Rokinon Xeen XN35-N 35mm T1.5 Professional Cine Lens for Nikon (Black)

With "inexpensive" cinema products like lenses you have to be super careful about the quality - sometimes they aren't built well to stand the test of time, clarity is limited to certain F or T stops versus being useable through the entire range, or there's poor color. But the Rokinon Xeen 35mm is amazing. The focus and iris gears move smoothly. The lens feels well built and sturdy. And the optics are much better than what I've expected - most reviews I've read were negative or average. While these might not be as cool (color wise) as Canon's CN-E line or the Zeiss CP.3s, they stand on their own feet in their own realm. Warmer look, softer image wide open but still sharp. Not as sharp as the Sigma Art 18-35 or 50-100, but not as clinical which gives the Xeen's their own character and feel. To sum it up, the lens is very buttery in both operation and optics. Bokeh is really nice with a blooming look wide open and a star like flare at about T 2.8 forward. Lens flare is very attractive as well with colorful circles that streak across the image and don't come off as distracting. Everything about this lens feels intentional and well thought out. This doesn't replace my current lenses from Sigma and my vintage Soviet lenses (Jupiter, Helios, etc.) but it gives me a new collection of lenses to grab and extent my look library. I highly recommend these for narrative productions with a warmer, down to earth feel, talking head, and most commercial or industrial uses. These might be on the heavier side for run and gun, doc filmmakers, but worth a shot right? And I wouldn't use for wedding videography unless you don't mind the weight, manual operation, and long focus throw. If I had to give it a score... 9.2/10.

Lens came with back focus off. Received right before a shoot so didn’t have time to send back to seller, cost 300 to get repaired. Could have purchased a new one. Once repaired lens is great. But they should’ve sent one that works perfectly.

Great build solid, all is smooth, nothing crazy as far as the picture quality but better then your regular canon lenses.