Lens Question - Purchase Rokinon Set vs. Renting Canon Cines

[Clayton Taylor]

Title pretty much says it all. Discovered/learning about Rokinon Cine primes tonight on the board. They're stupid cheap and seem to be fair lenses from what I can see on reviews (at least relative to the price you pay).

I will be shooting two shorts in the spring on the Scarlet-X. I currently own a Canon 24-70mm F/2.8 "L" (first series) and a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4. If you were in my position would you:

A) Purchase the Rokinon Primes - 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and use my 24-70 for wider shots at $1,300.00

B) Rent a Canon Cine Prime set at $765 for 3 days, x's two shoots ($1,530)

Would love feedback and reasons why! The shorts will be for the festival circuit and/or to try to sell the concept.

 

[Owen Rennie]

I wouldn't purchase the Rokinon 35, 50 or 85 if you already have the Canon glass... Maybe you could sell the 24-70 and 50 1.4 and buy the 24-70mm II? I personally hate renting and way prefer to own my own gear... also renting doesn't suit my work

 

[shatek king]

Buy them..

Title pretty much says it all. Discovered/learning about Rokinon Cine primes tonight on the board. They're stupid cheap and seem to be fair lenses from what I can see on reviews (at least relative to the price you pay).

I will be shooting two shorts in the spring on the Scarlet-X. I currently own a Canon 24-70mm F/2.8 "L" (first series) and a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4. If you were in my position would you:

A) Purchase the Rokinon Primes - 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and use my 24-70 for wider shots at $1,300.00

B) Rent a Canon Cine Prime set at $765 for 3 days, x's two shoots ($1,530)

Would love feedback and reasons why! The shorts will be for the festival circuit and/or to try to sell the concept.

 

[Jeffery Anderson]

really matters what type of work you're doing.

1. Rokinon are not Cinema Lenses, they are gear'd lenses w/de-click'd aperture, but they don't have accurate marks, so you're not going to be able to pull by the #'s
2. Canon's Cinema Lenses do have accurate focus marks and they are parafocal, their still equivalents are not parafocal(...talking to you 24-70mm!).
3. I would hire a DP/Crew and possible work under a real DP -- you'll learn a lot about shooting in general and shooting on a Red. if that's not possible do a lot of tests in pre-production.

 

[Anthony Berenato Jr]

I never had the income to afford a set of expensive glass, but I did invest in the Rokinon primes when I purchased my Scarlet-X because so many reviewers truly believed the value was incredible. Having used them on multiple projects now... they're honestly a solid set of tools for the price-point, and believe me - I placed my order for the 50mm the second it was announced.

I understand that the lenses are really just cinema-housed still lenses, but I feel this is kind of a moot point with so many advocates of inexpensive still glass. (I still swear by some of my old, warm Nikkor glass on the side.) If it looks good and you can stand by the image, then so what?

It is true that the markings may be a little off and the lenses tend to focus just a tiny bit past infinity, but I've never had a problem with having Rokinon glass look sharp. Well, aside from this tiny note: While the set is rated at T1.5, I wouldn't recommend filming wide open unless needed. Depending on the light source, I'd actually close down to a 1.5 / 2 split or a 2 just to save some clarity. (This typically isn't too much of a problem.)

In the end, until I can afford a used set of Red Pro Primes - the Rokinon set is probably the best buy in low-cost cinema lenses on the market right now. There are a few lens tests online elsewhere, and the Rokinon / Samyang set seems to hold up well against the high-end Canon glass. I'd say they're worth considerable thought over renting.

 

[Ben Roper]

Simple answer... Buy the 24mm, 35mm and 85mm... I have them all and they're lovely!

Edit: Good words from Ant above - You do need to stop down, treating f2 as wide open, although I'm usually found at f2.8...

 

[Clayton Taylor]

Thanks everyone. I don't have the big budget to shell out 25k for the Canon Cine primes.. until I pay off the Scarlet, I don't see owning them a possibility. I've checked out reviews and comparisons everywhere that I can find them, and thank you everyone on here for the feedback. It looks like they hold up pretty decently, ESPECIALLY with the price point, against some of the higher end glass. I'm going to go ahead and start piecing out a Rokinon prime set. I'm ordering the 85 and 35 today - I'll pick up the 16 and the 24 later. I'll still have my Canon 24-70 and Canon 50mm f/1.4 for any missing lengths. I'll eventually pick up the Rokinon 50mm after I grab the others.
Ant and Ben - do you have cases for these lenses? If so, what do you use? Thanks!

