Blend Vintage Optics with Modern Design with Tokina’s New Vista-C Primes

If you’re looking for some high-end cinema lenses that range from wide-angle to medium telephoto focal lengths and aim to get the best of vintage optics and modern design, then these new Tokina Vista-C cine primes might be for you.Following up the popular lineups of Vista and Vista-P lenses, Tokina is back with a new Vista-C series, which promises to bring cinematographers the best of both worlds. The Vista-C series represents a complete overhaul of the internals to bring this combo, and from the first previews, it looks like they will fit the bill for many of the most sought-after characteristics the modern, vintage-minded DP might desire.Let’s take a look.Tokina Vista-C SeriesAccording to Tokina, these new Cinema Vista-C lenses are truly designed to create a specific look that blends the best of the past and the present while covering beyond just your Large Format sensors. They have an obvious character, exhibiting flares, contrast, and edge fall-off that evokes an earlier age. “This is an incredible set, with amazing characteristics and a lot of personality. The flares are very rich, and the mix of blue and red creates a beautiful aesthetic in the frame. The focus fall-off and minimal focus breathing add another layer of personality and versatility, making this set an easy choice for achieving magnificent results in visual storytelling.” —Horacio Martinez, SVC, Director Of Photography. Also, like many older lenses, the Vista-C lenses should provide some beautiful flare with red and blue accents while avoiding the more modern green flares often found on newer cinema lenses. The Vista- lenses will offer intentionally reduced contrast, field distortion, and a pleasing edge fall-off. Yet, unlike older lenses, they will be able to offer refinements like an ultra-fast T1.5 speed and the ability to resolve 8K+ for advanced digital cinema cameras.A Blend of Past and PresentThe lenses will share the same 114mm front O.D. and nine-blade iris and will be available to order with PL, LPL, Sony E, EF, or MFT mounts. The series is set to initially comprise nine lenses, which are available for pre-order now and will include the following: 18mm T1.525mm T1.535mm T1.540mm T1.550mm T1.565mm T1.585mm T1.5105mm T1.5135mm T1.5 While the exterior construction of the Vista-C lenses is largely unchanged from the previous Vista and Vista-P series, Tokina reports that the optical design is set to represent a major departure. After years of work, many elements have been changed or altered in each lens, and all-new coatings are specifically developed for each. The change in optical design and flare coloring should further result in a pleasing look that is both retro and fresh at the same time, which should help these Vista-C lenses stand out from the rest of Tokina’s options along with the rest of the other popular cinema lenses on the market.Price and AvailabilityAs mentioned above, the main calling card for the Tokina Vista-C prime lenses is going to be this blend of vintage nostalgia with modern performance. With a fast T1.5 aperture, the lenses should be able to deliver excellent performance with minimal focus breathing. The Tokina Vista-C prime lenses are available for purchase now on Tokina’s website here, with prices ranging from $10,599 to $12,999.

Feb 11, 2025 - 20:20

Blend Vintage Optics with Modern Design with Tokina’s New Vista-C Primes

If you’re looking for some high-end cinema lenses that range from wide-angle to medium telephoto focal lengths and aim to get the best of vintage optics and modern design, then these new Tokina Vista-C cine primes might be for you.

Following up the popular lineups of Vista and Vista-P lenses, Tokina is back with a new Vista-C series, which promises to bring cinematographers the best of both worlds. The Vista-C series represents a complete overhaul of the internals to bring this combo, and from the first previews, it looks like they will fit the bill for many of the most sought-after characteristics the modern, vintage-minded DP might desire.

Let’s take a look.

Tokina Vista-C Series

According to Tokina, these new Cinema Vista-C lenses are truly designed to create a specific look that blends the best of the past and the present while covering beyond just your Large Format sensors. They have an obvious character, exhibiting flares, contrast, and edge fall-off that evokes an earlier age.

“This is an incredible set, with amazing characteristics and a lot of personality. The flares are very rich, and the mix of blue and red creates a beautiful aesthetic in the frame. The focus fall-off and minimal focus breathing add another layer of personality and versatility, making this set an easy choice for achieving magnificent results in visual storytelling.” —Horacio Martinez, SVC, Director Of Photography.

Also, like many older lenses, the Vista-C lenses should provide some beautiful flare with red and blue accents while avoiding the more modern green flares often found on newer cinema lenses. The Vista- lenses will offer intentionally reduced contrast, field distortion, and a pleasing edge fall-off. Yet, unlike older lenses, they will be able to offer refinements like an ultra-fast T1.5 speed and the ability to resolve 8K+ for advanced digital cinema cameras.

A Blend of Past and Present

$\u200bTokina Vista-C Prime Lenses$

The lenses will share the same 114mm front O.D. and nine-blade iris and will be available to order with PL, LPL, Sony E, EF, or MFT mounts. The series is set to initially comprise nine lenses, which are available for pre-order now and will include the following:

18mm T1.5
25mm T1.5
35mm T1.5
40mm T1.5
50mm T1.5
65mm T1.5
85mm T1.5
105mm T1.5
135mm T1.5

While the exterior construction of the Vista-C lenses is largely unchanged from the previous Vista and Vista-P series, Tokina reports that the optical design is set to represent a major departure. After years of work, many elements have been changed or altered in each lens, and all-new coatings are specifically developed for each.

The change in optical design and flare coloring should further result in a pleasing look that is both retro and fresh at the same time, which should help these Vista-C lenses stand out from the rest of Tokina’s options along with the rest of the other popular cinema lenses on the market.

Price and Availability

$\u200bTokina Vista-C Prime Lenses$

As mentioned above, the main calling card for the Tokina Vista-C prime lenses is going to be this blend of vintage nostalgia with modern performance. With a fast T1.5 aperture, the lenses should be able to deliver excellent performance with minimal focus breathing.

The Tokina Vista-C prime lenses are available for purchase now on Tokina’s website here, with prices ranging from $10,599 to $12,999.