Hey guys! I recently got the KX and looking for new cine glass. I do not have a crazy budget but I am looking at dzo, nisi, meike or even leica r maybe in this range. Wanted feedback regarding what may be the best option for me. I know dzo is the go to on Youtube but I feel it has a similar look and feel to my already photo lens so would love to hear thoughts.
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Komodo X Best budget cine lens
- Thread starter shamz
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And are you buying a lens set, or a single lens? Can you tell us anything about what qualities you want in that lens?
Do you like a very "clean" look, or do you like "vintage" characteristics? Do you need it to be particularly fast, or would you choose a more compact lens over one that opens to t1.4? Is it for narrative filmmaking, interviews, verite-style documentary, etc.? Will this be a lens set you use for everything, or would you rent sets to match projects?
To my mind, the lens sets you list are pretty similar to each other, except that the Leica R has a more vintage quality (and obviously requires modification for use with a follow focus, if that's how you'll roll). You could consider the Dulens primes for an "in between" look (brings some pleasant vintage characteristics to a look otherwise similar to the other ones listed). The Tokina primes would be a step up in quality and price, as would the Sigma Cine Primes-- both sets very clean. Tokina zooms are actually a great option, too, and much more affordable. And if you're interested in Leica R, you should also take a look at cine-modded Contax, which are also wonderful and currently tend to sell a bit cheaper than the more fashionable Leicas.
Do you like a very "clean" look, or do you like "vintage" characteristics? Do you need it to be particularly fast, or would you choose a more compact lens over one that opens to t1.4? Is it for narrative filmmaking, interviews, verite-style documentary, etc.? Will this be a lens set you use for everything, or would you rent sets to match projects?
To my mind, the lens sets you list are pretty similar to each other, except that the Leica R has a more vintage quality (and obviously requires modification for use with a follow focus, if that's how you'll roll). You could consider the Dulens primes for an "in between" look (brings some pleasant vintage characteristics to a look otherwise similar to the other ones listed). The Tokina primes would be a step up in quality and price, as would the Sigma Cine Primes-- both sets very clean. Tokina zooms are actually a great option, too, and much more affordable. And if you're interested in Leica R, you should also take a look at cine-modded Contax, which are also wonderful and currently tend to sell a bit cheaper than the more fashionable Leicas.
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So Im thinking maybe a set but I may just opt for like a 12 or 14 ,35, 85. I do like a very clean look but I think for my work I want ore cinema look with character to it. The majority of work I do is commercial so beautiful imagery of destinations, people, places , experiences. I may want to lean into docu work also. The set or lens will be for everything tbh. Thank you for other suggestions will check em out.
Dustin Schmidt
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You may consider a set of the Laowa Ranger Super35 Zooms. There's some good commentary on them from @Phil Holland and others, but they appear to be a really good set of zooms that will do a lot for you at a relatively inexpensive price point.
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Dustin is pretty much on it.
If you want small and compact, the Laowa Ranger S35 Zooms are really good. I'd say next is the RF Mount version of the Fujinon MK Zooms, mainly because they are lightweight and have the macro mode, but lack PL Mount. Then it's the Pictors from DZO, which are the heavier option and you'll have to choose between those wide zooms.
Ironically these all became available in the opposite order when released/available.
Primes. Dulens, NiSI, DZO, etc. make very small solutions. There are native RF options now if that's your thing, like Zeiss Nano or Cooke SP3. If small isn't the biggest concern, Irix, Sigma, then up to larger Tokina glass and all that. I'll give the Zeiss CP.3s some love as they are lightweight.
It just really depends on how size sensitive you are, budget, and what type of look you're after.
If you want small and compact, the Laowa Ranger S35 Zooms are really good. I'd say next is the RF Mount version of the Fujinon MK Zooms, mainly because they are lightweight and have the macro mode, but lack PL Mount. Then it's the Pictors from DZO, which are the heavier option and you'll have to choose between those wide zooms.
Ironically these all became available in the opposite order when released/available.
Primes. Dulens, NiSI, DZO, etc. make very small solutions. There are native RF options now if that's your thing, like Zeiss Nano or Cooke SP3. If small isn't the biggest concern, Irix, Sigma, then up to larger Tokina glass and all that. I'll give the Zeiss CP.3s some love as they are lightweight.
It just really depends on how size sensitive you are, budget, and what type of look you're after.
TYLER STOOKSBURY
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Phil is pretty on point.
On a ultra ultra low budget, the Sirui Nightwalkers are some fun lenses. They have a lot of Chromatic Aberration from T1.2 to T2.2ish so you really will want to stop it down for a lot of situations, but they produce a really nice image for the money. I think they're a great set of lenses for students. I use them a lot for lightweight gimbal work.
On a ultra ultra low budget, the Sirui Nightwalkers are some fun lenses. They have a lot of Chromatic Aberration from T1.2 to T2.2ish so you really will want to stop it down for a lot of situations, but they produce a really nice image for the money. I think they're a great set of lenses for students. I use them a lot for lightweight gimbal work.
Matthew Duclos's lens blog just put up a post with some thoughts on a number of the "affordable" sets designed with mirrorless in mind, might be helpful:
thecinelens.com
Lens Guide: Compact Full Frame Cine Primes
What an exciting past couple of years we’ve had right? I mean regarding lenses. You got that? Okay good. Yes, even in the past year alone we have had some incredible new products come out tha…
thecinelens.com
Nick Gardner
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I recently got a set of the Mitakon Speedmaster s35 in RF mount. I have PL primes, but I found these intriguing. Totally great little set of ultra fast primes. The set has 20, 35, and 50, all T1. I wanted something a little longer, got their Speedmaster 90mm which is a 1.5. Realistically I wouldn't shoot anything complicated faster than a t2 so my AC doesn't stab me in my sleep, but for b-roll, and impressionistic stuff, T1 is pretty cool. Particularly the 20mm.
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