NAB 2019 is coming, and everybody jumps on the wagon of cinema lenses. Meet the new players in town: Tokina Cinema Vista One T1.5 Primes, and the Canon Sumire Primes. Explore below!

As NAB is getting closer, two new special cinema lenses were introduced this week. The first are limited edition metallic designed lenses, and the other is from Canon which grants filmmakers unique and soft vintage look. 

Tokina Cinema Vista One T1.5 Primes- limited edition

The first and the most beautiful that has a unique design (grey color painted lens barrel with blue accents) is the Tokina Cinema Vista One T1.5 Primes lenses.

High resolution single coated modern optics featuring free form design for visual acuity matching the human eye. Fast T1.5 lenses with sensor coverage well beyond the full frame. Keep your subject right where you left it with our virtually zero breathing optical design

The lens features a single coated front aspheric element, 1.5 T-stop, zero breathing, 300 degrees focus rotation, and all metal housing. The series consist of 6 focal lengths: 18, 25, 35, 50, 85, 105. As stated by Tokina: “High resolution single coated modern optics featuring free form design for visual acuity matching the human eye. Fast T1.5 lenses with sensor coverage well beyond the full frame. Keep your subject right where you left it with our virtually zero breathing optical design”.

Price and availability

No info on that. Just keep in mind that these are limited edition.

Canon Sumire Prime

We all know the Canon CN-E cinema prime lenses that are characterized by their polished and sharp look. Canon wanted to add more cinema lenses to filmmakers’ arsenal that offers something else, much different soft and vintage look. There is a logic behind that. As resolution becomes higher, and thus elevation in sharpness, filmmakers are desired to bring back the classic look by using a special glass.

This hypothesis led to the born of the Sumire Prime Series, which is a range of seven fast T-stop cinema prime lenses, all with an interchangeable PL mount, which can be modified to an EF mount.

The new lenses are:

• CN-E 14mm T3.1 FP X
• CN-E 20mm T1.5 FP X
• CN-E 24mm T1.5 FP X
• CN-E 35mm T1.5 FP X
• CN-E 50mm T1.3 FP X
• CN-E 85mm T1.3 FP X
• CN-E 135mm T2.2 FP X

Designed for the “cinematic look”

According to Canon, the Sumire primes were designed especially for a soft cinematic look and warmer color tones. As stated by Canon: “A unique optical design offers a nuanced look at the lens’ wider aperture settings, subtly modifying textural renderings for pleasing bokeh with superb expressiveness”.

We are not going to write here about the tech spec of the Sumire Primes but to focus more on the added value of those cinema lenses.

A unique optical design offers a nuanced look at the lens

Take a look at the video below which demonstrates some of the uniqueness of the Sumire Primes.

The video shows clearly the deference in micro-contrast between the Sumire and the CN-E primes. The Sumire are softer and the look is foggier. As we’re getting low with the T-stop, we can notice a significant reduction regarding sharpness in the Sumire series.

If you have not convinced yet about the uniqueness of the Sumire, feel free to check out Canon’s demonstration video:

The Sumire Cinema Primes is an excellent example for a lens project that has been created out of the comfort zone of a company, in a goal to achieve the desired look for filmmakers who seek something else.

Price

The Canon Sumire Primes are not cheap. They will cost $7,410 per lens, which is double the cost of the CN-E Primes.

Final thoughts

So there you go. Two beautiful and unique series of lenses. The Tokina Cinema Vista and the Canon Sumire Primes that are dedicated to filmmakers who pursuit after the cinematic look in the era of ultra high resolution.

Would you use those primes? Let’s know your insights in the comments section below.