The REAL difference between CINE & STILLS lenses 

Just to clarify this is looking at cine lenses which are derived from stills lenses. The very expensive cine lenses that are designed as cine lenses have no focus breathing and are par-focal, which stills lenses generally don't have to reduce costs - but as stablemate cine lenses carry the same optics they have the same result

7 minutes passed and I just noticed there's a dog on the couch.

You forgot two important differences: 1: Cine lenses have a much MUCH longer throw on the focusing ring which makes it way easier to pull focus especially with moving objects. And there might be a chance when doing film that things move. 2: Cine lenses usually have the same color matched coating throughout a series which is not always the case with still lenses but makes a hell of a difference on set and in post production. All in all and in summary you could say that Cina lenses are much more precise then stills lenses hence the price difference.

This is the best explanation for the two types of lenses I've seen on RU-vid. Good job

There’s nothing like seeing someone entirely in command of his subject give a quick rundown of how and why it all works, and keeping things clear and logical even for the uninitiated like myself. A masterclass in only a few minutes. Brilliant. Thanks. Subscribed

I appreciate the uniformity and consistency in the cine lens world. The still world could use that consistency of design.

Never has the difference been so clear! The best explanation so far. Thank you!

I loved the disclaimer at the beginning. Always concerned when browsing recommend videos and other reviews and that quickly made the video trusted and fun.

I knew the difference between f stops and t stops, but you taught me about the rest . Excellent video

Man this guy's video quality is so good it feels like he's sitting right in front of me.

Thanks for making this well crafted video. I have been curious about this for a long time.

Many cine lenses do work hard to be different from still, optically. They try to avoid aberrations, make things more even across the glass, fix light angles, deal with reflection. The catch is that these are the ones where you end up paying a lot more than double for the same thing. And then, of course, all of those things you mentioned are also true. Focus breathing is also important, if that's compensated.

I've been doing a load of research on videography and photography recently, which is how I found this channel, and this is by far and away the best explanation I've seen... even as a lay person it's all understandable, interesting and relevant. Plus there's a sleeping springer spaniel. Thanks for a great video, I'll be watching many more of them from you now!

I understood everything instantaneously, very informative and well done video! Thank you! :)

Well done, Dave! Clear, concise, thorough, including “so what” factor. Does similarity of optical performance include color rendition and uniformity of optical characteristics across the cine lens line?

Love the no nonsense approach. Informative and fun to watch!

That was such an amazing video. I learned soooo much more about the difference in Cine vs photo lenses. Subbed! Thank You!

Brilliant video. Very well shot and, far more importantly, very well explained. Video was concise, but crystal clear. You demonstrate a very thorough understanding of lens. I loved the video. Top effort lad.

Thank you for the video! It's by far the most objective and comprehensive one I've ever watched.

Thanks for this well done insight into lens types! It was really helpful! Keep it up!

Like for Lada 🤣🤣

Well done Mate, such a thorough review. You’ve answered many questions I had about lenses in the past . Thx for educating. Cheers

Thanks so much for explaining this! I haven't seen a comprehensive breakdown of the cine/still (as opposed to cine still film!) Lenses before. It actually makes a heck of a lot of sense that cine lenses standardize like that, it also makes me feel a lot better knowing that I can use my still lenses for videos and still get good results within reason! Perfect for people like me that dabble in both but don't want to lay out too much cash for something I may not really actually need at my level

Fantastic video! Extremely concise and sharp to the point, without missing anything. Sincere respect Sir!

Really informative video. I always wondered what the difference was between the two types.

The is the BEST explanation of stills lenses vs cinema lenses on RU-vid, to date... Thank you!!!!

Super great video explaining the differences. Thank you for sharing this. Your dog is really cute too :)

Highly educational video. Every high quality overall, thank you for the upload. Your channel is surely going to grow with content this good

This was crazy helpful!!!! Definitely subscribing👌🏾

Excellent video. You provide clear and concise explanations about the differences in the types of lenses. Thank you! Please give your dog a hug for me....

