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  • 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 :)

Zeiss ZF or Rokinon Cine

Rokinon has been tested to show good quality glass (better than typical quality stills glass) but thats where it ends.

Zeiss Zf lenses are mostly better quality, but then you have to deal with declicking and gearing the lenses to make them work in a cine-environment.


Personally I think I'm going with the Rokinons in the near future because the quality vs. price is too good to pass up. The Zeiss is better glass, but in the end also much more money for what you need.

If I could afford Zeiss I'd go CP.2 but those are way out of my range, I wouldn't buy the ZF stills lenses, I feel those leave much to be desired as for they really are just that... Stills lenses, and though great glass, they dont really have the usefulness as the T stop, declicked, and cine housed Rokinons.
 
I have the rokinons and I like them a lot.
I have the still versions wich I declicked myself (5 minutes) and put focus gears on them.
The 24 is great but soft wide open(not a biggie), the 35 is sharp as hell and the 85, well, this one is a gem.
All of them have about 160 of focus thrown, wich is great for video work.
I will retire them when I get my cine glass.
 
The 85mm is great, but the 35 has some heavy breathing.
 
I have a set of ZFs moded by Duclos. Could not be happier.

I've heard about the breathing in the Rokinons, as well as build quality being closer to stills glass.

I say whatever fits your budget.

Side-note, is this the proper section to post a lens thread? This is the Scarlet Section.
Doesn't bother me, but I know some people like things tidy.
 
I used to own a complete ZF set, cine modded. Sold it to buy some PL zooms. Did that and was very happy, but missed the really fast ZF's for product shots with a nice Bokeh. Bought Rokinons 24, 35, 85 and another ZF 50.
I am very happy with this set and the 50 fits in there just fine. I defy anyone to put the two lenses side by side on a shot and tell the difference...
The difference is very noticeably in construction. All metal on ZF's and plastic on Rokinon. I'm fine with that...
 
not to hijack the thread but Ive been wondering this and dont want to start a new thread and since we're discussing lenses,

I thought about Zeiss ZF v Rokinon and im leaning strongly towards the zeiss because of build quality and less breathing, and also because a client hears Zeiss and instantly is intrigued. But what about ZF v canon L series? Ive seen some amazing stuff shot on the L lenses as well. Short focus throw and no manuel aperture is a bummer for sure but the image quality is really nice for still lenses. Any thoughts?
 
For the money, I don't think the Rokinon's can be beat. Zeiss might be Zeiss, but I dont find the cost reflects the image they capture. It's more about build quality and ergonomics, especially true for the compact prime series.
Between Zeiss and Canon I would say it depends on whether or not you care about ergonomics. Canon's provide a great image all their own, but ergonomically are really not built for cinema purposes. If you are more of an old school manual kind of person and I'd go with Zeiss's.
 
Recently get myself set of ZEISS ZE lenses (for some reason I like electronic diaphragm control and don't want to deal with Nikon-Canon adapter - it affects infinite focus anyway) can't say how happy I am - they have really ZEISS image. Sharp as hell. Beat almost every L Canon I have. Sure Master Primes will beat them easily but so far I'm pretty happy having set of ZEISS for the price less than one Master Prime lens.
 
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