Best Vintage Cine Prime Lenses for the Arri Alexa Mini LF

Best Vintage Cine Prime Lenses for the Arri Alexa Mini LF and Alexa LF

What are the best vintage cine prime lenses for the Arri Alexa LF Mini and Alexa LF?

Let’s look at the best cine prime lenses for the Arri Alexa Mini LF and LF cameras.

First, here are some criteria for the lenses to qualify:

True cine lenses, not rehoused still lenses.
Must at the very least cover an image circle of 44.2 mm.
For a lens to be labelled vintage it must be designed to mimic older lenses (it can’t be accidental).

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Here’s a list of the best cine prime kits available for the Arri Alexa Mini LF and Alexa LF:

Feature	Tokina Vista One	Tribe⁷ Blackwing⁷	Panavision Primo Artiste
Aperture Range^	T1.5-T22	T1.9-T22^^	T1.8-T22
Front Diameter (mm)	114	114	114
Blades in Iris	9	14	N/A
Image Circle (mm)	46.7	48	Covers Alexa 65
Close Focus (mm)^	480	407	406
Weight (kg)^	2.11	1.7	N/A
Focal Lengths in KIt	18-105mm	27-137mm	27-250mm
Consistent Length?*	Yes	Yes	N/A
Largest Consistent Aperture**	T1.5	T1.9	T1.8
Focus Rotation (degrees)	300	270	N/A
Price for 50mm^	N/A (Only as a set)	$10,000-11,700^^	Rental Only

*For about four lenses in the kit, typically 24 to 85mm.

**If three of the lenses (among the middle five) are T1.5 but the other two are T2.1, then the largest consistent aperture is T2.1.

^For the 50mm lens in the lineup.

^^The Blackwing⁷ goes to T1.8, but with greater flare. They cost $12,700.

My favorite?

I’m not much of a vintage guy, though if I had to pick one to test I’m most interested in the Tokina Vista One vintage lenses.