Good points! Just wanted to add that some 5k+ cine lenses are parfocal as well, IE they can zoom without affecting af sharpness or af at all. That is a staple of Broadcasting lenses for example. As well as an insane zoom range most often.

At least an easy and friendly video about this! Thank you!!!

Great video and explanation.I think this will help some people.(I think many might be confused between video and film)

Good video. Neat, clean explanation or narration with great contents. 👌

Good Job! Thank You! What do you recommend to get as my 2 or 3 first cine lenses for APS-C Fujitsu X-T3? Thanks

Fascinating, I love the detail the creators, and you, went in to their craft.

Wonderful! Thank you for this. Just now getting into Cine lenses and this was extremely helpful!

Extremely thorough explanation. Thank you so much for this.

Super informative! Much appreciated.

This is exactly the video I was looking for on this topic....thank you so much.

Great info I knew some differences but have a more complete picture now. Would be nice to do a follow-up where you show off the focus pulling advantages of the cine lens.

Very informative video, Dave. Thank you.

Great walkthrough of the differences!

This was very informative. I learned a lot. Thank you! One tidbit. The "optical setup/design" is referred to as the "optical prescription" in world of lens design.

Thank you! That was a very useful and clear explanation!

The most viewed video in last 6 months. Don't you think there is gap of lens knowledge that you filled with this ,I think you should make more videos like this filling the gap . Your channel will grow super fast

Thanks! This helps decide right away.

you answered all my questions with one video! thanks!!

Fantastic video, thanks so much. I thought I knew a lot about photography, I know realise my knowledge is pretty limited (to stills). I hadn't realised how different the requirements would be for video. Great explanations.

I learned a ton, thanks for all of the info!

Phenomenal video! Great content!

your dog is a legend! super chilled ahahah great content as well!

I found this video to be clear, concise and very informative - thanks👍

This is good effort to explain the difference between cine and still lenses. It would have been better if the breathing focus effect can be explained early in the video. I hope this suggestion will help. Thanks.

Thank you so much! That is a great video and fantastic explanations!

6min in and this is so much clearer to me know. Thanks so much.

great video. Well put together! Keep it up!! I may end up doing a similar video between Canon 85mm cine and EF photo lenses because it's such a good concept. I'd love to see the comparison myself.

Finally someone explains this perfectly clear!! I GOT it!!! Thanks Dave!

That wheel is called a follow focus and the markings are on the side for the focus puller.

Great review, thanks for sharing👍

Absolutely the best video on this subject. Thank you. I get it now. Bonus points for pup in these videos.

Great info! Thank you!

Fantastic! Thanks for the detailed report.

thanks boss finally you switched to 4k ,what a quality bro

Best video on this topic i hv seen

I had no idea that I needed to know any of this, but I was oddly hooked from the start. And now I feel smarter...

Thank you! Learned something I didn't know before!

Good work. Recent sub and like your limited b roll, slo mo coffee pours and typical related crap. Great content.

Great breakdown, one of the best that I have seen. Comprehensive and respect for making a closer apples for apples comparison! 😀🕺🏻🎥🏖🇦🇺

Most cine lenses have additional unit inside the lens which compensate 'focus breathing', which is another major difference. Great video!

Hi Dave Thanks for clearly explaining the key differences, as a stills only (currently) shooter I had a vague idea about some aspects but your short primer fills out my knowledge gaps nicely. I probably need to start experimenting, but I'm a tad intimidated by all the extra kit (cage - sound mikes - ext. monitor - matte box - gimbal etc) many seem to quickly evolve into using. Then there is the editing and technique. All in all seems a big step. I'm pretty competent with stills but could do with a few more pointers (as well as experimenting time) if I'm ever to feel comfortable making "good" video. Is that the sort of thing you might consider covering? A few short vids on how a stills shooter can best get acquainted with occasional video?

