IRIX 65mm T1.5 Cine lens review: IRIX sets the bar high for cine lenses

Although IRIX, a Switzerland-based lens manufacturer, is relatively new to the industry, it has already carved out a name for itself in the lens market. More specifically, its Cine lens line has an impressive reputation and an even more impressive portfolio. IRIX offers everything from an 11 mm T4.3 cine lens to a 150 mm T3.0 telephoto cine lens. The newest addition to its Cine lens lineup is the IRIX 65mm T1.5 Cine lens. This new lens aims to deliver high quality at an affordable price. Does it achieve this feat?

IRIX 65mm T1.5 overview

Shooting specs

The IRIX 65mm T1.5 Cine lens features a T1.5 to T66 aperture along with an 11-blade aperture. Overall, its T1.5 is a very large aperture for a cinema lens, allowing it to perform well in low light and achieve a shallow depth of field. However, its T66 aperture capability is quite unique for a cine lens. Having a T66 aperture greatly reduces the amount of light entering the lens, allowing for a very deep depth of field. Along with its 11-blade aperture design, the IRIX 65mm T1.5 Cine creates smooth and pleasing bokeh during shallow-depth shots. Additionally, the lens covers the full frame of the camera, meaning you won’t get any unwanted vignetting or dark corners.

In terms of handling, the lens features a 180° focus rotation with a 75° iris rotation. Together, they provide precise focus pulls and smooth aperture changes. At the same time, its 95 mm front diameter accommodates standard cinema matte boxes. Although the lens includes an 86 mm front filter thread, its size makes it more practical to use a matte box system for mounting filters and controlling flares.

Useful creature comforts

To ensure you can accurately adjust your lens settings in low light, IRIX has included focus markings visible in such conditions. Even more useful is the lens’ magnetic filter and shade mounting system. This system allows for quick swapping of filters and shades.

Lens mount options

Image courtesy: IRIX

To add to the lens’ versatility, the IRIX 65mm T1.5 Cine lens is available in eight different lens mounts:

  • Fujifilm X
  • Leica L
  • MFT
  • PL
  • Canon RF
  • Canon EF
  • Sony E
  • Nikon Z

So, no matter what camera you use, you’ll likely be able to pick up and use the IRIX 65mm T1.5 Cine lens.

What we like about the IRIX 65mm T1.5 Cine lens

Fast aperture

What we like most about the IRIX 65mm T1.5 Cine lens is its exceptionally fast aperture. Shooting wide open makes it much easier to capture atmospheric low-light scenes without increasing ISO or adding artificial lighting.

This fast aperture also enables a beautifully shallow depth of field. With the lens, we could bring subjects into sharp focus while gently blurring the background into a smooth, cinematic bokeh during our tests. This leads us to the next feature we love.

Beautiful bokeh

During our time with the IRIX 65mm T1.5, we were impressed by the lens’ ability to create beautiful bokeh. Thanks to its wide T1.5 aperture and carefully engineered 11-blade iris, out-of-focus areas take on a creamy, dreamlike smoothness. It’s undoubtedly one of the lens’ standout features.

Solid build quality

We also appreciate the IRIX 65mm T1.5’s build quality. It features rugged construction with full weather sealing to protect against dust and moisture. Beyond its exterior, the lens is certified to Military Grade MIL-STD-810 standards. This testing involves subjecting the lens to extreme challenges like freezing rain and icing (Test Method 521) as well as high humidity (Test Method 507.6).

All in all, the IRIX 65mm T1.5’s build can handle the elements if your shoot takes you outside the studio.

Exceptional price

Cine lenses aren’t cheap. In fact, you’re lucky to find a quality cine lens for less than $3,000. For context, our current pick for the best cine lens, the Zeiss CP.3, costs $4,390. However, this is where the IRIX 65mm T1.5 really shines. It costs only $1,200 and still offers a ton of quality for users.

Lens mount availability

The sheer fact that the IRIX 65mm T1.5 is available in eight different lens mounts is worth celebrating. Not only is this lens affordable, but it is also compatible with almost every major lens mount. We applaud IRIX for making this quality lens accessible to as many videographers as possible.

What we don’t like

Image courtesy: IRIX

Sharpness when wide open (T1.5)

Although the IRIX 65mm T1.5 offers an impressively fast aperture for low-light shooting and creating shallow depth of field, its sharpness takes a slight dip when used wide open. In well-lit conditions or when stopping down to around T2 or T2.8, the lens produces admirably crisp images with fine detail. However, at T1.5, some softness creeps into the frame.

Amount of focus breathing

For a cine-oriented lens, focus breathing is always an important consideration, and in this regard, the IRIX 65mm T1.5 leaves a bit to be desired. While the breathing isn’t severe, it’s noticeable enough when racking focus from close to far distances.

Depending on your project, this may or may not affect the final result, but for productions that demand minimal breathing — particularly narrative films — this could be a dealbreaker.

Amount of vignetting when wide open (T1.5)

Like many fast cine lenses, the IRIX 65mm T1.5 exhibits a noticeable degree of vignetting when used at its widest aperture. While some filmmakers appreciate the added emphasis it can give to the center of the frame, others may find the darker corners distracting or undesirable in certain shots.

The good news is that the vignette fades away by around T4. For those who often work wide open for that shallow depth-of-field look, be prepared to accept a bit of corner darkening or plan to correct it in post-production if you’re set on using this lens.

