These four new Mitakon T/1.0 lenses offer filmmakers a series of ultra-fast primes at very affordable prices. This is in stark contrast to big name camera makers who produce only a small number of lenses of this type and at very much higher prices.
The T/1.0 rating is related to lens aperture, but quotes the actual light transmission rather than the size of the aperture. It’s a more demanding standard applied to video lenses and you can take it that a T/1.0 lens is equivalent to an f/1.0 lens but with guaranteed light transmission too.
All four lenses are manual focus only, but come with cine-style focus gears for use with camera focus attachments. They all feature internal focusing so that the length of the lens doesn’t change during focusing, and all have been designed to minimise focus breathing, which is any kind of visible change in the size of the subject as you focus in and out.
The manual focus and cine-style focus gears means that these lenses are not really designed for vlogging, but they do look terrific value for more advanced filmmakers working with camera rigs.
• Read more: How are cine lenses different to regular lenses?
Mitakon Speedmaster T/1.0 MFT lenses
There are three lenses in this group: the Mitakon Speedmaster 17mm T/1.0 ($449), Mitakon Speedmaster 25mm T/1.0 ($449) and Mitakon Speedmaster 35mm T/1.0 ($449). It will also be possible to buy all three as a set for $1,199.
Being Micro Four Thirds lenses, these have a 2x crop factor, so their equivalent focal lengths (in full frame terms) are 34mm, 50mm and 70mm.
Mitakon Speedmaster 35mm T/1.0 for Super35 cameras
The Mitakon Speedmaster 35mm T/1.0 ($599) has an image circle large enough for Super35 and APS-C sensors, and will also be available in Canon RF mount (for the Canon EOS C70, for example), Sony E and Fujifilm X mounts.
The three lenses above are available now from Mitakon/ZY Optics, while the Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm T/1.0 (below) will be available in June 2021.
Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm T/1.0 for full frame
This is a full frame lens available in Canon EF and Arri PL mounts, both widely used by professional cinematographers. It’s a larger lens than the others, not least because it covers a full frame sensor. At a price of $999, this still represents a pretty low price for such a wide aperture lens.
Read more:
• Best cinema cameras
• Best 4K video cameras
• Best vlogging cameras
• Canon EOS C70 review
• Best Micro Four Thirds lenses
• Best cine lenses