 

[Anthony Berenato Jr]

If laid out correctly, the Pelican 1500 case has enough space for all the lenses. All of my lenses lay on their side, with room for the 16, 24, and 35 evenly spaced and pointing vertically towards the case's hinges up top. That leaves enough room underneath to store the 50 and 85 pointing towards each other horizontally.

Make sure to save some of the pluck-n-pull material to prop up only the barrel of the lens bodies, letting the lens sit flush by allowing the front of the glass to have more space into the case.

Also consider a ring adaptor for the 85, as I believe it's a 72mm front instead of the 77mm the other lenses are. I use a Tiffen 77mm Variable ND for daylight. Cheap starter rig with great images.

 

[Dr. Sassi]

I have all in 1510 Pelican Cases.
.
I found this link a few days ago, seems pretty affordable, and the foam (use the softer one for lenses) is certainly sturdy enough for Samyang lenses.
https://customdesign.mycasebuilder.com
.
BTW, I really like the 85mm, I will wait for some reviews on the 50mm.

 

[Doug Beatty]

I use and am happy with a Pelican iM2450. The Rokinon 35mm is stupid long compared to the rest of the set, so you'll need the extra depth if you plan on storing it upright.

While you are at it, contact Matt Duclos about his precut foam insert for the 2450 4 lens case. I bought 3 for around $100 a few months back and they have been nice and sturdy. He took the direct link down from his store, so YMMV on being able to buy.

I also picked up some fairly cheap 80mm step up rings but I can't find the source link right now. I'll have to dig it up again eventually since I need one more for the 50mm.

EDIT: Formally budgetcameragear.com now shoot35.com has the cheapest workable 80mm step up rings I could find. No issues and fit my OBox 80mm bellows perfectly. Used to be 5GBP, but 10GBP ($17USD) is still about $10 cheaper than the next closest competitor.

 

[Eric Santiago]

Just used the Rokinons 24, 35 and 85 in a full feature shoot with my Scarlet.

They are ready for anything

Ordered the 50mm and cant wait to add to my set.

 

[Gary Paul Walker]

Buy Rokinon - they're great lenses..

BUT don't trust the infinity mark, its usually way off!

 

[Eric Santiago]

Buy Rokinon - they're great lenses..

BUT don't trust the infinity mark, its usually way off!

True. Worked with an amazing Focus Puller and with this BarTech he prepped it to avoid that mess

 

[Clayton Taylor]

Thanks for all of the feedback everyone!! I appreciate it!!

 

[steven inman]

I paid for my scarlet in cash so to to tell the truth didnt have much money for nothing, so I invested in Rokinon, and now I have the 35mm, 14mm, and havent looked back since, great build, and very sharp

 

[Montgomery Sutton]

Anyone have on the ground opinions about going Rokinon 24 and 35 Cine lenses vs. the Sigma photo 18-35? I know the Sigma isn't a cine lens, but I've found the images spectacular when I've rented it, and wonder if it's wiser to actually become an owner of the Sigma or to go with the Rokinons.

There's also a rumor that Sigma may announce Cine versions of its lenses at Photokina.

 

[Eric Santiago]

I for one would like something in the 11 to 18 range in a Cine Rokinon.

Anyone have the 14mm?

The fact that its 3.1 irks me since I have a Tokina 11-16mm@2.8.

 

[Jeffery Anderson]

I do own the 14mm... I bought the 14mm, 35mm & 85mm around the same time.

the 14mm seems to have the least amount of problems out of the bunch, but it's also the slowest.

35mm; you really can't rack focus in a shot. Mine breaths like crazy and the 85mm doesn't breath at all, which is weird.

the look is very cold compared to Canon's EF lenses and won't match. Zeiss lenses are probably close in color rendition.

 

[Patrick Tresch]

Buy Rokinon - they're great lenses..

BUT don't trust the infinity mark, its usually way off!

This is how I do it. Checking it on camera.

Ps: there is no patent ;-) so if someone could make it cleaner I would love to buy it ready!


Pat