Putting the IRIX 65mm T1.5 Cine lens to the test

Bokeh quality

We’ve been singing praises for the IRIX 65mm T1.5’s bokeh, but how did it fare during our tests? When shooting wide open, we noticed nicely rounded bokeh balls in the center of the frame, creating that classic, dreamy look. However, as the bokeh transitions toward the edges, it begins to take on a slight “cat’s eye” shape. This effect isn’t particularly distracting, but it is worth noting if you’re after uniform bokeh throughout the frame.

Sharpness

In terms of overall sharpness, the lens performed best around T4 and beyond. At wider apertures — especially T1.5 to T2.8 — sharpness softens toward the edges, which can become noticeable if you’re scrutinizing fine details. The lens also starts to lose some crispness when you stop down past T11, so there is a sweet spot where you’ll get the strongest performance.

Vignetting

During our tests, we saw that vignetting is present from T1.5 up to about T4. It gradually diminishes as you stop down, so by T4, you’ll see more even brightness across the frame.

Distortion

Our testing didn’t reveal any signs of barrel, mustache, or pincushion distortion. This is excellent news for those needing to capture straight lines and achieve accurate framing.

Focus breathing

As we mentioned before, the IRIX 65mm T1.5 isn’t without focus breathing. Unfortunately, we found the lens exhibits a fair amount of breathing over the full range of its focus. If your style leans heavily on focus transitions, you may want to account for this.

Flare

Image courtesy: IRIX

We also spent some time experimenting with the lens’ flare characteristics. While its flare intensity isn’t particularly strong, it does make itself known, particularly in direct light scenarios. The color of the flare is blue and green, but it can appear orange if the light source hits the lens directly.

The shape of the flare ranges from a star-like effect when light hits the front element head-on to a more rounded “barrel flare” when light comes in at an angle. Controlling the flare proved to be fairly straightforward — it doesn’t take much effort.

Marketplace

Sigma 65mm T1.5 FF

The first alternative to the IRIX 65mm T1.5 is the Sigma 65mm T1.5 FF. Both lenses cover full-frame sensors and feature a fast T1.5 aperture. However, the IRIX 65mm T1.5 is significantly more affordable. The Sigma 65mm costs $3,500, while the IRIX 65mm costs only $1,200. The IRIX also provides eight mount options and an 11-blade iris. The Sigma 65mm T1.5 FF is only available in three mounting options (Canon EF, Sony E and PL) and features a nine-blade iris. Still, the IRIX 65mm T1.5 is held back by its focus breathing.

DZOFilm 65mm T2.8 Gnosis

Next, we have the DZOFilm 65mm T2.8 Gnosis. Compared to the IRIX 65mm T1.5’s accessible price and ultra-fast aperture, this $5,390 cine lens is clearly aimed at higher-end productions and seasoned professionals. With an aperture range of T2.8 to T22 and a luxurious 16-blade iris, it excels at delivering exceptionally smooth bokeh. However, it lacks the low-light advantage offered by IRIX’s T1.5 aperture and doesn’t provide as many mount options — this lens is only available in EF, PL, and LPL mounts.

Tokina 65mm T1.5 Cinema Vista

With a price tag that dwarfs the IRIX 65mm T1.5’s $1,200, the Tokina 65mm T1.5 Cinema Vista boasts an equally fast T1.5 aperture but a nine-blade iris. It’s also available in fewer mounts compared to IRIX’s wide eight-mount selection, but it still covers options like EF, LPL, MFT, PL and Sony E.

Should you get the IRIX 65mm T1.5 Cine lens?

IRIX packs a lot of value into the IRIX 65mm T1.5 Cine lens. It’s built tough and has all of the cinema lens amenities, like geared focus and aperture control and focus markings in feet.

Although it is less sharp when wide open, for the money, it’s worth overlooking. It’s unfortunate that it has vignetting at T1.5, but this fades away by T4. So, unless you need super shallow depth of field, it should be fine. If you are looking to add a unique focal length to your camera setup, the 65mm T1.5 Cine lens from IRIX is a great choice.

Strengths

  • Fast aperture (T1.5)
  • Solid build quality
  • Beautiful bokeh
  • Price
  • Lens mount availability

Weaknesses

  • Sharpness when wide open (T1.5)
  • The amount of focus breathing
  • The amount of vignetting when wide open (T1.5)

 

Tech specs

Maximum aperture T16
Minimum aperture T1.5
Lens mount ARRI PL
Interchangeable mount No
Lens format coverage Full frame
Image circle 43.3 mm
Angle of view Full frame
Horizontal: 31 degrees
Super 35
Horizontal: 21.7 degrees
APS-C (1.5x)
Horizontal: 20.6 degrees
APS-C (1.6x)
Horizontal: 19.4 degrees
MFT
Horizontal: 15.2 degrees
Focus scales Imperial
Filter thread 86 mm
Minimum focus distance From unspecified point in lens: 2.0′ / 0.6′
Diaphragm blades 11
Image stabilization No
Gear standard Focus: 0.8 MOD
Iris: 0.8 MOD
Gear rotation Focus: 180 degrees
Iris: 75 degrees
Electronic communication No
Coating Signle-coating
Environmental resistance Water-resistance (unrated)
Diameter Front: 3.7 inches / 95 mm
Length 4.1 inches / 10.4 cm
Weight 2.6 lb / 1.2 kg

 

Chris Monlux
Chris Monluxhttps://www.videomaker.com
Chris Monlux Videomaker's Multimedia Editor

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