Thank you! That very clearly explained the difference.

Great great explanation. Btw, love the dog, what a cutie

Aside from the markings on the top vs. markings on the side, if you get a stills lens that “ de-clicks” the f-stop, is there a big difference between the two?

That's really helpful. Thanks.

Thank you! Very well explained.

I always wondered those things. Thanks so much.

Thanks. Very informative.

thanks for that dude! i'm a photographer for decades but never gave a thought about cines. now i know, thanks to you!

Wow, I really learned a lot! Great breakdown. IMO I'm not sure that the build quality and physical changes for focus pulling are quite worth double. Do you feel there is any premium being paid because they're most likely for professional use and "budgets" rather than "wallets" are paying for them?

Great video, thanks man!

This video was fantastically well done well explained and we'll spoken.

The reason that the have markings on both sides is, because you’ll have a focus puller(1st AC). And the cine lenses, at least the professional ones, have a much better focus ring, smoother and longer.

The best explanation of the differences I've seen.

Great video thank you! Would the focus throw of the lenses also be a consideration? Most cine lenses I have seen have long focus throws which I presume is for more control and precision. Whereas many stills lenses have quite short focus throws comparatively. I'm not sure if this is a universal truth but perhaps another consideration

Very nice comparison. However, other than the better build quality (which I find dubious), the reasons cited for the increased cost of the cine lens and cine lenses in general - and I’m referring to fixed-focal length lenses only, not zoom lenses - really don’t make sense. After all, a slow focusing system simply requires different internal gearing; the focusing distances indicated on a stills lens can be measured and marked on the focusing ring; you can calibrate any stills lens to specific t-stops (and mark them on the aperture ring); an aperture adjustment mechanism without detents should be less expensive than one with detents, since detents are an added complication; etc. This leaves few plausible reasons why the cine lens is more expensive, such as, far fewer are sold in comparison to stills lenses, the typical customer is much better endowed than the typical stills photographer and can easily recoup the cost by renting out the lens, and there is perhaps less “focus breathing,” and less of a tendency to develop internal reflections from off-axis light sources, where the latter can always be blocked when shooting a still.

Very clear. Thank you.

Very interesting!! This also makes want to use cine lenses!

Great info!

Fantastic explanation of the differences between cine and stills lenses. Clear, concise, engaging. Good job. Perhaps make a companion video to explain why true cine lenses are so much more expensive than these stills lenses in Cine bodies.(if you have not already done one)

Some aspects I already knew or guessed (just looking at a rig or seeing a focus-pull done by the assistant gives away many of the aspects covered). What I didn't know was the standardized front and filter diameters - makes perfect sense! I'll stay with still photography, though, not only because of the insane pricing of cine lenses … ;-)

Extremely informative

I just learned so much.

Great video, thanks

Great information!!

Dave, just curious as to what lens you shot this with...just for purpose of the bokeh?

Hi Dave, first time viewing your channel and just want to say thanks for clearing up some confusion for me. I'm a not very experienced RU-vidr/photographer and have been learning as I go with a few GoPros, a DJI Mavic drone, and a Sony RX 100 MK4 point and shoot, bought specifically because it can shoot 4K video. I went to the Sony from a Canon for that reason as well, though I did find that the Canon user controls were much more intuitively laid out. Been saving for an A7 lll for a bit now, and wondering about lenses, so thank you for clearing some things up for me. This might sound like a dumb question, but can I shoot stills with a Cine lens? I'm going to be doing a lot of traveling in the next year, so minimizing how many I carry is important. Thanks in advance. Subbed.

Wow! So much knowledge in so little time. You should have 100x subs if rest of your videos are similar quality content.

Is the cinematic look just from lighting and lenses or does FPS and 1080p or 4k come in as factors too. Is there any factors I'm missing out on

Methodical and thorough, thank you! Also, I want one of those IRIX 150mms so bad, I’ve been drooling over them since they came out.