The Tokina Cinema Vista lenses have gained a lot of traction in the industry over the last few years.
They are a very comprehensive range of fast primes that cover a 46.7mm image circle that allows them to be used on full frame and larger sensors. Tokina’s latest addition to the range is the 180mm T1.9 which now joins the 18, 21, 25, 29, 35, 40, 50, 65, 85, 105, and 135mm to form a 12 lens set.
The 180mm T1.9 is an impressive feat of optical engineering. The closest lenses to this new offering would be the ARRI Signature Prime 200mm T2.5, Leitz Cine Prime 180mm T2, and Cooke S7/i Full Frame Plus 180mm T2.0.
Key Features
- Covers Full-Frame Sensor Size
- 7mm Image Circle, T1.9 Aperture
- Suitable for 8K Image Capture
- Clickless 9-Blade Iris
- Virtually No Lens Breathing
- Weighs 7.2 lb
The 180mm T1.9 Vista Prime lens was specially developed at the request of cinematographers and rental houses. The 180mm T1.9 shares the same characteristics as the other Vista primes. Tokina Cinema claims that distortion and chromatic aberration are virtually undetectable and that the lens has practically no focus breathing and exhibits a gentle roll-off from subject to background.
The biggest selling point for the Tokina Cinema Vista series is that not only do they come in a fast array of focal lengths, but that they are all T1.5 apart from the 180mm. The lenses are also color-matched for consistency across the range.
Optical Design
Tokina 180mm T1 9 Cinema Vista 36
The lens features two aspherical elements and it has 9 aperture blades. The optical design consists of 17 elements in 14 groups. Making a lens that is 180mm, with a T1.9 aperture, and minimal focus breathing, that covers an image circle of φ46.7mm is quite an engineering feat.
The lens has a minimum focus distance of 4ft 11” / 149.86 cm, with a maximum magnification ratio of 1:7.91. As a comparison, the Leitz Cine Prime 180mm T2 has a minimum focusing distance of 4ft 9″ / 144.78 cm, and the Cooke S7/i Full Frame Plus 180mm T2.0 has a minimum focusing distance of 41″ / 104.1 cm (from front of lens).
Images are fully resolved at 8K+ resolution and the lens covers both Vistavision and Super35 formats. The 180mm T1.9 would work well on modern large sensor cameras like the RED V-Raptor, ARRI Alexa Mini LF, Canon C500 mkII, Sony Venice 2 and FX9.
Size & Weight
Tokina 180mm T1 9 Cinema Vista 33
It comes as no surprise that size-wise it is larger and heavier than the other Vista series lenses. The 185mm T1.9 is 19.5cm / 7.67″ long and weighs 7.19 lbs / 3.26kg (in PL mount).
Weight
- Tokina Cinema Vista 185mm T1.9 7.19 lbs / 3.26kg
- Leitz Cine Prime 180mm T2 83 lb / 3.1 kg
- Cooke S7/i Full Frame Plus 180mm T2.0 9 lb / 3.6 kg
As a comparison, above you can see what other competing lenses weigh. The Tokina Cinema Vista is a little bit heavier than the Leitz Cine, but lighter than the Cooke.
Length
- Tokina Cinema Vista 185mm T1.9 19.5cm / 7.67″
- Leitz Cine Prime 180mm T2 1 cm / 7.93″
- Cooke S7/i Full Frame Plus 180mm T2.0 9cm / 7.8″
Available Mounts
Tokina 180mm T1 9 Cinema Vista 29
The lens is available in PL, Canon EF, M4/3, Sony E Mount, as well as ARRI LPL.
