Rokinon Xeen 85mm T1.5 Cine Lens for Canon EF Mount – Telephoto Prime for Cinematic Excellence
The Rokinon Xeen 85mm T1.5 Cine Lens for Canon EF Mount is a premium telephoto cine prime designed specifically for professional filmmakers and cinematographers who demand superior optics, fast apertures, and cinema-grade manual control. This lens is part of the acclaimed Xeen series, known for offering sharp, vibrant images with full-frame coverage supported by consistent optical quality and ergonomic design. The 85mm focal length is highly valued in cinematic storytelling for its flattering compression, beautiful bokeh, and subject isolation—making this lens an essential tool for narrative films, commercials, documentaries, and creative projects.
Classic 85mm Telephoto Focal Length
The 85mm focal length places this lens squarely in the short telephoto range, making it a go-to for portraiture and narrative close-up shots. On a full-frame Canon EF sensor, it produces a narrow 28.6-degree diagonal field of view, helping cinematographers isolate subjects from the background with a natural yet cinematic compression effect. This compression makes facial features appear proportional and enhanced, which is ideal for interviews, character-driven scenes, and tight framing that demands emotional intimacy.
The focal length balances distance and proximity, allowing operators to frame subjects neatly without being intrusive while keeping a comfortable working distance in the scene. It is a favored focal length for filmmakers aiming to create visual depth and aesthetic focus in storytelling.
Bright T1.5 Aperture for Creative Flexibility
One of the standout features of this lens is its bright, fast T1.5 aperture, which opens up tremendous creative possibilities. The large aperture not only facilitates shooting in low-light or natural light conditions but also enables a remarkably shallow depth of field. With the ability to blur backgrounds beautifully, it directs viewer attention sharply onto the subject, highlighting emotions and narrative details in compelling ways.
Combined with an 11-blade rounded iris, the lens produces smooth, circular bokeh that heightens the artistic value of foreground-background separation. This characteristic bokeh is sought after by filmmakers looking to add softness and elegance to their compositions.
Advanced Optical Design and Coatings for Crisp Imagery
The Rokinon Xeen 85mm T1.5 lens utilizes sophisticated hybrid aspherical optical elements and extra-low dispersion (ED) glass to minimize common aberrations such as chromatic aberration, distortion, and spherical aberration. These optical innovations result in images that maintain sharpness and clarity from the center to the edges, even when shooting wide open at T1.5.
Ultra Multi Coating (UMC) significantly reduces internal reflections, flare, and ghosting, optimizing contrast and color fidelity under various lighting conditions. The effective prevention of haze and glare ensures professional-grade image quality suitable for high-resolution 4K production and HDR workflows.
Internal Focus and Cinema-Grade Build
In the Xeen series tradition, this 85mm lens employs internal focusing (IF) technology, meaning the lens does not change physical length as focus adjusts. This contributes to better balance on the camera rig and simplifies the use of matte boxes, follow focus accessories, and gimbals. It also results in reduced focus breathing, enhancing the visual stability of shots requiring precise focus pulls.
Cinema-standard 0.8 MOD gears on the focus and aperture rings enable seamless compatibility with follow focus systems and iris motors, essential for precise and repeatable control on professional film sets. The focus ring provides smooth, long throw rotation allowing meticulous focus transitions. Meanwhile, the aperture ring operates de-clicked for silent, fluid exposure changes during live recording.
Dual T-stop and distance scales, printed on both sides of the barrel and highlighted with glow-in-the-dark paint, provide quick and clear readability in darkened or blackout-controlled environments.
The lens features robust metal construction providing durability required for heavy-duty usage while offering ergonomic handling for handheld, gimbal, or studio rig mounting.
Minimum Focus Distance and Practicality
The lens’s minimum focusing distance of about 0.9 meters (2.95 feet) offers flexibility for expressive medium to tight shots, enabling detailed framing with shallow depth and creamy backgrounds. This distance strikes a balance between working comfort and the ability to craft intimate visuals.
Weighing approximately 1.18 kg (2.6 lbs.), the lens is engineered to hold steady on various camera setups, balancing well on shoulder rigs and larger stabilizers.
Key Applications
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Narrative Cinema: Ideal for emotionally charged close-ups and medium focal scenes, providing cinematic compression and exquisite bokeh.
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Documentary and Interview: Captures subjects crisply while visually separating them from varied backgrounds.
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Commercials and Music Videos: Offers creative depth control and premium quality to highlight textures and details.
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Studio and Location Work: Suitable for diverse shooting conditions thanks to robust construction and smooth manual controls.
Why Buy from MojoComputers?
MojoComputers supplies genuine Rokinon XEEN cinema lenses with full manufacturer warranty and professional customer support. Their reliable, insured shipping across the United States and competitive pricing make them a preferred supplier for filmmakers seeking high-quality cine lenses.
Conclusion
The Rokinon Xeen 85mm T1.5 Cine Lens for Canon EF Mount is an indispensable telephoto prime combining a fast aperture, true cinematic control, and outstanding optical performance. Its blend of sharpness, smooth bokeh, dependable internal focus, and professional gearing equips filmmakers to create visually compelling, emotionally engaging footage.
Designed for demanding cinematic workflows, this lens seamlessly integrates into multi-lens cine kits with color-matched optics and consistent manual operation, offering reliability and creative freedom for diverse production scenarios.
For Canon EF filmmakers looking to advance their creative capabilities with premium telephoto optical tools, the Rokinon Xeen 85mm T1.5 is a standout choice available now at MojoComputers.
