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Rokinon Lens Kits

Jeff Klevins

Jeff Klevins

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Hey Guys,

I am looking into getting a full entry level cine lens kit and have had my eye on the new DS series lenses from Rokinon. I know they just came out but is it worth it to spend the extra $ to get the new DS series rather then the old/current series? The only real difference I can find is that they are color matched, but If I bought a kit either way they should be the same right?

I also saw something on Duclos Lenses about a new Rokinon Raw Lens they are developing - but I have no idea what they are. http://duclos.tv/pages/rokinonrawinfo

DS Kit : http://www.ducloslenses.com/collections/rokinon/products/dsspeedset

Old Model Kit : http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1016624-REG/rokinon_super_fast_t1_5_cine.html

Any inupt is much appreciated, thanks!
 
I'd suggest going with the Duclos kit. Great company. Contact them and I'm sure they'll answer all your questions.
 
Also, I'm pretty sure the Rokinon Raw are the same lenses, but Duclos has removed the coating.
 
Just how bad are these budget primes anyway? I've heard very mixed reviews. Some love them and say they are actually pretty good. Others say "coke bottles". Crap wide ope especially.

Anyone own them and have experience with higher end glass care to chime in?

Thanks
 
For me they are awesome and cut well with the RPP 18mm.

Thats my extent of experience.

I own the 24, 25 and 85.

Just waiting for Purolator to drop my 50mm off ;)
 
I own a set. I tested a year ago with vintage Canon FD SSC and Minolta MD glass, as well as my Compact Primes. I don't have examples anymore, but I found the Rokinons in general were sharper wide open than the vintage glass equivalents, but not as sharp as the CPs (Zeiss glass derived from their still primes). Also, they are made of hard plastic, barrels are NOT metal. They should still last a few years I think, and they are priced accordingly.

The only bad things about these Rokinons are that they do have a yellowish - warm color cast I found which you'll have to account for in post if you need it to be more neutral. Other than that you have to ask yourself
How sharp do you really need you picture to be? I find that almost all the Period pieces I've seen shot on the Red ONE and Epic are just too sharp. Schindler's List, shot on film, was too sharp on Blu Ray. It takes me out of the experience. It's the constant debate - do you really need all that resolution? Answer: it depends on what you're shooting.
 
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I'm not sure that a lens can be too sharp though. I'd rather have a sharp lens and use filtration to get that softer look.


So compared to your CP.2's they were quite a bit softer eh?
 
I had the set as my EF glass option since they came out as cine model. They have their own look, you generally want to shoot then at a 2 as your wide open, but you can get sharp images from wide open. The plastic housing is the biggest downside of the glass, but put some filtration in front of the glass and it really has a nice look. I mostly use my PL glass but when a job calls for EF glass they are my first choice to use as to me I can get kind of a poor mans cooke feel from them.
Here's a example of Rokinons where I used the 24mm, 35mm and 85mm at a 2.8 with a 1/2 classic black frost.
<span style="color:#ffffff;">
 
Jon Carr said:
I had the set as my EF glass option since they came out as cine model. They have their own look, you generally want to shoot then at a 2 as your wide open, but you can get sharp images from wide open. The plastic housing is the biggest downside of the glass, but put some filtration in front of the glass and it really has a nice look. I mostly use my PL glass but when a job calls for EF glass they are my first choice to use as to me I can get kind of a poor mans cooke feel from them.
Here's a example of Rokinons where I used the 24mm, 35mm and 85mm at a 2.8 with a 1/2 classic black frost.
<span style="color:#ffffff;">
Click to expand...
Thanks for posting this!

I think they look great for most uses. Only one i've really questioned getting is the 24mm.
 
The 24mm in the set that I got from BH is really pretty good. I've read bad reviews about it, but for the price I have no complaints and it compares favorably with vintage glass which don't go that open - the vintage glass only goes to F2. The CP2's are only marginally sharper than the rokinons at a given F-stop. It's the overall look of Zeiss which is the winner, and of course the mechanical build of the CPs, that make them superior.
Yes, sharper lenses do give you more flexibility to choose to add diffusion or not in production or post.
 
Jon Carr said:
...I mostly use my PL glass but when a job calls for EF glass they are my first choice to use as to me I can get kind of a poor mans cooke feel from them...
Click to expand...

Great work Jon (as usual) :)

When does a job call for EF glass?

Budget or?
 
Eric Santiago said:
Great work Jon (as usual) :)

When does a job call for EF glass?

Budget or?
Click to expand...

Thank you. I would agree and say budget, and add light weight, some run and gun, multi-cam with tighter budgets, some people might prefer using the stills if they are pulling their own focus while oping. And some people just like the look of some still glass.
 
Damn

Awefully nice!

Do these cover full frame too? Or at least epic Dragon?
 
Troy Bakewell said:
Damn

Awefully nice!

Do these cover full frame too? Or at least epic Dragon?
Click to expand...
they are full frame. but the 16mm I believe. I have not used the 16mm yet.
 
just ordered the DS version from B&H 14, 24, 35, 50, & 85

will keep you posted.
 
They are okay, actually its all I own. But thats cuz I keep refusing to work my way up the glass game, I want to just get masters or something insane for my first real PL set.. something so high end that it can rent itself on its luxury branding. As a result I didn't go for any entry level PL...
 
I have 14, 24, 35, 85. Those shoots were 90 percent 24 and 35 at a 2.8-4 on the stop
 
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