Review on 📷 Rokinon Xeen XN35-PL 35mm T1.5 Pro Cine Lens for PL Mount Pro Video Cameras - Black by Ken Coste

With "cheap" cinema products like lenses you have to be very careful about quality - sometimes they are not well made to stand the test of time, the clarity is on a specific F limited or T stops versus full range use or poor color. But Rokinon Xeen 35mm is amazing. The focus and aperture mechanisms move smoothly. The lens makes a well-made and solid impression. And the optics are way better than I expected - most of the reviews I read were negative or average. While they might not be as cool (color wise) as Canon's CN-E or Zeiss CP.3 ranges, they're firmly in their own right. Warmer look, softer image wide open but still sharp. Not as harsh as the Sigma Art 18-35 or 50-100, but not as clinical either, giving Xeen its own character and feel. In summary, the lens is very oily both in operation and in optics. The bokeh is really pleasing with a blooming look wide open and a star flare at around T2.8 ahead. Lens flare is also very attractive with colorful circles tracing the image without being distracting. Everything about this lens feels deliberate and well thought out. This does not replace my current Sigma lenses and old Soviet lenses (Jupiter, Helios, etc.) but gives me a new collection of lenses to add to my image library. I highly recommend them for narrative productions with a warmer, earthier feel, a talking head, and for most commercial or industrial purposes. It might be harder for run-and-shoot documentaries makers, but it's worth a shot, right? And I wouldn't use it for wedding videos unless you mind the weight, manual controls, and long focal length. If only I had to rate it. 9.2/10.