Irix has just announced the final details of its first cine lens including spec and price. The super-affordable Irix Cine 150mm T3.0 Macro 1:1 covers large sensors and can be used on the 8K shooting mode. What about image quality? Read below.
Irix lenses
Irix is pretty new in the glass world, as their first lens was released just in 2016. The company started by developing robust and reliable lenses for photographers, at reasonable prices. Irix defined itself as: “Swiss precision and Korean innovation create patented solutions with the finest optical performance and usability.” Irix’s lenses are produced in South Korea, resulting from the cooperation of Korean engineers, photographers, and designers from Europe. The owner of the Irix brand is TH Swiss, based in Switzerland. According to Irix, the goal is to provide gear to a broader group of enthusiastic photographers looking to develop their talents further. That statement can explain the affordable prices of the company’s glass.
Swiss precision and Korean innovation create patented solutions with the finest optical performance and usability
Irix
Cine 150mm T3.0 Macro 1:1: The first Irix’s Cine lens
The Cine 150mm T3.0 Macro 1:1 is the very beginning of Irix Cine lenses lineup, which means there will be more focal length to choose from in the future.
Irix 150mm T3.0 Macro 1:1 is a full-frame (43.3 image circle), 8K ready lens with T value 3,0 to 32. The lens is available in four mounts (Canon EF, Sony E, Olympus/Panasonic MFT, and PL mount). I assume that this lens is a rehoused still version of the 150mm f/2.8 ($670) which is one of the winners of 2019 iF design award (together with ARRI Signature Primes).
Technical specifications: 8K and weather-sealed
The lens is 8K ready, built on 12 optical elements construction, internal focusing and equipped with an 11 blade aperture.
The Irix Cine 150mm T3.0 Macro 1:1 lens is weather-sealed (equipped with five rubber rings, PL mount four rings) and lightweight. The construction is made of durable magnesium alloy, which provides endurance but weights only 1105g (Canon EF version). The built makes the lens well-balanced in use with mid-size camcorders as well as DSLR/mirrorless cameras. Engraved letters are filled with UV reactive paint for better readability in low light conditions.
Explore the schemes below which describe the tech spec and details of the Cine 150mm T3.0 Macro 1:1. Click on the images for a full-screen view.
The Irix Cine 150mm T3.0 Macro 1:1 lens is weather-sealed (equipped with five rubber rings, PL mount four rings) and lightweight
Irix
Cine lens as a rehoused still lens
Generally speaking, most budget-friendly (sub-$2500/lens) cinema lenses are more about physical appearance and cinema functionality than image quality. They can function as a pure cinema glass in the field, and they will look professional too (an effective way to impress your clients). However, regarding image quality, they will look just like their still version. Xeen lenses are a useful reference for this. The structure and design are dedicated for cinema applications, but the cinematographic imagery is not there yet.
The structure and design are dedicated for cinema applications, but the cinematographic imagery is not there yet.
Is that the case with the Cine 150mm T3.0 Macro 1:1? Check out the video below shot on the Irix Cine, and judge for yourself. In my personal opinion (based only on Irix’s YouTube video) the image doesn’t look right. I mean, it looks sharp, but not cinematic. It reminds me of the video-ish look and not the cinematographic standards that filmmakers are seeking for. Of course, it can be as a result of many factors other than the lens (shooting and exported codecs, grading, and more). Nevertheless, this video doesn’t do well with the new Cine Large Format lens.
Prices
The suggested retail prices of the Irix150mm T3.0 Macro 1:1 are as follows: CanonEF mount $1,195, Sony E mount $1,195, Olympus/Panasonic MFT mount $1,195 and Arri PL mount for $1,295
Final thoughts
First, this is an excellent initiative by Irix. Manufacturing robust and industrial products with a competitive price point is a blessed step for the filmmaking community. Furthermore, let’s not forget that the Cine 150mm T3.0 Macro 1:1 is their baptism of fire in the cinematography world. I suggest them to produce another video that can persuade filmmakers to choose their glass over other large-format overpriced solutions.
Have you watched the video which demonstrates the new Irix Cine 150mm T3.0 Macro 1:1? Would you call it a true cine lens? Comment below.
