making them suitable for high-resolution recording up to 8K.

Key features

• Vintage style: Low contrast rendering with strong spherical distortion and swirling Petzval-type bokeh.
• Aperture: Fast maximum aperture T1.5, with T22 as the smallest, and 9-blade curved iris for soft, round bokeh.
• Coverage: Large-format with an image circle of 46.7 mm, suitable for full-frame, VistaVision, and 65 mm digital sensors.
• Optical performance: High resolution in the image center with controlled chromatic aberration.

Frequently asked questions

What type of bokeh does the Tokina Vista-P 85mm T1.5 Cinema PL offer?
The lens offers a vintage-inspired bokeh with low contrast and a swirling Petzval bokeh.

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

How are the focus movements on the Tokina Vista-P 85mm T1.5 Cinema PL?
The focus movements have a focus travel of approximately 300°, allowing for precise and repeatable focus pulls.

What mounts are available for this lens?
The Vista-P series, including the 85mm T1.5, is available with several different mounts: PL, EF, MFT, E, and LPL.