Tokina has made some waves over the last few years with its line of fast Vista Prime Cinema lenses. While the other lenses in the Vista Prime family top out at T1.5, the 180mm model is just a hair slower at T1.9.
The lens is designed with 14 groups of 17 lens elements and a 46.7mm image circle, compatible with both 8K VistaVision and Super35mm image sensors.
Image Credit – Tokina
To date, the lens company has released eleven primes ranging from 18 up to 135mm. Tokina’s entire line of Vista Primes breaks down as follows:
- 18mm T1.5
- 21mm T1.5
- 25mm T1.5
- 29mm T1.5
- 35mm T1.5
- 40mm T1.5
- 55mm T1.5
- 65mm T1.5
- 85mm T1.5
- 105mm T1.5
- 135mm T1.5
- 180mm T1.9
Now with the 180mm T1.9 prime, it’s fast enough to hold, while long enough to get some distance. The lens has a minimum focus distance of just under 5 feet or 1.5 meters and sports a maximum magnification ratio of 1:7.91.
Image Credit – Tokina
Tokina has kept the overall lens diameter of the 180mm T1.9 consistent with other members of the Vista Prime family, with a width of 114mm and a length of 19.5cm.
This uniformity in dimensions ensures that supporting lens accessories like lens filters, matte boxes, and follow focus rings won’t’ have to be duplicated. The lens also weighs in at just over 7 pounds (3.26kg).
Notwithstanding, that kind of widespread adoption makes the Vista Prime Cinema lineup a great option for shooting with larger format cameras like the RED V-Raptor, ARRI Alexa Mini LF, Canon C500 mkII, Sony Venice 2, and FX9.
That flexibility has made the lens mounts on the Vista Prime line interchangeable, with options of PL, LPL, Sony E, Canon EF, and MTF. But unfortunately, the lens needs to be sent to an authorized Tokina service center to handle the conversion, so users won’t be able to make the switch themselves.
Available for pre-order at a list price of just under $18,000, the Tokina 180mm T1.9 Vista Prime Cinema Lens is expected to ship in June of 2022. Meanwhile, you can check out Tokina’s Cinema website for all the details.
[source: Tokina]
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