Samyang Rokinon Xeen 35mm T/1.5 Pro Cine Lens (for Video Review

The Samyang Rokinon Xeen 35mm T/1.5 is a dedicated cine lens built for video shooters. It's got the aluminum body, long focus throw, and unified gear rings you'd expect from a pro tool. But it's also a very specific piece of kit, and it's not trying to be anything else.

As a pure cinema lens, its performance is about the mechanics. The 200-degree focus throw is smooth and precise, which is great for pulling focus manually. The optical quality lands in the 33rd percentile, so it's decent but not class-leading. And there's no autofocus or stabilization, so you're doing all the work yourself.

At around $1300, this lens isn't cheap. You're paying for the cine-specific features like the geared rings and long throw. If you need those features for a proper video rig, it's a solid budget-friendly option in the cine world. But if you're a hybrid shooter or just want a sharp 35mm for photos, this is terrible value for money.

Compared to a stills lens like the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7, the Xeen is in a different universe. The Viltrox has autofocus and costs a fraction of the price, but it lacks geared rings and that long focus throw. Against a true cinema zoom like the Panasonic 14-140mm, you lose all flexibility for that single focal length's specific look and mechanics. The Meike 55mm Pro is closer as a budget cine prime, but it has AF and a different focal length. This Xeen is for builders of dedicated manual cine rigs, not generalists.

Buy this lens if you're building out a dedicated manual-focus cinema kit and you specifically need a 35mm T1.5 prime with proper gears. Do not buy this if you need autofocus, shoot photos, want a versatile walk-around lens, or are on any kind of tight budget. It's a specialized tool for a specific job.