Overview
The Tokina Vista-P is a series of full-frame spherical cinema primes from Japanese manufacturer Tokina (Kenko Tokina), announced in December 2023. According to the manufacturer, the "P" stands for Portrait. It is not an independently designed optical formula but a modified variant of the existing Vista Prime series: by increasing the air gap between the glass elements, a pronounced spherical aberration is intentionally created. The result is a sharp image center with a characteristic, swirling bokeh and a softer, lower-contrast look towards the image edge.
Tokina compares the image rendering to classic optics such as the Helios-44 or Petzval lenses ("Swirly Bokeh"). The series targets cinematographers who desire a vintage character without sacrificing modern resolution and large format coverage.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|
| Type | Spherical Cine Prime, Full Frame / Large Format |
| Aperture | T1.5 (all focal lengths) |
| Image Circle | approx. 46.7 mm (covers Full Frame and Large Format sensors) |
| Front Outer Diameter | 114 mm (consistent) |
| Diaphragm | 9-blade iris |
| Available Mounts | PL, LPL, Sony E, EF, MFT |
Focal Lengths (as of 2024):
- 18 mm, 25 mm, 35 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm, 65 mm, 85 mm, 105 mm, 135 mm
- Initially launched (2023) with 18 / 25 / 35 / 50 / 85 mm; 40 / 65 / 105 / 135 mm followed in 2024.
On-Set Usage
The consistent 114 mm front outer diameter across all focal lengths facilitates quick changes of matte boxes and filter attachments without needing to swap adapter rings. The consistent T1.5 aperture allows for low-light operation and very selective focus.
The Vista-P is typically chosen where a deliberately "imperfect," organic look is desired – for example, for portraits, music videos, commercials, or narrative projects with a nostalgic visual style. Since the aberration is optically built-in (not switchable), the effect should be planned for during lens selection and testing beforehand. Existing Vista Prime lenses can be converted to the Vista-P specification by Tokina for a fee; this conversion is irreversible.