Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Register Log in
  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

SIGMA or TOKINA

O

Olivier Gresse

Well-known member
Joined
May 29, 2015
Messages
235
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Website
duolproductions.fr
Hi,

I want to buy 4 Prime lenses in T1.5 for my Epic-w.

My activity: documentary, fiction and occasionally clip.

I am hesitating between :
- Tokina 25, 35, 50, 85
- Sigma 24, 35, 50, 85

The Tokina
Pros : Absence of chromatic aberrations, no breathing, look less clinical, more contrast?
Cons : Heavy, high diameter (usable with my bright tangerine Atom?), a little more expensive, less lenses available

Sigma
Pros : lighter, seem to be a little sharper, more focal lengths available
Cons : Breathe a little more, look more clinical, more CA ?

If you have any advice please...

Thank you very much
 
Last edited:
I haven't, but the 18 is really exciting for the industry. I don't know how many NAB's I've been to asking for high speed FF35 lenses. I was always told that it was a pipe dream and a fast lens with that much coverage would be next to impossible and gigantic. Exciting times.
 
Oliver, another point to mention about the Tokinas is that they are all matched for front diameter. The Sigmas vary in size. This might not be something that bothers you/affects you, but I personally enjoy the fact I don't have to worry about constantly resetting and changing with each lense. I've just bought a set of Tokinas in the GB, and I'm super excited for the 18mm. That being said, I think you'd probably be happy with either of the lense packages.
 
Olivier,

*Correction: the Sigmas do indeed have the same front diameter of 95mm. I had most likely mis-heard on one of the reviews.

That being said, your numbers are off for the front diameter of the Tokinas. They are 114mm: http://www.tokinacinema.com/35-50-85-Prime.html
 
Last edited:
Haven't used the Tokinas, but have used the Sigma primes and the 18-35 cine zoom. This was on an Alexa Mini, but I was very happy with the result and personally like their look better than the Zeiss CP series. I would like to see them head to head against Ultra Primes sometime.

They have the full line of Sigma cine glass at Lensrentals, you can always rent a couple and check them out. They don't have the Tokinas sadly. I think it's up to you how much weight is too much, for me the Tokinas are too heavy.
 
I'm very happy with the 18-35 Photo Zoom from Sigma, the downside is that these zooms are not parfocal.

The breathing on the primes seem to be very important, so if I go with Sigma one day I think I will choose the art serie and not the cine serie.
 
Tokinas, especially with that 18mm in the horizon. There's also going to be less of them in the field, so definitely gives you an advantage.
 
Ive been struggling with this same question for our rental fleet. Eventually we may end up owning both sets, or something else coming in FF, but I needed to take a first step as we are light on FF primes. I am both a camera rental business owner and over 3 decades as a DP, and I grapple with these questions for what to offer my customers and what I would want to use personally. With our new Monstro VV camera arriving next week this FF prime set decision is front and center.

I love what I have heard about the Tokina. It sounds like they have done diligence in designing and producing a world class lens in almost every way, and at a price point unheard of with these qualities. The Sigma looks like a solid performer in almost every way most people need. A little breathing is not a deal breaker for me and I suspect for most people. Zeiss Ultra primes breath and have been one of the most rented and used lenses (period) in the last 20 years. For me size and weight is a real issue and worthy of much consideration. Until the Tokina is a full set I have to be on the side lines for now. Yesterday I ordered a set of Sigma's for the shop.

Give us a ring if you want to try the Sigma's, along with the Monstro VV.
Also added the Sigma 50-150mm 2.0 which looks like it might be the perfect interview lens.
 
[BHi Olivier,
]You're not going to go wrong with either set. I went with the Sigma's for a few reasons:

-High Performance

-7 Focal Lengths available today.

-What I consider the perfect size for a cinema prime

-Cam Focus ! Love how they expanded the longer distances and compressed the close focus end.

-Optical replacement parts should be readily available due to sharing with high volume stills products.

-Value - We've made a good amount on rental already. [/B]


Sigma seems to be on a roll and I would expect them to continue to release innovative modern designs.

Matt Uhry
www.mattuhry.com
vimeo.com/mattuhry
 
Olivier Gresse said:
I'm very happy with the 18-35 Photo Zoom from Sigma, the downside is that these zooms are not parfocal.

The breathing on the primes seem to be very important, so if I go with Sigma one day I think I will choose the art serie and not the cine serie.
Click to expand...

Yes they are. Sigma states they can't officially say their parfocal because of ever so slight variations, but everyone who shoots with the 18-35 says for all intent and purpose, they're parfocial.

Also... the cine series IS THE ART SERIES. Same glass, design etc.
 
The Sigma's are in demand. It's the "C300" of the cinema lens set. You will make your money back on rentals with them. The image is also great. I personally don't like that they are smaller in size. I also don't like that it's just rehoused stills glass. I personally own token vistas and like them a lot. They have a warm tone which I enjoy and are so damn sharp. While heavy (especially if you are running handheld without a rig for extended lengths) I love the 114 mm front lens diameter as it fits my misfit atom perfectly. There are less of them out there right now but I think these will pick up steam on the rental market. especially with the positive word of mouth from current users. It also puts u in a better position for use on monstro. more bang for your buck long term
 
ignacio guzman said:
The Sigma's are in demand. It's the "C300" of the cinema lens set. You will make your money back on rentals with them. The image is also great. I personally don't like that they are smaller in size. I also don't like that it's just rehoused stills glass. I personally own token vistas and like them a lot. They have a warm tone which I enjoy and are so damn sharp. While heavy (especially if you are running handheld without a rig for extended lengths) I love the 114 mm front lens diameter as it fits my misfit atom perfectly. There are less of them out there right now but I think these will pick up steam on the rental market. especially with the positive word of mouth from current users. It also puts u in a better position for use on monstro. more bang for your buck long term
Click to expand...

The Tokina Vistas look amazing. I would have gone that route over the Sigmas if the lenses weren't so heavy. 4-5 lbs each?!! As far as rehousing stills glass... we'll if it performs then it performs. Even the Zeiss CP.2 and CP.3 are rehoused old designs.
 
Michael Winokur said:
You should probably also consider the Celere HS lenses which are at the same price point. Plus there is an 18.5 1.5 that's pretty bad ass.
Click to expand...

Light spoiler alert, if you are considering 8K VV the Celere 18.5 and 25mm do not cover cleanly.
 
I was thinking about the Sigma Cine Prime set for early 2018.

What are your thoughts on the 20mm? I wish it were an 18mm. Also, sometimes I use screw on filters with XUME magnetic system when I need to work fast and the 20mm does not have front threads.

I do have the 18-35 still lens version which can make up for the wide.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top